The Rough Road to Gold
The Keynesian lunacy that has hung a Sword of Damocles over our heads in the form of an unpayable $16.7 trillion debt may lead us back to the gold standard — but the path won’t be pretty. Nathan Lewis quotes the 1896 book Fiat Money Inflation in France by Andrew Dickson White to demonstrate how history may be repeating itself. Napoleon was a dictator, but at least he got rid of the fiat currency that had been causing Hope & Change–style havoc:
“When Bonaparte took the consulship the condition of fiscal affairs was appalling. The government was bankrupt; an immense debt was unpaid. The further collection of taxes seemed impossible; the assessments were in hopeless confusion. War was going on in the East, on the Rhine, and in Italy, and civil war, in La Vendee. All the armies had long been unpaid, and the largest loan that could for the moment be effected was for a sum hardly meeting the expenses of the government for a single day. At the first cabinet council Bonaparte was asked what he intended to do. He replied, “I will pay cash or pay nothing.” From this time he conducted all his operations on this basis. He arranged the assessments, funded the debt, and made payments in cash; and from this time — during all the campaigns of Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena, Eylau, Friedland, down to the Peace of Tilsit in 1807 — there was but one suspension of specie payment, and this only for a few days. When the first great European coalition was formed against the Empire, Napoleon was hard pressed financially, and it was proposed to resort to paper money; but he wrote to his minister, ‘While I live I will never resort to irredeemable paper.’ He never did …”
Napoleon was so popular that he declared himself emperor in 1804, and it stuck. Thus did a great nation rise again from the ashes; although Napoleon soon returned it to ashes in his own special way, with a side trip to Moscow.
Similarly, hyperinflation paved the way for Hitler’s rise to power.
Either the leftists steering our country’s course are too foolish to learn from history, or they have learned from it only too well.
On a tip from Kevin in Auburn, WA .
Napoleon had the right idea on many fronts. Another thing we could learn from him is that our wars should be financed by the countries who’ve made them necessary to fight. Instead of our pouring billions into Iraq courtesy of the U.S. taxpayer we should be charging them oil for their liberation and security. Same goes for the EU and elsewhere. Only the might of our military and expenditures has kept their peacetime intact for so many decades!
I lean towards the “only too well” explanation for Obama and his ilk driving this mad dash towards economic collapse. They believe they will achieve permanent power in America the same way Hitler, Stalin and Mao did – indeed the way every Leftist dictator has ever achieved power; through mass economic turmoil coupled with a collapse in popular belief in and support for the established order. The progressives have been sowing their seeds for over a 100 years and they feel their time is almost here. God hlep us, if their schemes and calculations are right.
Yeah, Monsieur Bonaparte hosed it pretty good when he decided to take on Russia…but he was an amazing figure, and the last great Frenchman. With all his faults, imagine how (un-rewritten) history would look at him versus that…thing…we now have as our President.
The problem now is the strangle-hold the progs have. They’ve developed a majority entitlement class that will never want anything but a hand-out. They’re importing the dregs of Mexico & Central America to ensure a non-white majority that will forever support a socialist state. They’ve hi-jacked academia and have produced at least 2 generations of self-hating white kids who only know “progressivism” and will support any society-destroying agenda that they’re fed.
Only God can now turn things around. He will. Whether it’s fast enough for my taste…well, He doesn’t consult me on such matters!
Unfortunately, So Cal Jim, they are right.
Skyfall @1:30
Only God can now turn things around. He will. Whether it’s fast enough for my taste…well, He doesn’t consult me on such matters!
Nor I. We have been warned about these times to come though and properly instructed to prepare for them. Too many things are out of our control now but that. I accept responsibility in warning as many as I can to make right with God and get their house in order. I’m far from where I need to be complete but on the right path. It’s obvious to anyone with clear thought things are going to get very ugly indeed.
There might be some gold left after China buys up as much as they can to back their currency with.
Skyfall and IslanLifer well said. He doesn’t check with me either, but I do know it will be unexpected for many “for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” 1 Thes. 5:2 We have been sufficiently warned by the Bible and the testimony of God’s own Son to be prepared for the Rapture.
Left unchecked to run its course, Hope and Change will result in Obama declaring martial law and appointing himself dictator for live, like his pal Chavez. That, and the prog attempts to confiscate guns in dereliction of the 2nd Amendment will lead to civil war. I hope it comes before that bloody time.
For the Christian, the Rapture will be a welcome event, but for everyone else it will be a time of great tribulation. Imagine being left behind to deal with the unbelievers while millions of Christians all over the world suddenly vanish without explanation.
As was said in the comic strip WIZARD of ID was REMEMBER THE GOLDEN RULE,WHO EVER HAS THE GOLD MAKES THE RULES
@Sgt Brock E Lee
After the Franco Prussian War the German Empire decided to make the French pay and 43 years later got WWI. The Alles in 1918 decided to make Germany pay and in 1939 got Hitler and WWII. We have avoided universal military alliances against us to preserve the balance of power. Your idea is emotionally appealing but a bad idea.