A Glimpse of A World Without Money

I KNOW THE ARTICLE IS QUITE LONG, BUT I ASURE YOU IT'S WORTH READING. IN CASE YOU'RE NOT FEELING LIKE READING TOO MUCH, THEN THIS SHORT VIDEO WILL DO

I know, it's a hard thing to imagine; a world without money. That's only because we've let money become something that it is not. Do we really need money, along with all of the problems it brings? I should think not. For too long we've let money control us, as if we were slaves, but lets take a look at what the world might look like if we did away with money, forever.

What is money? You might be thinking; well, money is something that I use to exchange for goods and services, which usually comes in the form of paper or coin. I definitely can't argue with that, but if we dig a little bit deeper we will come to find that only about 3% of our money actually comes in a material form like those above. Of course that would mean that the rest of our money supply is all digital. It's just a bunch of numbers that originally were generated out of thin air.

Sometimes I think we fail to understand how this money thing really works. Either that, or many people just don't care to understand. I for one, would rather understand.  Lets look at this a little bit closer, shall we?  

Why do we need money?

Alright then, money; what is it really? A necessity? Certainly not! At least not when we're talking about things that we need in order to live, such as food, clothing, and shelter. Those would be necessities, and money does not fit in there, although we have elevated it to that level. What about a luxury? I don't think so. Air conditioning would be a luxury, something that we don't really need in order to live, but it makes things a lot better. In my opinion, money hardly makes things any better and I'll explain why shortly, so we can't very well put it in the luxury group either. So then, where can we put it? To what can we compare it?

Well, you can try and fit it into those other two categories, but I'm gonna go ahead and stick it into the slavery group. Yes, slavery. Now, I know that when we think of slavery, we may generally think of some punishing hard labor, with little or no reward, but I ask you to consider where money really came from, and why you really need it at any given time.

At some point in your life you probably needed to go out and get a job, right? Why? Well, generally in our culture, we only accept money for things that we either want, or need. So, if you wanted something, or needed something that you didn't already have, you were forced to go out and submit to an employer. Our culture says that you need money to do things, so you've got to go out and get some of this money by working for someone else. I know, it's with consent, but we weren't really given an alternative to it were we? Does this sound like freedom, or slavery?

Now, if we look a little further ahead, it would seem that you might need a place of your own in order to start a family of your own. In our culture, in order to accomplish this you will need much more of that money we've been talking about. So, you probably need to go learn some stuff at a school (need money for that), and then you need to submit to another employer who will give you enough money to cover the costs that you have, or will incur. Does that sound like freedom, or slavery to you?

Hey, it's not a perfect system right, but it works?  Uh, incorrect.  The system was never set up to be perfect, nor for the benefit of you, or me.  The system enables the rich to stay rich, and the poor to stay poor.  

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Why money doesn't make things better

Your money, the money that you have right now, is owed to somebody, by somebody. As long as we continue to use a monetary system, we will remain in debt indefinitely. Allow me to explain. You know about the Federal Reserve right? Well, they're the ones who pull our money out of thin air, and then charge us interest for it. If the government wants more money, a request is sent to the Fed, the Fed will accept reserve notes and digitally add a predetermined amount of money into the system. So, right off the bat we have money (created from nowhere), along with debt. Not only that, but we also have interest owed on top of our new debt, and as if that weren't bad enough, we are also forced to deal with inflation because "new money" is always being added into the system because we just can't get enough of it. This is why money equals debt, and debt also equals slavery. Even the Bible states; The borrower is servant to the lender.

Oh, you thought that you had true freedom?  As did I, until I actually sat down and thought about this whole situation.  However, that's a big problem because most people don't think about it, and the rich bankers would love to keep it that way.  Lets just continue on as if there are no problems and everything will work itself out in the end, right?  There's only one major problem with that; things aren't going to get any better this way.  You can only pull something out of nothing for so long until disaster strikes.  

We all hate crime right?  Well, over 80% of it is related to money.  What are some of the other side effects to the monetary system that we've all grown to love?  Debt; that's an obvious one.  Foreclosures; sure that's a big one.  War; yeah, that's definitely in there.  Poverty; yeah, gotta have that one.  Greed; ooh, good one.  Corruption; yeah, the monetary system will do that to ya.  There's still others for sure, but that's quite enough depressing stuff for now.  I want to get to the part about what the world could really look like if it weren't for money.

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No money, no problems?

Ah, the encouraging part. The part about a world without money. I can picture it now...

There is no greed, there is no corruption! Why not? There's no money to covet, no special status as a result of having more money. We have the resources, and we have the technology in order to provide the things needed by everyone.

Ah, there is no stealing! Why not? You have access to the things you need, or may want, and anything stolen won't provide one with more money or anything else of "value" (I say value in the way that we see it now).

No one is poor, hungry, or homeless! Why not? Well, there is no rich, poor, or middle class. There is no money, and our status does not depend on how much we have. There is plenty for everyone. Again, we have the resources, and the technology in order to provide for everyone. Not one should be left out.

There are no foreclosures! Why not? Easy, the banks no longer rule the world, and they have no authority. You cannot lose a home when it was not paid for out of debt.

No jobs! Really? Well not so fast. Surely we wouldn't all be sitting around twiddling our thumbs. Certain jobs would easily become obsolete, like marketing and banking. While construction, medical, teaching, and other services would still be much needed. Why would we do that if there was no money? Because we can. Because we would be like minded, helping each other through ways that we are able. It's true, we might lose things like professional sports, or entertainment. Things like that could conceivably still be done, but they would really be just for fun.

No gambling! Yep, no reason for it without the money, and there being access to the resources that one needs.

No slavery! Ah, there's a thought. No longer are we hindered by debt/money, that we need to be forced into anything that we would rather not do. Sure we would still be working and doing things, but because we love to, want to, and are excited to see our children continue in this way.

Technology that lasts! Sure it seems like our technology is great, but the fact is, in a monetary system businesses can't be overly concerned about the customer. This is why things break, things don't work right, and things quickly become obsolete. In a world without money, our technology would also be free to be as good as it can be. It would no longer be restricted. Things would last, things would be made easier (no tech vs. man job problems), and we would become more advanced and more civilized in a shorter amount of time.

Is this a glimpse of a problem free world? Sadly no. We will have differences, we will have problems. This isn't a glimpse at a perfect world, just one of a world where there is real freedom. One humanity, one culture, one people, working together for the benefit of each other.

What would change require?

For far too long we have been fighting against ourselves. For far too long we have let the monetary system make us into modern day slaves. As long as we believe that things will never change, then they will not. Change comes by action alone. First there is a decision, then there must be action, and then there will be change.

In 1835, President Andrew Jackson shut down the Central Bank that preceded the Fed. Truly, he had a glimpse of what lie ahead for humanity. That was the last time that America was debt free, and now we can but glimpse of what it would be like to be free from this debt, free from this slavery, free from this burden that we call money and elevate to some lofty position. Is money important? Do we need money? Money is nothing! Money has become a burden! Down with money! Up with a civilized people that are free, technologically advanced, and willing and able to support each other as one people.

POSTED BY JOANNE MAÑÁ 

Where to keep your money

Where to keep your money

Most of us have heard stories about people keeping their money under the floorboards or in their mattress but this isn’t usually the best way to look after money. We need money to live our lives so it is important that we keep it somewhere that we can get hold of it but we also need to make sure it is safe.

People have worried about keeping their money safe throughout history. Rather than leaving it at home, the ancient Egyptians used to keep their gold in temples because they believed it would be safer. The temples were big, sturdy buildings that were never left unattended and they were also sacred, which meant it was less likely someone would steal from them.

Today, most of us choose to keep our money in banks or building societies. While we don’t see these as sacred they do have qualities similar to the ancient temples. Set up specifically to manage money, banks and building societies are considered safe places that are capable of keeping our money secure for us until we need it.  

What is the difference between 

a bank and a building society?

Banks
Banks are companies. They are usually listed on the stock market. This means that people and organisations can buy shares in banks. The shareholders own the banks but they don’t necessarily have accounts with them or use any of the other services that banks offer. Instead, the shares they have in banks are an investment. If the bank is successful financially, they will benefit from this success because the bank will pay them a dividend, which is a share of the earnings made by the company. So there is pressure on banks – and all other listed companies - to make money for their shareholders. If they don’t, their shareholders are likely to invest their money elsewhere.

Building societies
Building societies don’t have shareholders so they aren’t under the same pressure to make lots of money to pass on to them. Instead, building societies are mutual institutions. This means that most of the people who use their services are members of the building society who can vote on decisions that affect the society.

Building societies were first formed in the 18th century to help people save up to buy land so that they could build their own houses. They also lent money to people to help them buy their land sooner.  Later they began to accept savings deposits from people who did not necessarily want to buy houses. 

This all changed in the 1980s when the Government made some changes. It allowed banks to start lending mortgages and building societies to offer banking services.  Building societies were also able to demutualise if their members agreed, which meant they could change from building societies to banks. Many chose to do this and a number of the banks on our high streets today started off life as building societies.

The history of money (brief) for CPE-CAE's students

The history of money

As we have seen, money is basically a method of exchange, and coins and notes are just items of exchange. Tiny tools, axes and knives were used as items of exchange in China in the 10th century BC. Coins have been found in Lydia, now Turkey, dating from the 6th century BC. These quickly spread throughout the trading world as convenient items for barter and exchange.

Early coins were actually made of silver and copper and the metals were worth the value of the coin. In Athens in the 6th century BC there were silver coins and in China in the 4th century, copper coins were used.

These valuable coins had their disadvantages as people kept filing the sides for the precious metals!  To stop people doing this, governments used debased metals. Milled edges were introduced in Europe in the 17th century for the same reason, to stop people taking bits off the edge of the coin.

Paper money was introduced in China in the 9th century but didn't appear in Europe until the 16th century.

Paper money was issued as a promise note against deposits of gold, silver or money held in the bank.

If you look at a British bank note today, you'll see it still says:

I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of twenty pounds.

http://www.moneymatterstome.co.uk/1-What-Money-Is-and-Money-Exchange/Sub1/HistoryOfMoney.htm 

"How to write an Autobiographycal essay" by Scholarship junkies

Many scholarship applications – like most college applications – require an autobiographical essay, which is basically a personal statement that describes who you are. It gives the judges an idea of your background, your personality, your character – details about you that you can only describe in an essay (unless you have an interview).

Oftentimes, the prompts for these personal statements are worded like this: “Tell us a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.” To write a powerful and effective autobiographical essay, there are several key ideas to keep in mind.

CHOOSE A CONVINCING STORY AND FOCUS ON A THEME

When you choose the story to write about, think about unique experiences that make you who you are. If you’re thinking about writing about your short-term mission trip to Mexico or how you became your school’s student body president, keep in mind that students from all around the United States will be submitting unique and individual stories. Instead of writing about topics that are cliché or canned (like canned goods that are ready to be opened and used), think deeply into your experiences—what events throughout your life have shaped how you think and act today.

Ask yourself, “If there’s something about me that others would not know through my academics, extracurricular activities, and resume, what would that be?” Imagine sitting down with a scholarship judge or admissions counselor who asks, “If there is one thing you want me to know about you, what would that be?” You want your story to make sense and to capture your reader’s attention. Choose an aspect of your life that you want to focus on and shape your essay to reflect that theme. For example, if you have overcome tremendous hardship that has shaped your character, then focus on how your adversity helped build your character. Specifically, relate this event to the broader lessons of life so that the reader can better understand your development.

CAPTURE THE READER’S ATTENTION

The first step in actually writing the essay is to begin with a creative way of capturing the reader’s attention. Write in a style that you are most comfortable with. Some ways of writing your intro are by narrating a specific event from a first person point of view that reflects the theme of your essay or by describing a certain scenario from a third person point of view. Regardless of your approach, remember to end your intro with a sentence that leaves the reader excited to continue reading and learn more about you.

STRENGTHENING THE BODY

After a strong intro, the body of the essay continues to tell the story of your experiences. It takes the snapshot you present in the intro and supports it with necessary and specific detail. Don’t overwrite and include information that is irrelevant or wordy. Keep it simple and straightforward. The body of the essay should show – not tell – the story, meaning you should demonstrate your own personal growth and development through relevant examples. As you write, make sure to share how you felt so the reader can really see your character development. Emotions matter. Keep organization and logical sequence in mind as well. Judges take notice of your conventions and organization. As you move toward your conclusion, the tone of your writing should become more positive and optimistic. It should lead right into your conclusion.

CONCLUSIONS THAT CIRCLE BACK

If you want a nicely balanced essay, the beginning of your conclusion should put the cap on the story portion of your essay. It should emphasize a sense of hope in the context of your writing and demonstrate a positive change that continues into today. Following that, you might want to restate that it was “through this specific (you want to state it explicitly) experience” that you learned the specific lessons. Regardless of how, make sure to state specifically the lessons you learned and tie them into a big picture outlook. I have found it effective to use a powerful quote that relates to your theme and content, but this is, of course, a personal choice. Use the writing tips from Writer’s Block to craft a conclusion that resonates with the reader.

To complete the essay, tie back to the opening lines/event/experience in the intro to create a more cohesive and well-rounded essay. Your last sentence should reflect and state the most profound lesson you have learned throughout your experience and give the reader a sense of empowerment and awe. It should leave them thinking and pondering about their own lives, experiences, and struggles; yet, provide them with hope and optimism. A scholarship is an organization’s financial investment in you, so your essay should reflect why they would be investing their money wisely by awarding you the scholarship.

TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND

It is natural to want to use large vocabulary words to flex your intellectual muscles; but, when you’re writing a personal statement about your life, it’s best to stay simple and straightforward. Avoid using five words where three will do. If you have to use a thesaurus, chances are the reader’s not going to know exactly what the words mean so stick with simple vocab. Just be yourself, not who you think the judges want you to be. Your personal statement is an autobiography that speaks about your life, your experiences, and your reflections, so remember to tell the truth. You don’t have to make up situations or add fluff to tell a poignant story. Remember, the essay is a marketing piece that tells judges why the scholarship organization should invest their money in you.

With that said, maintain a certain level of sophistication in your writing so that the judges recognize your skills. Don’t fall into a casual conversational tone, but keep in mind that your writing should reflect your voice. The reader should be able to see your personality in the essay through your style, tone, and voice. After you’ve written your autobiographical essay, remember to edit and revise your essay several times. Have your teachers, peers, and family read over it and give you feedback and suggestions for improvement. As always, feel free to email us through the For Students page if you’d like some help brainstorming or if you’d like a Scholarship Junkie to read over your essay and give you comments and feedback

Brought to you by Lucía :)

STARTING 2012 SCHOOL YEAR

Dear Students : Can you think of a better way of starting a school year than with a pinch of humour ? Hope you like them Alf, Pat, Yamila and Alex PARAPROSDOKIANS (Winston Churchill loved them) are figures of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently humorous. 1. Where there's a will, I want to be in it. 2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list. 3. Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak. 4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong. 5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public. 6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left. 7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. 8. They begin the evening news with 'Good Evening,' then proceed to tell you why it isn't. 9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research. 10. Buses stop in bus stations. Trains stop in train stations. On my desk is a work station. 11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks. 12. In filling out an application, where it says, 'In case of emergency, notify:' I put 'DOCTOR.' 13. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you. 14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy. 15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman. 16. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory. 17. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice. 18. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with. 19. There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away. 20. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure. 21. You're never too old to learn something stupid. 22. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target. 23. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be. 24. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. 25. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. 26. Where there's a will, there are relatives. 27. You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing, after they've tried everything else

MALVINAS ARE THEY ARGENTINE ?

'The Falklands are Argentine' By Daniel Schweimler Buenos Aires The Malvinas is viewed as part of Argentina's identity Twenty five years on from the invasion of the Falklands how do Argentines view the anniversary and do they still believe they have a claim over the islands in the South Atlantic Ocean they know as Las Malvinas? 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas - the Falklands are Argentine.' And for most Argentines they are and always have been. They have been claiming the islands since the British first settled there in 1833. Any map produced in Argentina indisputably includes the Falklands as national territory, the first thing any visitor sees when entering the country is a map of the islands and almost all Argentines, from an early age, know the words to the Malvinas March. So when the military government led by General Leopoldo Galtieri, sent troops to take the Falklands by force on 2 April 1982, tens of thousands of Argentines were on the streets to celebrate. We didn't live the pain and suffering of that time but we're living with the people who did Student Florencia It is difficult to find anyone now who will admit to being one of those flag-waving patriots - most now see the invasion as the last desperate act of a disgraced military government that had already murdered 30,000 of its own people. The shambolic organisation of the battle with Britain and the humiliating surrender two months after the invasion helped bring that government down and pave the way for a return to democracy. There is still anger they sent ill-trained, poorly equipped teenage conscripts into a war against a professional army, misleading the Argentine people throughout the conflict that they were winning the war. However, most Argentines do believe Las Malvinas son Argentinas. 'Dark period' A large part of today's population were born after the conflict but everyone still has a view. At the Lenguas Vivas School in central Buenos Aires, 17-year-old Juan Augusto says: "The war was unnecessary since the United Nations always supports Great Britain. It was Argentina against the world." Florencia, 17, adds: "We didn't live the pain and suffering of that time but we're living with the people who did." Jose Luis Ferreira survived the Belgrano sinking Dario said: "I'd like to meet the people who were attacked, to ask them how they feel today." Their classmate, Ayelen, is one of the few who disputes Argentina's claim to the islands. "They are so British we should not get them back," she said. "We lost them in 1833. The Malvinas represents a bad history here." The conflict with Britain came at the end of seven years of brutal military rule. It was a dark period in Argentine history which many afterwards found difficult to talk about. The returning soldiers were a painful reminder of a futile and costly military adventure. More than 600 died in the conflict. But a further 400 or so veterans have committed suicide in the past 25 years as they tried and failed to find a place in a society that wanted to forget them. HAVE YOUR SAY As an Argentine who was sent a draft notice I remember the conflict well JPW, Toronto Send us your comments It was a common sight in Argentina after the war to be approached on buses and trains by haggard young men in faded uniforms asking for loose change. Dr Enrique De Rosa, a psychiatrist who treated Falklands veterans, said: "There have been victims, we have to accept that. "These people have needs, social needs, they have no jobs, they don't have anywhere to live, they don't have any kind of social network to protect them and they don't have medical and psychological treatment. One of those veterans Jose Luis Ferreira, was 19 when he served on the cruiser, the Belgrano, sunk on 2 May 1982 by a British submarine, with the loss of 323 lives. He spent 24 hours in a leaking life-boat lashed by 10-metre high waves in a storm before being picked up. He works with veterans in the Buenos Aires suburb of Adrogue, helping them find a place in a society that is finally beginning to remember and take responsibility for the years of military rule and the war with Britain. "We asked the local government to create a department that deals with employment and health for the Malvinas veterans," he said. "Those have been the two main issues, especially because it is not a clinical matter but a psychiatric one." The Argentine government has set up a special committee to look at the issue and is asking the British government to negotiate. Britain will not do that until the islanders say that is what they would like. Symbolic significance Regular talks do take place on fishing rights, 20 or so Argentine scientists live and work alongside British colleagues on the islands and Argentine citizens can visit without a visa. President Kirchner will emphasise his country's peaceful claims Sporadic reports in the British media about increased Argentine aggression over the issue are met with incredulity in Buenos Aires. But it is still a sensitive issue. This is election year in Argentina and President Nestor Kirchner will strongly emphasise his country's peaceful claims to the Malvinas. No-one here will contradict him. Malvinas veteran Edgardo Esteban wrote about his experiences in a book 'Illuminated by Fire' which has been made into a film, shown in Argentina and Britain. "When you talk about Argentina you talk about Eva Peron, Gardel, Maradona and tango. "For us the Malvinas is part of that identity, it is a symbol, we learn about it at school from a very young age. "There is no town, no matter how small, that hasn't got a monument, a street, a square or a school called Islas Malvinas, or Malvinas Argentinas." The Malvinas issue has not gone away. It is being discussed in the media, President Kirchner's government is paying some attention to the veterans and the Argentine authorities continue to press their case in diplomatic circles. But most here recognise it is not a simple case of examining yellowing 19th century documents to ascertain who has the most valid claim. They realise exploration and fishing rights, national pride, international politics and the wishes of the Falkland islanders all play a part. Argentina has been waiting since 1833 to fly their flag over the Malvinas Islands and few expect that wait to end any time soon.