HOW, USING COMMUNITY CURRENCY, I SURVIVED THE GREAT DEPRESSION OF 1930, IN A MINING TOWN

By Rev Lindsay King

Born in 1930-the seventh of what later became eight children-on Bell Island, Newfoundland,  www.bellisland.net  a mining town of about ten thousand people I, as part of a family of miners, experienced the Great Depression, head on. As miners, we lived from paycheck to paycheck. Because of the depression economy, half-time employment was the normal. This meant that the paychecks often did not cover expenses. It also meant that to make up for the loss of pay we-my father and four older brothers (only two had jobs)-had to find other things to do during the days not spent in the mines.

Looking back, I now know that I learned something about the nature and function of money and what it means to earn a living. The time we spent fishing cod, salmon and the like in the water around our island; the time we spent building boats, knitting nets, repairing the house, cutting each others hair, mending shoes, planting and caring for gardens-even making clothes, were our ways of providing the things for which we did not have the cash.

Later, when I became a minister and saw how devastating unemployment was, especially to the lives urban families with mortgages, I decided to do some serious reading about economics.
 
Economists usually point out that money, generally speaking, has no intrinsic value; that it is basically just a medium of exchange. Eventually, this led me to read Marshall McCluhan's great book, Understanding Media (1964)-extensions of man. Based on what I found in Chapter 14, on the nature of money, I wrote and essay: MONEY, AS PERCEIVED BY MARSHALL MCLUHAN-an essay on his understanding of the political economy-and what he failed to mention. Interestingly, he defined money as: THE POOR MAN'S CREDIT CARD.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M arshall_McLuhan

Makes sense, doesn't it? If you were a merchant and a poor man gave you, a dollar bill, providing it was not counterfeit, you would accept it without question, wouldn't you? However, if he gave you a credit card, you would swipe it to verify he had real credit.

In his book, McCluhan points out that Samuel Butler, in his book about utopia, EREHWON (which backwards spells NOWHERE) refers to money as a type of sacrament-an outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace. It is a social medium which you and I can use to extend ourselves to family, to the community, to the nation and even to the world.

Looking back to life on Bell Island in the 1930's, I now understand that this is what we in the King family did among ourselves and, as a family, we also did with other families. It produced things of real value. For me, it even produced the opportunity to get away, at 17, to university in New Brunswick, Mount Allison"   http://www.mta.ca

“Money talks.” He writes. "It is a metaphor, a figure of speech, which likens one object to another. It is a bridge from one thing to another. It can even be understood as a form of transportation which carries one thing to another."

It is a storehouse of values such as work. It stores the work of one trade to that of another. It speeds up the exchanges between the trades and, therefore, tightens the bonds of interdependence between one person and/or one community and another. Creating community, it operates in space and time so that both can be looked upon as forms of money.

He says that there are two kinds of money: COMMODITY MONEY AND REPRESENTATIVE MONEY. As I point out below, he failed to see that there is a third kind-fiat money, which is based on debt and a promise to pay in the future.

He defines REPRESENTATIVE MONEY as the paper money that you and I have in our Wallets. It has no obvious or intrinsic value. For example, how many $100.00 bills would it take to make a fire and boil long enough to cook an egg?

However, depending on the number on the piece of paper, it can go far and buy the power needed to get the job done. Coupons issued by stores and backed by products are a form of representative money. This means that any corporation, or even individual, can create this kind of money-backed with goods and/or services.

THE REAL VALUE OF MONEY IS ALWAYS DETERMINED BY WHAT IT WILL BUY NOW


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In short, MONEY IS WHAT MONEY DOES. However, even the top economists agree that this is only one definition of money. The full definition of it is a complex matter, indeed.

Interestingly, this kind of money has, in recent times, supplanted gold and silver and most other forms of commodity money. In the light of this, consider this question: When was the last time you saw gold, or even silver, circulating as a form of currency?
WHAT IS COMMODITY MONEY?


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Even today, any product that is in demand, or has practical value, can be used as money. For example, animal skins. It can also be tobacco, alcohol, gasoline, you name it. Most certainly, it does not have to be gold, silver or other form of precious metal, exclusively. Commodity money, because it is useful, also has the habit of going out of circulation.

When, for example, the tobacco user gets the tobacco and smokes it, he takes it out of circulation. Gold and silver are no longer in general circulation. Perhaps the copper cent-which I believe will soon be replaced-is the only coin with a real commodity value. In the U.S., attempts have been made to replace the copper coin with ones made out of aluminum.

In my possession I have an aluminum French franc which I found on a visit to Paris in 1972. It was minted in 1944 and was obviously issued by the Vichy government set up under German occupation. It has no value as a commodity. It was obviously not a commodity coin at all, but just like paper.

Regardless of its value it worked. Why? Because it was issued, by fiat of the Nazi-controlled government in power, was accepted by the people as a transfer of value. It didn't have to have any real or intrinsic value of itself. It was the community that gave it its value. When the nature of the French community and those in authority changed following the war, a whole new system had to be put in place.

MONEY AND COMMUNITY GO TOGETHER


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All of this goes to show the powerful and important role of community in the creation and use of money. It also shows the important role that is played by those who govern (locally and/or nationally) the community. As McLuhan points out, all forms of money are powerful expediters and transmitters of goods and services. As such it is one of the main tools of modern civilization. It is also one of the main tools of THE GLOBAL VILLAGE as well the LOCAL VILLAGE, OR COMMUNITY.
The story of Robinson Crusoe illustrates what the lack of community does to money.

As McLuhan points out (p.125), when Crusoe found himself alone on what he thought was a deserted island he discovered something about money he hadn't thought of before. On visiting his wrecked ship he found some coins-copper, gold and silver, I presume. It suddenly occurred to him that he had no use for them; that a knife he found was far more valuable.

However, he failed to discover-I should say that Jonathan Swift failed to write about it-what we all need to discover: There is a real difference between commodities-copper, silver and gold- used as money, and commodities-iron, steel, animals, skins, cotton, wool and the like-of intrinsic and real value.

MORE ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE MONEY
One of the functions of commodity money-such as copper, gold and silver, real estate, whatever-the so-called financial experts tell us is that it can store value. As prices go up, if you have your money in the form of such a commodity, it is supposed to go up.

For example, in the 1970s we were told this about the already-mentioned real estate. It did go up. But it soon became a dangerous bubble. Then it burst. In the late 80's and early 90's, bang, it happened again.

THE CRISIS OF 2008-is not just about real estate.


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IT IS CRUCIAL FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING, IF WE ARE TO DEAL WITH THE CURRENT FINANCIAL CRISIS OF OCTOBER 2008 (Dec. 2008)


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Now, in 2008, that we all know what false booms are, and how the very real and inevitable busts, can do to all of us, at any time, it's time we took a look, a close look, at the money game and got some understanding as to who set it up and how it is played.

As McLuhan pointed out: "Representative money acts more like a language, as a translator and transmitter of current valuables. As a agent of exchange or translator of values, it can move with greater and greater speed and ever greater volume." 

It is important, therefore, not to confuse the two kinds of money.

THE THIRD KIND OF MONEY


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Also, in my opinion we need to understand that there is a third kind of money. It is a debt-based fiat money, which, with the cooperation of our federal government, the central banks (money wholesalers)-In Canada it is the Bank of Canada-create, virtually out of nothing but the debtors ability to pay. This fiat-money is retailed to the debtor by the chartered banks, which makes money on what is called "the spread"-the interest it charges above what they pay the Bank of Canada. Check the rate now-it was 0-and you will see what is happening.



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As indicated, Marshall McLuhan never mentioned the nature and function of our central banks and the role of the Bank of Canada in the creation of a debt-based fiat-money. The banks give loans that put people into debt and call it credit.

FALSE BOOMS, THE MAIN CAUSE OF DEVASTATING AND VERY REAL BUSTS.


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Over the last number of decades, which I have witnessed, here, in my sincere opinion, is what I feel has been the three main failures which has promoted all false booms and caused all devastating busts.

1. The failure of our government regulators to prevent thieves from getting into high-paid positions of high authority in the financial industry.

2. The failure of governments and central banks to work together to create a transparent, balanced and democratic money-system, one designed to serve the total needs of the all the people, not just the privileged few. But this is another story.

3. The failure to see the value of a well-regulated commodity-based barter system, using monetized barter, in cooperation with all governments, tax systems, and all registered charities, including the churches.


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Now for the really good news: Go back to what happened to the King family on Bell Island in the 1930's. By the way, recently, I spent two wonderful weeks in the area.

In the light of all this, the good news is: We survived simply because, despite the deep depression-the Great one-we agreed to work and to earn all the cash-the federal kind of money-we could working in the iron-ore mines. However, when there were layoffs, we also agreed to work for one another. As long as there was food, clothing and shelter practically available, no one starved, or froze, or went without clothes. We simply lived by the Golden Rule.

Without knowing what we were doing, we created a very valuable community currency. Any community can do the same. Do it!
This article is published at this link at http://www.helium.com

http://www.helium.com/items/1934620-how-the-kings-survived-the-great-depression-of-1930-in-a-mining-town

A Book Review of a new book by Jack Allis

A Book Review - By A UsuryFree Creative for Jack Allis’s New Book -
“Prophecy, Challenge & Blessing - Visions of 2012 & The Shift”
By Tom J. Kennedy

Prophecies and projected happenings for 2012 are becoming firmly enshrined as we progress into this 21st Century. While there seems to be a focus on the abundance of doomsday scenarios, I am pleased that some researchers/authors offer mouch more enlightened and limitless possibilities. Asking questions about 2012 and questioning any and all answers is an activity that engages people of all ages and from all walks of life.

Earlier this summer, Jack Allis announced the launch of his new book “Prophecy, Challenge & Blessing - Visions of 2012 & The Shift” at his website with this message - which is also printed on the outside of the back cover:

“We are living in an age of monumental transformation, known as the shift. This is the hottest of topics, particularly with all the attention given to the ending of the Mayan calendar on December 21, 2012. It is also one of the most misunderstood. In his latest book, “Prophesy, Challenge & Blessing – Visions of 2012 & the Shift,” Jack Allis cuts through the confusion with a message that is simple, yet profound, echoing the ancient indigenous prophesies from cultures spanning the globe, including the Hopi and the Maya. This is an age when the old world is coming to its inevitable end, so a new world may be born. We can already see this playing out in our world, with the collapse of virtually all the structures of our civilized world. However, this does not have to be doomsday. The solution, again, comes from our indigenous relatives, who knew how to do the one thing we don’t. This was to live sustainably in harmony with the forces of nature and with Mother Earth. A huge topic? A formidable task? Yes indeed, but Jack tackles it with eloquence and inspiration. It’s up to us to reconnect with our heritage as spiritual beings. We are fully capable of this, but we must get to work.”

I recently ordered and received my autographed copy of “Prophecy, Challenge & Blessing - Visions of 2012 & The Shift.” Inside the front cover, Jack wrote: “To Tom - My UsuryFree Soul Brother.” Without a doubt, Jack knows that the usuryfree community currency movement has a unique, solution-oriented role to play as “The Shift” evolves in the days, months and years ahead.

Jack and I have known each other since our connection on a regular telephone conference call earlier in this 21st Century where Jack acted as host and engaged his listeners by encouraging them to take responsibility for their own lives by involving them in interactive conversations. Jack dared to address topics related to personal and financial freedom, alternative and natural health and wellness issues, and the many problems of this modern world which are directly and/or indirectly related to the design flaw of usury as a malfunctioning component of our orthodox economic system of debt money. I remember talking briefly about the ultimate solution as offered by the tried and proven model whereby we-the-people learn how to create and spend our own usuryfree community currency.

The growth and evolution of the usuryfree community currency movement continues as more and more debtors awaken to the truth about modern money creation. This year (2010) marks the sixth annual usuryfree week which will be celebrated from November 13th to 19th. Readers can read more about usuryfree week and other matters about the usuryfree community currency movement by doing a search at any search engine and by spending some time at Community Currency Magazine: http://www.ccmag.net

In his new book, Jack makes reference to a forthcoming, severe financial collapse that will be the catalyst for the global banking cartel to fully implement their planned, plasticized and mandatory, usury-based, digital money. It is my humble opinion that any reader of “Prophecy, Challenge & Blessing - Visions of 2012 & The Shift” ought to be sufficiently motivated to take an active role in re-building our respective local communities by initiating action to launch a usuryfree community currency. It is the vision of myself and various other usuryfree creatives that eventually, a usuryfree, time-based currency has the potential to serve us locally, nationally and internationally. I encourage Jack Allis to more fully address this possibility in the next book that he publishes.

Jack Allis is a well respected author and spiritual teacher who offers consultations in the areas of personal growth and spiritual teaching. Jack is currently living in the rural area of Wisconsin - on the shores of Little Okauchee Lake. Jack previously authored these two books: (a) Infinity’s Flower and (b) Infinity’s Children.

Jack’s latest book: “Prophecy, Challenge & Blessing - Visions of 2012 & The Shift” shares a simple and profound message about current events as we approach that much-talked-about date of 2012.

I first browsed the Table of Contents of the 142 page book that is divided into 8 chapters. This is a list of the Chapters: Chapter 1 - The Shift Update, Chapter 2 - What is the Shift: Short Version, Chapter 3 - What is the Shift: Full Version, Chapter 4 - Transforming Challenges into Blessings, Chapter 5 - Understanding the Dark Side, Chapter 6 - The Process of Ascension, Chapter 7 - The New World of Light and Spirit, Chapter 8 - The Last Time

I read the first half of the book on the day that I received it in the mail and I finished the book the next day. I have now read through the book two times and I know I will be reading it again. Thank you Jack, for yet another timely book that offers hope with words of wisdom during this chaotic and turbulent era of wars, violence, poverty, scarcity and lack which is commonly accelerated by the greatest of our social/financial scourges - the design flaw of usury and its immoral and evil elements that keep debtors financially enslaved for generation after generation.

One statment by Jack Allis that best exemplifies his message about 2012 is: “What most people see as doomsday is actually the most unimaginable blessing, as we have all been blessed with this opportunity to not only spiritually transform ourselves, but also to play our part in creating the new world.”

In recent years, Jack has learned much from our indigenous brothers and sisters by associating with them to gain their love and trust. By experiencing ceremony, sacred chants and prayer to enhance a connection with spirit, Jack has been actively involved with key leaders within various groups/tribes of indigenous elders. In turn, they have willingly shared many details of their respective indigenous histories - much of it differs significantly from the traditional perspectives of history that are commonly taught within our sacred walls of formal education. Jack writes about his Indigenous Soul Brothers and shares their wisdom in this book. I find it noteworthy and interesting that our indigeneous brothers and sisters used various forms of usuryfree wampum to facilitate their trades or exchanges. Perhaps, once again in this 21st Century, we should be referring to our usuryfree community currencies as wampum.

I admit that I was motivated to read the 17 pages of Chapter 5 first as the title “Understanding the Dark Side - The Most Positive News Imaginable” grabbed my attention. In reference to the ‘dark side,’ Jack lists a few terms commonly used to refer to them such as: the Illuminati, the elite, the global elite or the shadow government. To leave no misinterpretation due to semantics, Jack clearly defines the ‘dark side’ as ‘the hidden powers that own and control the world.’

Since I read Gary Allen’s paperback titled “None Dare Call It Conspiracy” in 1980, I always look for authentic and experienced authors who dare to write about what is really going on regarding world politics, power and global economics. I found such an awesome author in Jack Allis. I propose that Jack Allis’s new book be included to make 1001 things listed in the next “Book Of Awesome.”

This statement of truth by Jack jumped off the page and earned highest marks for exposing the lies, deceit and deception as routinely published by the mainstream electronic and print media: “The ultimate objective, the crown jewel, of the dark side is called the New World Order. The New World Order is a fascist world government, controlled from the top of the pyramid, by the global elite. This would consist of a world government, along the lines of the United Nations, which is a stepping stone toward this end. It would also consist of a world army, and again the UN Security Force, as well as multi-national armies, such as NATO, are stepping stones for this. The New World Order would consist of a world central bank and a world system of money, ultimately of the non-paper variety. As is usually the case, the international banking establishment is way ahead of the game in this area, with self-appointed, non-elected world banking entities already in place, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. These are the play toys of the global elite.”

In Chapter 5 of the book, Jack offers a Readers’ Digest version of the ‘dark side’ and their association with the New World Order and provides enough thought-provoking information to motivate any reader to pursue a self-imposed course of study to confirm any facts presented.

Jack’s radical and revolutionary approach to address the role the “dark side” plays in our world challenges the thought processes of those well-intended “new agers” who claim that there is no “dark side,” nor any negative forces that are designed to manipulate we-the-people. By intertwining factual material with his personal and self-imposed odyssey, Jack refuses to burden his readers with the idea that the “dark side” will succeed in imposing their selfish and greedy agenda of global, financial enslavement within their New World of Dis-Order. I highly complement Jack for his daring initiative to write about the ‘dark side’ and their selfish, greedy and evil hidden agenda while encouraging each one of us to take complete responsibility for our own lives as we progress through these shifting times.

It is a relief that Jack Allis defines the ongoing and forthcoming shift as personal. Jack seeks to relieve his readers from the stress and fear that bombards us daily from the mainstream media and from the doomsday prophecies and labels commonly applied to 2012 by Hollywood or otherwise. Reading about the personal odyssey of Jack Allis while being open to re-educating oneself with information published in the book is likely to motivate any reader to take action to change the way one lives by changing the way one spends one’s money while pursuing the ultimate goal of spiritual ascension.

Jack devouts Chapter 6 to the ‘Process of Ascension’ as a primary tool to facilitate the creation of our new world after the paradigm shift is completed. He points out that it is essential to raise our vibrational frequency by making a commitment to disengage or de-program ourselves from the old, crumbling paradigm while re-programming ourselves for the forthcoming new and improved paradigm of light and spirit by tuning our mind, body and spirit through relaxation tools such as breathing, meditation, yoga, energy healing, sacred ceremonies, sweat lodges and prayer. Jack also advocates spending time in nature, listening to inspirational music, reading inspirational books, doing regular exercise and eating what he refers to as a healthy, ascension diet.

In the Introduction of the book, Jack Allis writes: “When we resonate in harmony with the energy in our world, we begin to manifest incredible things in our lives. When enough of us do this, which is referred to as critical mass, we will generate the power to create an entirely new world, one that is in harmony with the forces of nature and in harmony with the divine spirit. Contrarily, the vast majority of the people in our world today are resisting the flow of this shifting energy, and pushing against it. They are doing this by clinging to the energy of the old paradigm world, which has lost its connection with spirit, and is in a state of collpase. As a result, they are feeling the anger of a crunbling world.”

Jack’s new book encourages readers to avoid being a victim by striving to become a co-creator and taking charge of their own ‘shift.’ I recommend that absolutely everyone by offered an opportunity to read and re-read “Prophecy, Challenge & Blessing - Visions of 2012 & The Shift.” After reading and re-reading Jack’s book anyone and everyone is invited to become a usuryfree creative and reach out and tell debtors that usuryfree living facilitated with time currency or time wampum (hours and minutes) created and spend by ourselves is the last, best answer to financial bondage and enslavement with their (the bankers’) conventional currency (dollars and cents) created and loaned by greedy creditors who manage and manipulate the exacting of usury.

In summary, my recommendation to any usuryfree creative or otherwise, is to purchase and read Jack Allis’s new book “Prophecy, Challenge & Blessing - Visions of 2012 & The Shift” and then facilitate the universal awakening by helping to make Jack’s book go viral both in cyberspace and within your respective circles of influence in real life.

An accompanying DVD is also available which includes excerpts from Jack’s live talks, complete with dazzling images and captions. The DVD is an exceptional tool, especially for those auditory learners who have not yet created and cultivated the habit of reading.

To order your copy of “Prophecy, Challenge & Blessing - Visions of 2012 & The Shift” visit Jack’s website: http://www.jackallis.com or call 1.800.995.0796 Ext.9486

NOTE: Be sure and tell Jack Allis that you were referred by his “UsuryFree Soul Brother” Tom J. Kennedy otherwise known as “Tommy UsuryFree Kennedy.”

The Kinder, Gentler Depression in Kissimmee Florida

Stories From Our Nation’s Past - The Kinder, Gentler Depression in Kissimmee, Florida - By Jack Miller
 
(excerpts reprinted from the March/April 1989 issue of The Sound Money Investor)
 
Readers are invited to read, re-read and share this article which was published in 1989. We are now 21 years closer to the planned Depression of this 21st Century. As Jack Miller asks: “Are you and your family and friends forearmed now that you are forewarned?” Do you have a usuryfree community currency in your community to facilitate local trades or exchanges? If not yet, then it is time to organize your economic lifeboat before their usury-based Titanic goes down.
 
Back in 1935, Kissimmee (Florida) was a far cry from the ‘Gateway to Disneyworld,’ it is now. It was a cowtown of about 3000 people with one main street, a library, a zoo, a movie and Lake Tohopekaliga. Those who had jobs either worked in the packinghouse, the retail stores scattered along our three block commercial district, or they were farmers, ranchers, or city employees. Most of the people didn’t really have jobs at all. They found work from time-to-time in the orange groves or doing unskilled work when it was available. For some reason, I remember it as a happy time, in some ways better than today.
 
Americans have forgotten small-town living in the hustle and bustle of getting ahead. Gathered from the reading I’ve done in today’s press, nothing strikes more terror in the hearts of investors than contemplation of another DEPRESSION. It’s no wonder. We’ve grown accustomed to spending what we’ll earn tomorrow to buy something today that won’t last until then. We’ve grown dependent upon government at all levels to bail us out when we aren’t able to attend college, run a business, hold a job or even invest on our own successfully. It wasn’t always like this, maybe that’s why things seemed better in the past.
 
Kissimmee was truly in the backwaters of Florida and except for the Miami-area and some of the more prominent beach areas such as Daytona, most of Florida was in the backwaters of America. It was rural with rural values. We saw little crime. Vagrants who drifted through town were expected to work for meals and a chance to sleep in your garage. There was no welfare. Neighbour looked after neighbour. Citizens looked after the town. Drunks were locked up in jail. We didn’t know the meaning of violent crime or even theft, for that matter. Maybe it was because there wasn’t any money to steal. Maybe it was because people wouldn’t tolerate thieves among themselves, and we all knew it. Maybe it was because we felt we were all ‘in the soup’ together, and we had to cooperate in order to make it through. Whatever the reason, Kissimmee survived and even exhibited some style doing it.
 
Let’s talk about our micro-economic system. Mr. Patrick was our dairyman. His cows didn’t know much about depressions, but they did know they had to be milked twice a day. Because there was no money with which to buy milk in town, Mr. Patrick would put it in bottles and leave it in a large wooden box in the back of the drug store. The iceman would put in ice and take milk in payment. Everyone else just left an I.O.U. Along with a list of milk they’d taken out. Then Mr. Patrick would trade the I.O.U.’s around town for the things he needed - groceries, clothing, movies, hardware items, feed. These I.O.U.’s were passed on in payment for other things and finally redeemed in labour or goods by the person who’d signed them It worked because everyone needed milk and it was in the town’s interest that Mr. Patrick be able to provide it. And almost everyone would take his I.O.U.’s.
 
I suppose you could say that Mr. Patrick had a ‘cash cow’ in his business. Each day more milk was produced, more I.O.U.’s written, more commerce done. In a way, his cows were sort of like the Fed, now. They kept on producing ‘currency milk’ at low cost, and our economy kept expanding.
 
There were more things going on than Mr. Patrick’s milk business. We had a Chevrolet dealer who’d let you drive a new car for six months while you made up your mind whether to buy it or not. And we even had a full social schedule.
 
In a small town, remember, this was before television and outside the range of most radio broadcasts, people learn to entertain themselves. And we had real stars, Buddy Ebson was from Kissimmee and he was a Broadway Star - a dancer. His dad decided to cash in on Buddy’s success, so he started a dancing school. Of course, we all attended.
 
My parents had been brought up on a farm, so we had a garden. We raised both chickens and rabbits which we ate and sold to neighbours. A dressed rabbit, ready-to-cook was worth 30 cents. Exactly the cost of a week’s tap dancing and ballet lessons for four kids. We also bought hair cuts, shoe repairs, and canned goods with rabbits and chickens.
 
Our town jail had a permanent visitor. He was a hobo who’d found a home, but without any work he was jailed as a vagrant. He knew how to play the saw, so in the pleasant summer evenings, we’d all take folding chairs and blankets and sit outside the jail while he played by tapping a hammer and/or drawing a bow across the saw to make music.
 
In better times, Kissimmee had built a civic club with two tennis courts. The Town Council budgeted enough money to pay for a large floodlight at night and the tennis courts became a community dance floor, a stage for Mr. Ebson Sr.’s dance recitals and beauty contests. Local musicians would play for dances. Orators would make speeches.
 
Remember, Kissimmee was a cow-town. Florida has always been a front-runner in the cattle business. Naturally, there were whip contests, wood chopping contests, and the Silver Spurs rodeo was started.
 
There were also water sports. Lake Tohopekaliga was full of fish. We used bamboo for fishing poles, bread for bait, and could bring home enough fish for supper anytime we wanted to. One of the best things about a depression, is that adults and children had lots of time to spend together. Even though much of this time was spent working; repairing the house; clearing lots; planting and maintaining a garden; and helping turn milk into butter, cheese and ice cream; it all seemed more like a game then work, because we all did it together.
 
We cut our own hair and made our own clothes out of patterned chicken feed bags. We picked wild black-berries and tame mulberries. We ate citrus fruit directly off the tree. We canned everything. My Dad and Uncle spent many waking hours trying to perfect a method of turning citrus juice of various mixtures into brandy.
 
Most of all, my impression is one of a community in which everyone cared for the other, regardless of whether we were rich or poor, Protestant or Catholic, black or white. The standards of acceptance were good citizenship, responsibility, and honesty.
 
Things grew much worse in the northeastern cities where people waited for Franklin Roosevelt to do something. In Kissimmee, out of sight and mind of government agencies, we took care of each other.
 
The Great Depression wasn’t the end of the world in Kissimmee, Florida. It was more a time of testing social values and individual self-reliance. They didn’t have unemployment compensation, pensions, Social Security, the G.I. Bill or low cost government loans. They had something better, an attitude which recognized that the only real security in this world is self-sufficiency, productive work and a strong moral foundation.
 
No one will maintain that a depression is going to be fun. It isn’t. It wasn’t. But it did offer insights into ways a family can adjust after they’ve lost everything but faith in themselves. Probably, the greater lesson is that wishing it weren’t true won’t prevent its happening. Nor will all the speeches made by all the office-seekers. Nor will the consensus of optimists who loudly proclaim that government safety nets will prevent our ever having to go through it all again.
 
Forewarned is forearmed. We now know that government excesses and controls caused the Great Depression, and that only the inflation of World War II and the full employment that the armed forces and defense industries provided really cured it. We also know that we’re in debt both privately and corporately at levels far above those of the 20’s.
 
It seems only prudent that we’d make preparations to limit the damage such a depression might cause by reducing debt, strengthening our community and family ties, and creating  contingency plans as to how we’d weather such a drastic economic downturn out of our own resources. One look at the sea of red ink being generated by the government in this recovery year should convince even the most skeptical that promised safety nets may not hold in the event we re-lived those days of 25% unemployment rates and doubled income taxes.
 
NOTE: This article is also published in the booklet “Life Without Usury” which is available for $20.00 plus postage and handling from:  The UsuryFree Network, P. O. Box 9333, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1G 3V1

It Is Time For Truth About Modern Money Creation

By Tom J. Kennedy
 
Truth about money has been a rather rare commodity throughout the ages. The bad news is that falsehoods about money have been perpetuating the endless cycles of perpetual debt for debtors. The good news is that more and more debtors are focusing on economic solutions and asking questions and questioning the answers as we progress into this 21st Century.
 
Debtors are re-educating themselves through self-imposed courses of study to unlearn what formal education taught them about ‘interest’ which ought to be correctly defined as ‘usury.’ Indeed, usury is being exposed as the killer machine that has been keeping debtors financially enslaved for generation after generation. Usury has been described as the hidden ‘fifth column’ that is the glue holding their (the usurers’) systems in place.
 
It is my observation that it is the ‘911-truthers’ who have been the catalyst in the re-birthing of truth as it applies not only to 911, but also to various inter-related issues of this modern age, such as politics, education, sickness and disease, religion and economics.
 
Clarifying the truth about modern money creation and how the design flaw of usury intentionally creates wars, violence, poverty, scarcity and lack within the societal structures of individuals, families, businesses, and governments will be the focus of this brief introductory article.
 
Due to programming and conditioning throughout one’s years of formal education, the elusive elements of truth about modern money creation has been commonly determined by the limited and biased curriculum as created, implemented and policed by the masters of usury in cahoots with the educational, political and judicial pyramids of power.
 
Instead, lies, deceit and deception have permeated the consciousness of the debtors so that the Court of Public Review (we-the-debtors) have little or no understanding of the definitive truths that can be applied to expose the lies, deceit and deception that are the foundation of our orthodox, economic system of usury-based, debt money.
 
Discovering the truth about the evil and immoral aspects of the design flaw of usury seems scary to many debtors, but when understood, the unraveled truth has the potential to set any debtor free. As an enslaved debtor bound by the chains and shackles of usury, I was fortunate to be mentored about modern money creation by John C. Turmel ‘banking systems engineer’ and ‘bankfighter extraordinaire’ in the 1980’s when I was a young father in my early 30’s. http://www.cyberclass.net/turmel
 
Since that time, I have immersed myself in the ongoing, monetary research that is being continuously published electronically and in conventional print by meticulous researchers from all over the world. In recent years, I am witnessing a growing consciousness shift as more and more debtors are aspiring to learn what formal education neglects to teach.
 
Without a doubt, debtors are facing critical choices at financial crossroads as the local and global economies slide on the slippery slope towards a worldwide Depression that will make the Depression of the 1930’s look like a Sunday picnic.
 
Simultaneously, the awakening of the debtors is quickening as they realize that it is the constant growth of their debt is the root cause of their unbearable, financial pain. Whatever the precise motivating factor, debtors are choosing to be re-educated by their own self-imposed courses of economic study using Internet-based resources as well as books, CDs, DVDs and live seminars/workshops that are focused on exposing the half-truths learned within the sacred walls of formal education.
 
Along with the ongoing re-education process, there must be an unlearning of the lies, deceit and deception that has been embedded in the consciousness of the debtors on issues related to historical and modern money creation. This unlearning process is often the greater challenge.
 
Unfortunately, it has been a dysfunctional, educational system and a malfunctioning economic system, propelled by ignorant and/or misguided politicians at all levels of government that has been contributing to the burial of the real truth about modern money creation.
 
The formula for seeking truth in modern money creation is rooted not only in re-education but also in self-trust which must trump the self-doubt that is promoted by their (the usurers) ‘system.’ To re-gain this self-trust, debtors must be ready and willing to re-educate themselves and then step outside of their hassle-free zones and express themselves truthfully. To become freed from usury, all debtors must be willing to do this regardless of criticism from their family, friends, neighbours, working colleagues etc. who “don’t know they don’t know.”
 
Each and every time another debtor commits to the process of unlearning and re-education on topics regarding the truth about modern money creation, the mass consciousness about usuryfree living is shifted because one more debtor is aspiring to “Life Without Usury.”
 
The sole purpose of any debtor living in this 21st Century ought to be to re-educate her/himself so that s/he will not fall prey to the usurers. Debtors can only change themselves and learn how to throw off the yoke of usury that has been choking them financially. By focusing on their own re-education process and seeking freedom from usury, any debtor can become an example for others to model.
 
This modeling fortified by sharing the truth about modern money creation will likely have a greater effect on helping to usher in a new age of usuryfree living than any other methods of coercion. In this modern economic world of financial chaos fuelled by the manipulated, co-dependency of creditors and debtors, the exposing of the menace of usury by one more debtor is the key element to accelerating the consciousness shift towards usuryfree living for everyone on this planet.
 
In summary, we must (1) unlearn the falsehoods (2) re-educate ourselves about the truth of modern money creation (3) re-establish self-trust and bravely step out of our hassle-free zones and (4) then expect other debtors to follow our modeling as they seek true financial freedom. Kudos to all debtors who are willingly accepting the challenge to throw off the yoke of usury and experience the reality of usuryfree living. Various strategies are being tried and tested by debtors. Readers are invited to share details of any specific strategies that are proving to be effective.
 
Below are some suggested resources for those who are ready and willing to commence a self-imposed course of study on topics related to the truth about modern money creation. Most of these resources are available online or from: The UsuryFree Network, P. O. Box 9333, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada  K1G 3V1
 
Money As Debt I & II: These two DVDs were created by Paul Grignon
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=5352106773770802849#
http://vimeo.com/6822294
Money - Who Creates It, Who Controls It by Issac Isitan:
http://www.cyberclass.net/moneyvideo.htm
The Money Masters: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-515319560256183936#
The Babylonian Woe: http://turmelpress.com/babyl00.htm
Print Your Own Money: http://www.cyberclass.net/printyourownmoney.htm
Life Without Usury: http://studimonetari.org/articoli/lifewithoutusury.html
The UsuryFree Eye Opener: http://usuryfree.blogspot.com
UsuryFree Creatives: http://usuryfreecreatives.ning.com
The UsuryFree Network: http://www.cyberclass.net/usuryfree.htm
 
Do a search for any of these words and you will learn lots more: usury, usuryfree, life without usury, usuryfree living, usuryfree community currency, usuryfree network, usuryfree day, usuryfree week, Tommy UsuryFree Kennedy, John ‘The Engineer’ Turmel, John ‘King of the Paupers’ Turmel, bank math.
 
Noteworthy quotes:
 
“Economics at a revolution with a usuryfree resolution.” - Tommy UsuryFree Kennedy
“Why are we not fixing a broken financial system NOW?” - Tommy UsuryFree Kennedy
“None of us is freed from usury, until all of us are freed from usury.” - Tommy UsuryFree Kennedy
“Why are we-the-debtors using their (the usurers’ money) and paying them a fee (usury) when we have learned that we can create and spend our own money for FREE?” - Tommy UsuryFree Kennedy
 
NOTE: Readers are invited to share this information with others in cyberspace. Readers are also invited to plan an activity for your community to celebrate the Sixth Annual UsuryFree Week from November 13th to 19th, 2010. It is our intention that UsuryFree Day & Week become as popular as Earth Day & Week - which was started in the 1970’s and is now celebrated in schools everywhere during the third week of April every year to focus on the environment.

Why Rome Fell Is Why Western Civilization Is Falling!

"The two greatest problems in history," says J. S. Reid - brilliant scholar of our time, and author of Cambridge Medieval History - are "How to account for the rise of Rome, and how to account for her fall."

“We may come nearer to understanding them if we remember that the fall of Rome, like her rise, had not one cause buy many, and was not an event but a process spread over 300 years. Some nations have not lasted as long as Rome fell.”

“A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within. The essential causes of Rome's decline lay in her people, her morals, her class struggle, her failing trade, her bureaucratic despotism, her stifling taxes, her consuming wars.”

“Barbarian inroads, and centuries of mining the richer veins had doubtless lowered Rome's supply of precious metals. In central and southern Italy, deforestation, erosion, and the neglect of irrigation canals by diminishing peasantry and a disordered government had left Italy poorer than before.

The cause, however, was no inherent exhaustion of the soil, no change in climate but the negligence and sterility of harassed and discouraged men.”

“So many farms had been abandoned, above all in Italy, that Emperor Pertinax offered them gratis to anyone who would till them.”

“The holocausts of war and revolution, and perhaps the operation of conception, abortion, and infantcide, had a dysgenic as well as a numerical effect; the ablest men married last, bred last, and died sooner. The dole weakened the poor, luxury weakened the rich - Rome was not conquered by barbarian invasion from without, but by barbarian multiplication from within.

“Moral decay contributed to the dissolution. The virile character that had been formed by arduous simplicities and a supporting faith relaxed in the sunshine of wealth and the freedom of unbelief; men had now, in the middle and upper classes, the means to yield to temptation, and only expediency to restrain them.

Urban congestion multiplied contacts and frustrated surveillance; immigration brought together a hundred cultures whose differences rubbed themselves out into indifference. Moral and esthetic standards were lowered by the magnetism of the mass; and sex ran riot in freedom while political liberty decayed.”

These excerpts are from the Epilogue, page 665 - 667, titled 'Why Rome Fell' in the book 'Ceasar and Christ - A History of Roman Civilization and of Christianity from their Beginnings to A.D. 325' - authored by Will Durant and published by Simon and Schuster, New York, 1944.

Do you notice any similarities from ‘Why Rome Fell’ to why ‘Western Civilization Is Falling?’