Description
Book SynopsisOur money system is a toxic left-over from a time when theft on a grand scale – war and empire-building – was glorified. Today, we need to move on from a system that allows and encourages the worst in us (and the worst among us) to prosper. We take the money system for granted. » We accept that banks have the right to create, rent out and then destroy money. » We accept that banks have a right to charge us (and our government) interest on this money. » We accept that the system enhances inequality, drives climate change, degrades our planet, promotes war and conflict, and has always led to eventual disaster. But why do we accept this manifestly undemocratic money system, which serves only to concentrate power and wealth in the hands of organisations and individuals that have profit – not our collective interests – at heart? Curious to find the answer, researcher and writer Ivo Mosley set out to uncover – and tell – the story of how money-creation works and how it came to be this way. Many years in the writing, this book is not an attack on individuals or a rant against bankers. Rather it’s a remarkably clear and comprehensive examination of a system that supports unaccountable and destructive power. It also points the way to the simple reforms that are necessary if we wish to create a more just and equitable world. Easily accessible to readers with no previous knowledge of economics and finance, this is a book for anyone interested in creating a fairer and more sustainable society in the face of economic, financial and environmental crisis.
Table of ContentsIntroduction CHAPTER ONE: The Money Supply CHAPTER TWO: Laws That Make Robbery Legal CHAPTER THREE: How Money Works Today: A Quick Summary CHAPTER FOUR: Early Days CHAPTER FIVE: Bubbles and Adam Smith CHAPTER SIX: America, Won and Lost CHAPTER SEVEN: Secrets, Ignorance and Lies CHAPTER EIGHT: Negotiable Debt: A Bit of History CHAPTER NINE: Reform Bibliography Appendix 1: Sir John Holt’s remarks on promissory notes Appendix 2: Extract from The Promissory Notes Act, 1704 Glossary Index
