Usury and The Next American Revolution

BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
WEDNESDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2009 22:54

"Usury" is an old-fashioned word, and not by accident. It has been virtually stripped from the English language in the last 60 years for obvious reasons, at least from the banker point of view.

That's because, in its historic form, it carries with it a moral dimension, and not a good one.

It has its root in the Latin word, "usura," which means "interest." You know, that additional 30 percent or more you now owe your credit card company over and above what you're spending.

As if Wall Street and the big banks didn't screw the American public enough with all their predatory lending, off-the-charts leveraging, gross lack of accountability for what they did with their taxpayer bailout billions, and now unconscionable salaries and bonuses for their revered leaders.

Now, in an veritable orgy of devouring human flesh, the banks have in many cases quadrupled the interest payments owed by their credit cards holders over the course of just the last six months, without so much as blinking an eye, or offering a reason. A myriad other new "service charges" are also assaulting customers.

These banks know they have only until next February before some stiff limits to the amount of interest they can charge will become law. So, naturally, from their point of view, this gives them a special license to gouge their customers beyond belief.
Yes, this is the ugly "usury" denounced in the Bible as an "abdominal thing" akin to rape, murder, robbery and idolatry. If only that passage from Ezekiel was quoted one 100th as often as other more famous Old Testament prohibitions.

Plato and Aristotle condemned it as contrary to the "nature of things," and Cato compared it to homicide. Ironic, since the libertarian Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. opposes any government regulation of its practice.

Because of a long, long history linking usury to sin and depravity, including more recently by Chares Dickens and by Jimmy Stewart et al in the 1946 film, "It's a Wonderful Life," with the rise of consumerism and buying on credit in the U.S. beginning in the 1950s, the word and its moral connotations were swept under the rug.

Now, not only have these giant corporate practitioners of institutionalized depravity rooted hundreds of thousands in the U.S. out of their homes, triggering what many believe will match the Great Depression before it runs its course (and a Dark Age if it fails to), but they are fleecing every American credit card user with a level of usury that was probably unheard of in the past, except perhaps among some of the most brutal, tyrannical societies of human history.

But what's amazing about the current situation is the fact the public is not being beaten into submission, jailed or muzzled to accomplish this atrocity. Average Americans have become so systematically conditioned to accept the terms of their own consumer-grounded life-styles that they passively accept their fate, and even praise their oppressors.

How many of the angry Tea Party types in the U.S. are unemployed, underemployed, on the verge of foreclosure and in way over their heads in credit card debt? How clever of their ideological controllers to divert their anger from the banks responsible for all this to their government, which is struggling to prevent the banks from engaging in their predatory practices and causing modern civilization to unravel.

The American public is suffering from a mass case of collective co-dependency. It is deluded by the notion that the more authority figures, like abusive fathers, husbands or pimps, beat them, the more they really love them.

It's time for collective America to wake up. The banks and Wall Street do not love you, America! What you've been experiencing is not love, but socio-pathological, unfeeling selfish cruelty and depravity by the richest and most powerful against all the rest of us. What more proof do you need than the fact these banks reach into your pockets while you are sleeping and triple the interest on your credit card? Do they care that, in the economic crisis, you are struggling already? Hell no.

There remains a real likelihood that these Wall Street-financed Tea Party and other angry anti-government populist uprisings will get all revved up, only to turn into Frankenstein monsters that turn on their creators. That would be some sweet justice.

http://fcnp.com/commentary/national/5198-usury-a-the-next-american-revolution-.html

On UsuryFree Day, Friday, November 13th, 2009 at Conspiracy Culture

Friday, November 13th 2009 

Conspiracy Culture presents... http://www.conspiracyculture.com

~ An Event for UsuryFree Day ~

You're invited to attend a special workshop to launch the 5th annual UsuryFree Week

In mid-November 2009 (November 13th to 19th) usuryfree creatives from all walks of life will gather in meetings - at kitchen tables, in living rooms, in restaurants, in small boardrooms, in community halls, in church basements, in retail store fronts etc. They will either watch DVDs or videos in front of computer monitors or TV screens or listen to guest speakers and have follow up discussions about topics related to (a) our orthdox economic system of usury-based, debt money and/or (b) the usuryfree community currency movement. Anyone and everyone is invited to participate and help us to celebrate this Fifth Annual UsuryFree Day and Week.

These gatherings commonly begin with a brief history about the birth and evolution of UsuryFree Day (November 13th, 2005) and UsuryFree Week since its initial launch five years ago.

The concept of UsuryFree Day and Week was born in a small town, Tamworth, Ontario, Canada. Tamworth is situated in the rural, eastern and economically deprived area of the province. The initial idea was to celebrate the 1st anniversary of the launch of the usuryfree time currency called Tamworth Hours which commenced on November 13th, 2004.

Since its launch in Tamworth, UsuryFree Day and Week has evolved to its present state in 2009 where there will be a multitude of meetings/gatherings in local communities anywhere and everywhere on planet earth. The purpose of these get-togethers is to re-educate those people who are ready and willing to be re-educated about (a) the many problems associated with the design flaw of usury and how its function causes the positive feedback within our orthodox system of debt money and (b) the optimal solutions as offered by the innovative models of usuryfree community currency that are being perfected with the intent of re-building local community so that everyone can experience the reality of usuryfree living.

At many of these gatherings the pioneering usuryfree creatives will assume leadership roles as they share their information and resources with those who choose to participate. Since the ealry 1980’s, when the usuryfree LETS (Local Employment Trading System) software was created by Michael Linton, numerous usuryfree creatives have held the vision for usuryfree living and they have blazed (and continue to blaze) the trail for others to follow.

Part seminar, part inter-active workshop, part re-education, part brainstorming, the events of UsuryFree Day and Week always attract prospective usuryfree creatives to the usuryfree community currency movement. It has been said that the activities of UsuryFree Day and Week offer an opportunity for people from anywhere/everywhere to communicate and interact with usuryfree thinkers and charge or re-charge their economic battteries - whether they be ‘alternative’ or ‘complementary.’

This year, usuryfree creatives are expecting the largest ever number of participants to celebrate the Fifth Annual UsuryFree Week, because it is now nearly impossible to be ignorant of what’s been happening in our orthodox economci system of usury-based, debt money. It is the hope of usuryfree creatives that a heightened awareness of the many problems associated either directly and/or indirectly with the design flaw of usury as exacted by greedy creditors, will motivate the formerly subservient debtors to individual and collective action.

Rather than withdrawing and throwing in the towel and portraying a defeatist attitude, usuryfree creatives implore debtors everywhere to attend (or create) an event in your local area to commemorate UsuryFree Day, Friday, November 13th, 2009. Otherwise, an event can be planned for any time during this Fifth Annual UsuryFree Week - scheduled from November 13th to 19th. Hopefully, debtors everywhere will be motivated to participate and thereby commit to following a self-imposed course on how money creation really works in our orthdox system of usury-based, debt money and why they ought to seek to eventually live a usuryfree lifestyle.

The optimal path to follow is to assume the role of a ‘becoming’ usuryfree creative and lead the way in your respective local community. Do your own research and then take an active role in helping to launch a usuryfree community currency with a goal to re-build the local economy. Eventually, you will choose to become an active usuryfree creative and commit yourself to doing whatever you can do to help shift the individual and global consciousness towards creating a usuryfree lifestyle for everyone on this planet.

Usuryfree creatives advocate shopping locally. A new word “locavores” has been created to describe those consumers who choose to shop locally. The obvious, supporting catalyst that encourages consumers to shop locally is the networking of family, friends, neighbours, working colleagues, small to medium-sized retail businesses and home-based enterprises so that a database of products, services, talents, etc. can be listed for inter-trading. All who choose to participate will be re-educated about how they can create and spend their own usuryfree community currency. Armed with their re-education, they will be motivated to action with the spirit of re-building their respective local community.

This sort of activity is being likened to launching your own economic lifeboats and thereby being ready to abandon the usury-based, Titanic of orthodox, debt money when their (the bankers’) faltering, economic system goes down.

It is this spirit of re-building our respective, local communities that usuryfree creatives are celebrating during this Fifth Annual UsuryFree Week. Our collective hope is that by the end of this Fifth Annual UsuryFree Week, we will have more usuryfree creatives talking not about the gloom and doom of usury-based, orthodox economics, but rather about the possibility of joy and love, peace and prosperity for everyone on this planet as we shift our collective consciousness and move ahead to a world of usuryfree living.

To read more background information about UsuryFree Day and Week in general do a search at any search engine for “UsuryFree Day and Week.” For more specific information about the “Fifth Annual UsuryFree Day and Week” in particular, you are invited to read these articles which are posted at The UsuryFree Eye Opener:

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com/2009/08/fifth-annual-usuryfree-dayweek-nov-13th.html

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com/2009/08/invitation-to-participate-and-celebrate.html

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com/2009/10/fifth-annual-usuryfree-day-week-looking.html

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com/2009/10/debtors-revolt-and-usuryfree-resolve.html

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com/2009/09/winged-lion-awards.html

And do check The UsuryFree Eye Opener for any updated details that may be posted between now and November 13th, 2009. http://usuryfree.blogspot.com

NOTE: If you live within driving distance of Toronto, Ontario, Canada do make plans now to attend a special event on UsuryFree Day, Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 7:00 PM at Conspiracy Culture, 1696, Queen St. W.

Peter Jon Simpson, researcher, publisher, seminar leader will be the keynote guest speaker. Peter has been enlightening audiences relative to economic truth, personal sovereignty and related matters for over 38 years. We are pleased that Peter has generously travelled to assist us in re-educational and specific usuryfree community currency initiatives here in Ontario. Peter resides in Atwater, Minnesota.

What's the Cost of Admission??

Attendees are invited to pay-what-they-think-it-is-worth to be present and learn from those who are making the presentations. Cash, cheques, money orders and any usuryfree community currency accepted.

The expenses to be covered are: (a) a gift to Conspiracy Culture for offering to share the space for the meeting (b) advertising (c) gifts or donations to the guest speaker to cover his travel expenses and his time investment for any preparation and the presentation. Obviously, the advertising costs and the travel costs of the speaker will require federal cash.
Attendees are encouraged to be generous with 'gifts' or 'donations' so that this workshop model can be copied or duplicated in any community in Ontario or elsewhere.

Remember, RSVP's are requested for this Special Workshop in honour of our Fifth Annual UsuryFree Day. The first 45 RSVP's will be accepted.

Please request your seat for this event by sending an email to:
patrick @ conspiracyculture . com (remove spaces)... with 'Fifth Annual UsuryFree Day' in the Subject line or by telephoning: 1.416.916.1696



The event will start at 7:00 PM and will end at roughly 9:00 PM. The event location is Conspiracy Culture: 1696 Queen St. W. Toronto, ON. Canada M6R 1B3

NOTE: (There are only 45 spaces available so send your RSVP to Patrick to confirm your intent to attend sooner than later as the event is sure to fill up).

Debtors’ Revolt and UsuryFree Resolve!

By Tom J. Kennedy aka “Tommy UsuryFree Kennedy”

It is important to note the difference between a ‘Revolt’ and a ‘Resolve.’ Revolt means to break away from or a rise against constituted authority, as by open rebellion. Resolve means to come to a definite or earnest decision, to determine to do something.

It is common that debtors are prone to revolt when they are awakened to the details of how they are being financially fleeced by the creditors. it is during this process of awakening, fortified by an abundance of re-education about money creation that they are likely to learn about usuryfree creatives and their resolve to experience the reality of a usuryfree lifestyle in this incarnation. In summary, the debtors’ revolt is awakening the debtors who are invited to become usuryfree creatives armed with the usuryfree resolve.

Indeed, it is prudent for debtors to revolt or rise up against our orthodox, economic system of usury-based, debt money. It is perhaps even more important that debtors be open to becoming fully re-educated on concepts about money creation and how the function of ‘interest’ or ‘usury’ is designed to favour the creditors at the expense of the debtors. Along with this process of self-imposed, re-education there must be advocacy for the usuryfree community currency movement complete with a resolve from all who choose to participate to shop locally and thereby commit to changing the way they spend their money.

Likewise, it is equally important to take note of the fact that ‘debt’ is not the real problem. It is the growth of the debt that is the real problem. A simple IOU can be a piece of paper with an amount written above or below one’s signature. An IOU is held by a creditor as a debt that is owned by the debtor and as per the contractual arrangement, it will be redeemed or paid off by the debtor within a prescribed time. When there is growth on any original debt, it is directly caused by the function of ‘interest’ or ‘usury.’

The real problem associated with the ever-present shortage of money, is the design flaw of usury on our orthodox, economic system of usury-based, debt money. Without a doubt, it is the function of usury, that creates the positive feedback in the orthodox, economic system. This positive feedback is directly related to the ongoing and ever-present shortage of money that causes wars, violence, poverty, scarcity and lack.

Our orthodox economic system relies on contractual agreements between creditors and debtors to issue ‘debt-money’ into circulation. These contractual agreements commonly have a ‘usury’ component attached to them by the creditor at the expense of the debtor. Few debtors bother to inquire about the source of the ‘interest’ or ‘usury’ portion of any loan or mortgage because they mistakenly believe the creditor is lending depositors’ funds. Creditors definitely do NOT lend out depositors’ funds to debtors.

When debtors are convinced (by mind-control) that interest - which ought to be correctly called usury - on money is necessary, they accept without question the current state of violence, war, poverty, scarcity and lack that continues to dominate the world in a negative fashion as we progress into this 21st Century.

It is essential to fully understand how the debt cycle begins, evolves, grows and ends. The debtor requests a loan or mortgage from a creditor. The creditor produces a promissory note for the debtor to sign. The signature of the debtor on this promissory note permits the creditor to create and issue brand new money that is now backed up by the asset of the debtor. This asset is listed or referred to on the promissory note. This brand new money becomes the principal of any loan or mortgage granted to the debtor by the creditor. It commonly shows up as simple computer blips on the debtor’s account and it will disappear again when the debtor pays back the principal plus the ‘interest’ or ‘usury.’

Now a key question arises. What about the ‘interest’ or ‘usury’ portion of any loan or mortgage It is noteworthy that the creditor never creates the ‘interest’ or ‘usury’ portion of any loan or mortgage granted to the debtor. The debtor has unknowingly signed an impossible contract and is now expected to hustle in the marketplace and earn enough money to pay both the principal and the ‘interest’ or ‘usury.’

Now think of what happens in the economy when all of the debtors are hustling to earn enough money to pay back the principal and the ‘interest’ or ‘usury’ portion of their loans and/or mortgages. Of course, there will be winners and losers and debtors will learn to lie, cheat, steal and become greedy along the way as they strive to survive in a world where 99% of the debtors have unknowingly signed impossible contracts with their respective creditors. Anyone skilled in elementary mathematics will soon realize that indeed, it is the design flaw of ‘interest’ or ‘usury’ that creates the ever-present shortage of money while breeding the vice of greed.

It has been suggested by usuryfree creatives, that “interest” or “usury” ought to be abolished and replaced with a simple service charge that would be issued and put into circulation, simultaneously, by the creditor when the principal of any loan or mortgage is authorized. This amount of the service charge could be calculated so that it pays a fair wage to those whose responsibility it is to administer and manage the financial facility that is granted the authority to create loans and/or mortgages. All debtors and creditors would acquire full knowledge about this new model of money creation.

In the meantime, while more and more oppressed debtors are being motivated to revolt against their greedy creditors, it might very well be the optimal time to raise the awareness of both the creditors and the debtors to realize that we are all players in a rigged game – not of ‘musical chairs,’ but rather a rigged game of ‘financial chairs’ – where there will always be winners and losers – until we resolve to change the rules of this financial game.

Indeed, it is time for a “UsuryFree Resolve” to become the second oar on the financial lifeboat that was previously launched with the one oar now commonly known as the “Debtors’ Revolt.” Ann Minch, from California initiated the “Debtors’ Revolt” when she posted her video clip on YouTube on September 8, 2009. Her complaint focused on one of the high profile creditors – the Bank of America – and how this entity was gouging debtors with high ‘interest’ or ‘usury’ rates.

Ann Minch’s initiative has motivated countless thousands of debtors to action as her initial video clip, her follow-up video clips and video clips of others go viral on the world wide web. It is interesting to note that debtors’ everywhere are now using the world wide web to untangle their misunderstandings about money creations and the function of “usury” on debt. The Debtors’ Revolt has exposed some of the basic problems associated with ‘interest’ or ‘usury.’

Enter the “UsuryFree Resolve” to offer more critical, background information about why debtors are always in financial distress and held subservient to their creditors. UsuryFree Creatives who promote the “UsuryFree Resolve” have been researching and exposing the problems as associated with the orthodox, system of usury-based, debt money and offering solutions rooted in the usuryfree community currency movement.

With the two oars moving in synchronicity, the oar of the “Debtors’ Revolt” and the oar of the “UsuryFree Resolve,” our economic lifeboats can be guided towards the islands of “usuryfree living” – where everyone who agrees to participate will experience, love, peace, prosperity and abundance as they live the reality of usuryfree living.

The key element of the growing usuryfree community movement is that we-the-people who are participating as usuryfree creatives, are learning how to create and spend our own usuryfree community currencies to be used to facilitate local trades and/or exchanges of talents, services and products. These community currencies are free of ‘interest’ or ‘usury’ and that is why they are called ‘usuryfree’ and that is precisely why they are empowering those consumers who choose to participate.

People are learning how to use these usuryfree community currencies as a complement with their diminishing amounts of federal cash. They make sure to cover any wholesale costs in federal cash when they are negotiating trades or exchanges and they accept a portion of any retail mark-up in the usuryfree community currencies of their choice.

The back-end teaching is very important at this juncture. By watching DVDs such as “Money As Debt,” and “Money: Who Creates It? Who Controls It?," participants are learning things about money creation that formal education neglected to teach. Do a search for these DVDs at any search engine and/or buy your own copy. Contact the UsuryFree Network for details on how to purchase your own hard copy of these DVDs.

For those who like to read there are abundant resources posted on the internet. A good starting place is The UsuryFree Eye Opener – where indeed, you will have your eyes opened: http://usuryfree.blogspot.com

When people grasp the concept that banks (creditors) do NOT lend our depositors’ funds and that the ‘interest’ or ‘usury’ portion of any loan or mortgage is never created and put into circulation, the lights go on.

This is the motivator that moves them to action. They realize that if they can use any usuryfree community currency to purchase more and more of the necessary products and/or services from local businesses, for themselves, their families and businesses, then they can use their spare federal cash to pay off or pay down any debts – because it is the growth of these debts by the function of ‘usury’ that is killing them financially.

Each year, during UsuryFree Week, (November 13th to 19th) usuryfree creatives anywhere and everywhere on planet earth host meetings/gatherings in their respective local communities to share knowledge, information and resources with those who are ready and willing to “learn what they don’t know they don’t know” about winners and losers in our conventional, usury-based, debt money economy. UsuryFree Day is designated to be on November 13th and UsuryFree Week follows from November 13th to 19th. In November 2009, we will be celebrating the Fifth Annual UsuryFree Week.

Make plans now to (a) attend a meeting or gathering in your local community or (b) create an event in your local community and invite family, friends, neighbours, working colleagues etc. to attend. Simply show a video clip or DVD on a topic related to our orthodox system of usury-based, debt money. Or show a video clip or DVD that explains how usuryfree creatives are participating in the usuryfree community currency movement and making a difference by choosing to create and spend their own usuryfree community currency when they shop locally with others who are likewise participating as local traders.

For more information about UsuryFree Day/Week in general do a search on any search engine with the words “UsuryFree Day” or “UsuryFree Week.” For details about the Fifth Annual UsuryFree Day/Week in particular visit these links:

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com/2009/08/fifth-annual-usuryfree-dayweek-nov-13th.html

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com/2009/08/invitation-to-participate-and-celebrate.html

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com/2009/10/fifth-annual-usuryfree-day-week-looking.html

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com/2009/09/winged-lion-awards.html

Nexus Magazine published an article "The Community Currency Movement."

Nexus Magazine, Vol. 16, No. 5, September-October 2009 published an article "The Community Currency Movement" - authored by Ellen Hodgson Brown, JD.

The article is actually from Chapter 36 of her book titled "The Web Of Debt."

Ellen Hodgson Brown's website: http://www.webofdebt.com

"Local currency and barter systems are on the rise around the world in response to global economic forces and the desire to bring communities together, enhance skills, sell goods and services and stimulate productivity.

Money is a token representing value. A monetary system is a contractual agreement among a group of people to accept those tokens at an agreed-upon value in trade. The ideal group for this contractual agreement is the larger community called a nation, but, if that larger group can't be brought to the task, any smaller group can enter into an agreement, get together and trade." (snip)

(To read the rest of the article go to the Nexus Magazine website and click on Vol. 16, No. 5, and you will see the article listed there as downloadable for a fee of $1.50. Otherwise, it may still be available on news-stands.)

Nexus Magazine website: http://www.nexusmagazine.com

*********************************************************************************

Here is my "Letter To The Editor" re: the article 'The Community Currency Movement."

P. O. Box 9333, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1G 3V1

October 26, 2009

The Editor
Nexus New Times Magazine

Dear Editor:

I read with interest the article titled “The Community Currency Movement,” beginning on page 25 of the September-October 2009 iassue of Nexus New Times Magazine. Author, Ellen Hodgson Brown offers abundant background information and a good review of the community currency movement.

It is my intent to point out the one key element about the community currency movement that truly empowers all who choose to participate. Our orthodox, federal money comes into circulation through the process of debt.

When a debtor requests a loan or mortgage, the creditor (commonly the bank) creates brand new money in the amount of the loan or mortgage. This is referred to as the principal portion of the loan or mortgage.

The creditor never creates the ‘interest’ or ‘usury’ portion of any loan or mortgage. Yet, the debtor commonly signs a contract and agrees to repay both the principal and the ‘interest’ or ‘usury’ to the creditor. By one’s signature, the debtor commonly agrees to an impossible contract. This is precisely why there is an ongoing and forever shortage of money in our orthodox economic system - which is currently in a chaotic situation.

Community currencies are free of ‘interest’ or ‘usury.’ No ‘interest’ or ‘usury’ is charged on any negative balance and no ‘interest’ or ‘usury’ is paid on any positive balance. This is why community currencies are commonly referred to as ‘usuryfree.’

All who choose to participate and negotiate local trades or exchanges using a usuryfree community currency as a complement with their diminishing amounts of federal cash are truly empowered. They fully realize that by shopping locally with any usuryfree community currency and changing the way they spend their money, they will have more federal cash left over to pay off their debts - which are constantly growing because of the function of ‘interest’ or ‘usury.’

Readers are encouraged to do the necessary research and learn how to create and spend their own usuryfree community currency in their respective local communities.

Sincerely,

Tom J. Kennedy
The UsuryFree Eye Opener
http://usuryfree.blogspot.com
tom@cyberclass.net

The Fifth Annual UsuryFree Day & Week - Looking Back and Looking Ahead!

Five years have passed since the first UsuryFree Day and Week was celebrated on November 13th, 2005, in Tamworth, a small village in rural eastern Ontario, Canada. The launch of UsuryFree Day was intended to honour the 1st anniversary of the Tamworth Hours project. Tamworth Hours, a usuryfree time currency was founded on November 13th, 2004 with a goal to help re-build the spirit of local community. And where are we in 2009?

The Tamworth Hours project has stumbled along since its launch in 2004 but it never really grew as it could have or should have. There was a flurry of trading activity in the initial stages of the project among the participants who were enroled as time-traders.

It seems that the majority of local consumers resisted making any significant changes to their shopping habits. Some locals first enroled as time-traders and then they asked to have their name deleted from the database.

Most of the local newspapers gave it good coverage except “The Scoop” which refused to even carry any advertisements for the Tamworth Hours project. With less than 80 participants enroled as time-traders in the Tamworth Hours project, and no visible support from the local council, nor from the “Boosters,” the project has dwindled.

A few of the initial participants were local retail businesses and home-based enterprises in Tamworth and surrounding areas and others who were enroled as time-traders were local residents with talents, services and/or products.

Nothing really surprising about this because the usuryfree community currency movement fosters new economic ideas and consumers don’t like changing their shopping habits, therefore resistance is normal and commonly expected.

The good news is that as the current Recession deepens to a Depression, more and more local consumers everywhere are expected to experience more severe economic pain and this will motivate them to make themselves familiar with the usuryfree community currency movement and how it can be their ‘economic lifeboat’ in chaotic, economic times.

Since 2005, usuryfree creatives have launched new usuryfree community currency projects elsewhere. Indeed, as lessons are learned, more and more usuryfree creatives are coming forth to take leadership roles in launching local projects. In fact, Mark Herpel, from Michigan has launched the ‘Community Currency Magazine” at this url: http://www.ccmag.net

Paul Grignon, from Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada has created two great teaching DVDs - “Money As Debt I” and “Money As Debt II” since 2005. These DVDs are very good primer lessons for anyone seeking to understand the “truth” about money creation in Canada and the United States of America. These DVDs are being used as teaching tools at events to celebrate the Fifth Annual UsuryFree Day & Week.

What is pushing this usuryfree community currency movement forward? It’s the faltering, usury-based, debt money economy. And more specifically, it is the positive feedback caused by the design flaw of usury (interest) on the orthdox money system. It is this element of positive feedback that causes the forever and ongoing shortage of money that in turn causes cutbacks in government programs.

It seems that as more and more debtors experience increasing economic pain, they are more likely to be motivated to explore ideas that support shopping locally.

The teaching that any usuryfree community currency facilitates the shift to local shopping is evidenced by the growing numbers of ‘locavores’ who now realize the importance of choosing to spend their money differently.

To read more background information about UsuryFree Day and Week in general do a search at any search engine for “UsuryFree Day and Week.” For more specific information about the “Fifth Annual UsuryFree Day and Week” in particular, you are invited to read these articles which are posted at The UsuryFree Eye Opener:

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com/2009/08/fifth-annual-usuryfree-dayweek-nov-13th.html

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com/2009/08/invitation-to-participate-and-celebrate.html

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com/2009/09/winged-lion-awards.html

And do check The UsuryFree Eye Opener for any updated details that may be posted between now and November 13th, 2009. http://usuryfree.blogspot.com

NOTE: This note is also posted at this URL at Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=186578769965&ref=mf

Usury – Destroyer of Health And Wealth

By Tom J. Kennedy
 
The maldistribution of income is directly caused by the design flaw of usury – the destroyer of health and wealth – in our orthodox system of usury-based, debt money, though the usurers (the creditors) are masters at convincing the borrowers (the debtors) that ‘interest’ is not ‘usury’ and therefore not immoral or harmful. Nothing could be further from the truth. By extension, usury is the direct cause of wars, violence, poverty, scarcity and lack as well as chronic illness and malnutrition which is ever increasing among our population during this deepening depression of the 21st Century. More than 50% of the monthly payments made by the average family can be identified as usury payments in the form of interest on debts and/or taxes to pay the various levels of government debt service.
 
The chief function of any healthy economic system must be to provide optimal opportunities for citizens to achieve abundant wealth and health. Usury is a mechanism used by the privileged few creditors throughout history to keep the majority in financial bondage for life as debtors. We are struggling to share the ‘scarcity’ because of usury and yet we live in a country blessed with abundant resources.
 
We face economic devastation collectively as a nation and individually as private citizens. Increasingly, hard-working, middle class individuals are experiencing economic deprivation leading to emotional, mental, and physical illness. Serious health threats occur when our economic order is in jeopardy because we fear the reality that we and our dependents may not eat. Nothing undermines emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health like poverty and usury is concocted to deprive us of our income and thereby create poverty. Additionally, loss of self-respect from not being able to financially survive causes health problems, long term chronic illness, and even suicide.
 
The economic misfortune of millions of middle class citizens is accelerating the need to re-educate willing learners about alternative and/or complementary economic solutions and alternative health therapies and lifestyles. Since the foundation of health is rooted in a healthy economy, it is no surprise that the current health of our people is not being sustained by our faltering economy. The design flaw of usury has been correctly identified by various engineers as the ‘wrecking device’ of a ‘killer machine’ that is destroying the health and wealth of the middle class, since the rich reap the financial rewards through the vehicle of usury and the poor receive social assistance from taxes extracted from the productive workers.
 
Usury violates the rights of any man and woman who is servant to the lender by requiring him/her to repay the principal plus the usury to the lending institution. Most borrowers are unaware that lending institutions create new money and lend only the principal and not the usury portion of any loan or mortgage. The usury must be taken out of the economy, as it causing perpetual scarcity. This current ‘Depression’ (that is exactly what it is) is directly caused by the design flaw of usury which cleverly siphons off billions of ‘interest’ or ‘usury’ dollars and billions of ‘tax’ dollars annually from the borrowers to pay debt service (usury) to a select few wealthy lenders.
 
UsuryFree Network (UFN) has a mandate to re-educate the public about the menace of usury and how it destroys our health and wealth. UFN recognizes that usury is a contributing factor to the increased levels of stress which is causing chaos in all areas of health – emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual. UFN believes that a re-educated public will voice their social discontent and pass along newly acquired knowledge to those who are ready and willing to learn that models of usuryfree finance can and must be implemented to create health, abundance, and prosperity where illness, scarcity, and poverty now exist.
 
UFN has identified the youth as the critical group to re-educate since they are not yet hardened by bitter, real-life experiences from repeated failings in the deceitful usury games. There will be other willing, and more mature learners who will assume leadership roles of teaching the ‘truth’ about money. This outreach approach by UFN aims to win over millions and motivate them to work to restore their health and wealth. Supporters of UFN will at least have structured economic lifeboats for their survival when the Granddaddy Depression of this 21st Century descends upon us and makes the 1929 Depression look like a Sunday picnic.
 
UFN has determined that any usuryfree community currency group or network that have a goal to teach people how to use less and less of their (the bankers’) money and more and more of their own usuryfree community currency is worthy of support. It is true that interest or usury can be abolished by simply encouraging people to implement workable concepts involving ‘mutual credit’ and ‘usuryfree financing’ whereby usury is replaced by a simple service charge. The UFN sponsors information meetings and hosts seminars all across Canada in an effort to re-educate the public. Interested individuals are invited to telephone 1.888. NOUSURY to request resources and details of future seminars.
 
UFN believes that the health and wealth of individuals will be restored as they openly declare themselves to be active ‘abolitionists’ having been re-educated on the truth about money, banking, and usury.
 
It will be necessary for UFN and its informed supporters to openly declare themselves as ‘abolitionists’ since nothing will be done by the hard-core ‘keepers’ – those who selfishly work to keep usury – for they are acquiring  gain by fostering the malfunctioning, orthodox, economic system that guarantees them (the keepers) abundance while creating scarcity for those targeted to pay the usury and taxes.
 
The ‘keepers’ have a vested interest in keeping the design flaw of usury as an essential part of any economic system. Neither will anything be done by the ill-informed supporters of the ‘keepers’ whose apathy runs high because they have neither the time nor the energy to re-educate themselves having depleted all of their resources as they scurry in the daily rat-race to earn sufficient income to pay their monthly tribute to their ‘keepers’ in the form of usury and taxes.
 
A definite challenge lies ahead for UFN to play a leading role in the re-education process as we seek to alter the entrenched financial system that conditions its users from birth to death to endure the economic struggle with unhealthy survival strategies.

We must raise the consciousness of the public. All borrowers are players in the usury game of financial, musical chairs, much like the familiar childhood game of musical chairs. Just as the children learn to seek moments of pleasure and perceived happiness by learning the selfish survival skills required to win, so do the adults seek financial success by selfishly allowing their hearts to grow cold to the point where they are secretly happy when a competitor or an associate in the world of ‘free enterprise’ is forced into bankruptcy.
 
They experience a moment of perceived happiness since they know that because of another’s bankruptcy, they will be able to feed and shelter their dependents and pay their usury and taxes for a while longer. It is unfortunate that most of the players in the usury game of financial chairs are unaware that the ‘keepers’ of the usury game have established unfair rules based on ‘lies, deceit and deception’ regarding the function of interest – otherwise correctly identified as usury.
 
Some will resist and/or ignore the growing ‘abolitionist’ movement at the peril of their future health and wealth. They have the freedom of choice to be informed or to be duped by the professional usurers. These professional usurers wield immense financial power and exhibit a mastery at cleverly siphoning off billions of dollars in usury and taxes from the working class while paying a mere pittance of nickels and dimes to depositors who mistakenly believe that their savings are being loaned out to borrowers.
 
The mainstream media likewise promotes falsehoods and politically correct agendas to sustain the level of ignorance required to prop up the current, orthodox system of usury-based, debt money which effectively keeps the masses in financial bondage for life. A failing educational system turns out too many malnourished and dysfunctional youth who are molded financial illiterates. Our sacred public education system surely strengthens and protects the orthodox financial system engineered and maintained by the ‘keepers.’ When has formal education or the mainstream media or the churches addressed the ‘truth’ about money and banking?
 
UFN understands that economic reform will not come from the top of the solid, closed, economic pyramid, therefore, it must begin at the bottom and network wide while filtering upwards. Any literate consumer who is plagued with fatigue because s/he is saddled with a heavy debt load of ‘usury-bearing’ debt is likely to shift into a learning mode with the potential to evolve first into a healthy ‘abolitionist’ and then an active ‘usuryfree creative’ when s/he has acquired sufficient knowledge to understand the evils of usury.
 
Through UFN, active ‘usuryfree creatives’ can assume leadership roles and reach out to re-educate those who are ready and willing to learn the ‘truth’ about restoring health and wealth to individuals and to society. UFN suggests experimenting with the following activities in this modern age of high-tech communications.
 
1. UFN encourages you to learn about quality resources now available to aid you in restoring your health and wealth and then make these resources available to others for loan and/or purchase. Reading material ought to be a priority however, audio cassettes, video cassettes, DVD’s and CDs are also valuable learning tools and must be promoted as such especially for those who have not developed their reading skills in their years of failing, formal education. UFN has an abundance of resources available for loan and/or purchase.
 
2. UFN advocates that you encourage everyone in your network or circle of influence to multiply and duplicate newly acquired knowledge. This activity of the re-education process is a critical challenge indeed. Use telephones, electronic mail boxes, fax machines, computer modems and the mail as well as personal contact. UFN utilizes internet technology to communicate on a regular basis with those who demonstrate leadership ability. Simply join our group at yahoo by sending an email to: usuryfreecreatives@yahoogroups.com
 
3. UFN believes that supporters ought to promote any idea or concept which provides real life experiences for better understanding of the possibility and reality of usuryfree living. The Cadillac opportunity in this respect is the original LETSystem – the perfect model of a usuryfree, linear, banking system. Since its creation in the early 1980’s, various hybrids of ‘mutual credit’ have emerged and are fully functioning in small communities all over the world. UFN advocates usuryfree community currencies in communities and in the evolving SDI (Self Directed Income) industry. UFN also believes that any usuryfree software program can deliver the concept of usuryfree finance to the various levels of government – municipal, provincial and federal. A high density of people with common interests and a wide variety of products and services always facilitates the maximum amount of trading.
 
4. UFN suggests that you pay little or no attention to what the mainstream media is telling you about ‘heath and wealth.’ The masters in the mainstream media are cronies of the powerful, international financiers and their selfish motivation dictates that they ‘lie’ to you for a price. They are knowingly or unknowingly brainwashed to protect their vested interests in their conspiracy to destroy your ‘health and wealth.’ They need you to be a willing player in the usury game of financial, musical chairs.
 
5. UFN encourages you to insist on networking and working with declared ‘abolitionists’ and ‘usuryfree creatives’ who proudly promote ‘usuryfree financing concepts and alternative health and wellness therapies, services and products. UFN recommends that you set yourself up so that you will not have to purchase products and/or services from ‘keepers.’ UFN believes that the SDI industry is positioned to network information and knowledge to millions in very short periods of time.
 
6. UFN reminds you that you should not expect to be popular with self-professed ‘keepers’ who are not willing to re-educate themselves. Proud ‘abolitionists’ and ‘usuryfree creatives’ who understand and promote the concept of usuryfree living by advocating that sufficient chairs be put into the financial game are a definite threat to the ‘keepers’ who monitor their selfish and sacred, orthodox, usury game of financial, musical chairs. ‘Abolitionists’ and ‘usuryfree creatives’ will become popular with their growing networks of friends and acquaintances who will be healthy and wealthy as the paradigm shifts in the early years of this 21st Century.
 
7. UFN teaches by example and insists that newly recruited ‘abolitionists’ and ‘usuryfree creatives’ play simulated, economic games to acquire a complete understanding of the distinct difference between usury finance and usuryfree finance. The ‘abolitionists’ have developed a economic game with very simple instructions to teach how a service charge on a usuryfree loan or mortgage radically differs from usury on an orthodox loan or mortgage.
 
8. UFN will aid you in staying on top of new developments in the ‘abolitionist’ movement and the ‘usuryfree community currency’ movement by publishing updated lists of new resource materials and hosting workshops and seminars. UFN will occasionally publish documents that advocate ‘usuryfree’ living as a means to achieve better health and wealth. UFN understands that good students are likely to become good teachers no matter what the subject.
 
9. UFN believes that by networking together we can restore our health and wealth when we expose the big lie of usury. Together, we must work to abolish usury – the destroyer of health and wealth. Then we will have the peace, abundance and prosperity needed to clean our environment and feed the people of the world.
 
Every year UFN leads the way with special celebrations to recognize UsuryFree Day (November 13th) and UsuryFree Week (November 13th to 19th). Your support at events scheduled for this annual week is requested and appreciated.
 
UFN, founded in 2000, is a private, networking organization with a mandate to promote health and wealth. During its early years UFN focused on exposing the problems associated with the design flaw of usury. Recently, UFN has widened its scope to focus on solution-oriented ideas, having learned a great deal of information from individuals and groups about how so many other aspects of living are impacted by usury. UFN understands that usury is a worldwide problem which cannot be ignored by anyone committed to health, justice and righteousness. UFN invites its growing numbers of supporters to reflect and offer input on how our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health can be improved as we progress into this 21st Century.
 
UFN stands ready and willing to cooperate with its supporters as we work together in a new age of wellness and prosperity. UFN offers seminars/workshops and a variety of re-educational resources. Please contact UFN for further details.
 
The UsuryFree Network
P. O. Box 9333
Ottawa, Ontario
K1G 3V1
Tel: 1.888. NOUSURY
Email: usuryfree@kos.net

Website: http://www.cyberclass.net/usuryfree.htm
NOTE: I also invite you to read about and actively participate in the forthcoming "Fifth Annual UsuryFree Week" scheduled from November 13th to 19th, 2009. Details about that at these urls at the UsuryFree Eye Opener:

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com/2009/08/fifth-annual-usuryfree-dayweek-nov-13th.html

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com/2009/08/invitation-to-participate-and-celebrate.html

http://usuryfree.blogspot.com/2009/09/winged-lion-awards.html

 
 

LETTER TO MAINSTREAM RELIGIOUS CLERGY ABOUT "USURY"

Note: Please pass this letter on to any "religious clergy" of any denomination. I have been sending letters to "religious clergy" since the early 1980's when I first learned about the design flaw of "usury" and how it is the killer machine that keeps debtors in bondage and servitude for generation after generation. Religious clergy either ignore my letters OR they respond with a "form letter" that avoids the issue of "usury."

LETTER TO MAINSTREAM RELIGIOUS CLERGY

In the times of the early Church, any usury on debt was considered a violation of God’s Law. Does the doctrine preached or the dogma followed by your Ministry on this particular issue harmonize with Scripture? If necessary, will you revise your doctrine/dogma to be true to the Word of God and begin teaching the “truth” about the design flaw of usury that causes "positive feedback" on our orthodox system of usury-based, debt money?

I draw your attention to the following sound doctrine which proves beyond a doubt that usury on debt is a violation of God’s Law.

1. “If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things, and that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s wife, hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase. Shall he then live? He shall not live. He hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.” (Ezekiel 18:10-13) King James Bible

2. “Take no usury of him, or increase … thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury.” (Leviticus 25: 36-37)

3. “…unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the Lord thy God may bless thee.” (Deuteronomy 23:20)

Since the Bible has scores of passages of sound doctrine which condemns the charging of usury on debt, I have long been intrigued that neither the mainline religious organizations nor the T.V. Evangelical ministries are preaching that ‘usury’ on debt is a violation of God’s Law. I believe that sound teaching on the issue of usury-based, debt money which is plundering the common people in every continent of this world must become the priority mission for all ministries as we progress into this 21st Century.

It has become increasingly clear in recent years that there is an intricate, international network of money-plunders more politely known as money-lenders. Unless the mainstream religious organizations warn and re-educate their congregations about the design flaw of usury and how they can release themselves from this wicked group of money-thieves, one can only conclude that mainstream religion will continue its steady state of decline.

That decline may very well be attributed to the fact that the majority of traditional clergy are neither exposing nor opposing the evils of our orthodox economic system which functions with usury-based, debt money.

One can further speculate that selected leaders within the heirarchy of the various mainstream religious organizations (Catholic, Protestant and/or otherwise) are in cahoots with these wicked and greedy money-plunders. I grant that indeed, some respected clergy members are preaching truth – as far as they know it – nevertheless, we must find more teaching clergy who are ‘led of the Lord’ and are therefore, ready and willing to learn what the hallowed halls of formal religious training neglects to teach.

Armed with the truth about our orthodox, usury-based debt money system, these re-educated clergy will be willing to condemn the robbery of the poor, the working class, the agricultural community, and even the middle class by these wicked and greedy money plunderers.

The rise of T.V. Evangelism in the 1960’s and 1970’s and the fall of T.V. Evangelism in the 1980’s and 1990’s requires that each modern ministry self-administer the acid-test of true and sound doctrine re: the exacting of usury on loans by true Christians.

The Family Life Foundation  a unique family-oriented, organization created in 1974 by an innovative group of pioneering, usuryfree creatives is now networking co-operatively with the UsuryFree Network and the UsuryFree Eye Opener  to offer citizens simple strategies that can lead to the reality experience of usuryfree living.

Which Evangelical Ministers and/or Protestant Pastors and/or Catholic Clergy and/or otherwise will join usuryfree creatives and dare to teach the truth about the design flaw of ‘usury’ and how it creates unnecessary debt growth for individuals and all levels of government?

Will the clergy of this 21st Century inform their followers of the worthy and innovative usuryfree community currency systems that really offer their respective participants a usuryfree line of credit? For a very long time I have been advocating that churches are the optimal modern organization to foster and promote the usuryfree community currency movement since each church has a database of family members who can offer skills, talents, products and services to others in exchange for any usuryfree community currency.

Citizens who participate as usuryfree creatives are encouraged to donate a portion of their tithing (up to 10%) to those ministries which dare to teach the truth about ‘usury.’ Furthermore, the usuryfree creatives have initiated unique fundraising concepts involving usuryfree community currencies which can be adapted and used by any religious organization.

Assuming that your ministry has been leading the way and has not been tarnished by the ‘holy wars’ of the 1990’s, I challenge you to move ahead of the crowd by affirming that you will teach sound doctrine in light of what you have learned (or will learn) about how usuryfree, community currencies created by local citizens can effectively share the abundance that God has created.

When you understand and begin to preach the ‘evils of usury-based economics’ and the ‘goodness of usuryfree economics,’ the real miracle will be that the people will immediately rebuke ‘usury’ and start to share their surplus with their family, friends, neighbours, working colleagues etc. as this current economic crisis deepens to a Depression. This type of miracle will be multiplied and duplicated at an exponential rate.

I believe that the people are ready to learn the truth about the design flaw of ‘usury’ and the perfected model of ‘usuryfree’ banking as established and promoted by usuryfree creatives not only during UsuryFree Week from November 13th to 19th every year, but also throughout the entire year.

I also believe the shakedown of the evangelical ministries during the 1980’s and 1990’s was a timely event as was the shakedown of the mainstream ministries over the issues of sexual molestation of children by clergy. As these events were happening, the research was being done and the lessons about usuryfree community currencies were being prepared by the usuryfree creatives who have become the visionaries for the possibility of usuryfree living for everyone on this planet in the not-too-distant-future.

Now, at this critical time in this 21st century,with the evolution of usuryfree living, teaching clergy (pastors/ministers) of the gospel are needed. The key question is: Will you dare to lead the way, and teach the truth about ‘usury’ and therein reap the benefits as your congregation breaks out from under the bondage of the bankers?

All clergy are invited to commence their re-education by reviewing the information posted at the UsuryFree Eye Opener. There are many links to other articles and other websites which expose the problem of usury and recommend the solution of usuryfree community currencies if you type in "usuryfree" at any search engine.

You are also invited to review the re-educational film documentary titled “Money: Who Creates It, Who Controls It?” As we entered this 21st Century, Isaac Isitan, a professional film maker from Montreal, Quebec travelled to Turkey, Argentina and to Ithaca, New York as he researched the problem of ‘usury-based’ currency and the solution as offered by the ‘usuryfree’ community currency movement. The video/DVD is 65 minutes and after people view it they say: ‘What they are doing in Argentina and in Ithaca, New York we can do right here in our local community.’

Another informative video is titled: "The Money Masters."

In 2006, Paul Grignon, an artist from Gabriola Island, British Columbia released another marvellous re-educational DVD titled “Money As Debt.” This 45 minute, video/DVD uses caricatures to explain how our orthodox system of usury-based debt money functions. After people view “Money As Debt” they ask: “Why didn’t we learn about money creation in our years of formal education?” Recently, Paul Grignon released "Money As Debt II."

Clergy who have already reviewed any or all of the above listed videos are invited to organize showings of relevant video presentations for their respective local congregations.

Enjoy this day!

Working with you for ‘peace and plenty’ by 2020

I AM

Tom J. Kennedy aka "Tommy UsuryFree Kennedy"

My Twin blogs:

(a)The UsuryFree Eye Opener 

(b) The SDI (Self Directed Income) Eye Opener

At Facebook:

(a)Tom J Kennedy (Tommy UsuryFree Kennedy)

(b) The UsuryFree Network

(c) The UsuryFree SDI University

NOTE: For more detailed background information about the design flaw of usury and how it directly and/or indirectly causes wars, violence, poverty, scarcity and lack and/or the usuryfree community currency movement and how it promotes and advocates prosperity, abundance, financial freedom with peace and plenty for everyone on this planet go to any search engine and type in any of these words/phrases: "usuryfree community currency, usuryfree living, usuryfree creatives, usuryfree day, usuryfree week, usuryfree network, life without usury, Tommy UsuryFree Kennedy."

NOTE: Invite "religious clergy" everywhere to get their congregations to participate in activities to celebrate the "Annual UsuryFree Week" scheduled from November 13th to 19th, every year. To read more about "UsuryFree Week" simply type "usury free week" in any search engine.