BOOK
REVIEW: WHAT HAS GOVERNMENT DONE TO OUR MONEY
On 25
June 2009 I was invited to the Cafe
Libertalia to speak at a book club where I was given the latitude
to choose the book for discussion. I picked What Has Government Done To Our Money And The Case For A 100%
Gold Dollar by Murray Rothbard. This book is an easy to read foundation
for the student of the Austrian school of economics. Therefore, I think
everyone should get and read a copy.
What
Has Government Done To Our Money is 119 pages while The Case For A 100% Gold
Dollar is 61 pages. It is printed on archival quality acid-free paper
and has a sleek cover. This book makes a great addition to any library.
WHAT
HAS GOVERNMENT DONE TO OUR MONEY
This
is a well done objective monetary history. It discusses how money
developed, the rise of fractional reserve banking and the constant meddling
by government in money and currency. A key reason governments meddle in
the money and currency markets is because it is a source of funding.
The
reader learns some some basics of history, government and economics such as
the development of monetary names, benefits of money, a short discussion on
legal tender application and an entire part on The Monetary Breakdown of the
West.
THE
CASE FOR A 100% GOLD DOLLAR
This
is a persuasive essay on why a 100% gold Dollar should be adopted. This
essay originally appeared in the out of print and hard to find In Search
Of A Monetary Constitution by Leland Yeager and published in 1962 by the
Harvard University Press. While the arguments Rothbard makes are sound;
I do not really agree because of advances in information technology and
monetary evolution over the past 47 years.
Four
and a half decades ago there was no Fandango, online checkin for airplane
flights, etc. So likewise there have been advances made in monetary
application and I am of the opinion that private digital commodity
currencies, like GoldMoney, provide the most
efficient solution to the monetary chaos the world has found itself in.
WHO
THIS BOOK IS FOR
What Has Government Done To Our Money And The Case For A 100%
Gold Dollar by Murray Rothbard is a quick and easy read divided into two
main portions. I think the objective presentation of monetary history
is a good read for anybody. The persuasive essay is a good read for
anyone who wants to stimulate their analytical capacities; but keep in mind
the essay is obsolete. Therefore, I think everyone should get and read
a copy of this book.
You
can get a free digital copy from the
Mises Institute or purchase a physical copy from Amazon.
Trace Mayer
RuntoGold.com
Trace Mayer,
J.D., holds a degree in Accounting from Brigham Young University, a law
degree from California Western School of Law and studies the Austrian school
of economics. He works as an entrepreneur, investor, journalist and monetary
scientist. He is a strong advocate of the freedom of speech, a member of the
Society of Professional Journalists and the San Diego County Bar Association.
He has appeared on ABC, NBC, BNN, many radio shows and presented at many
investment conferences throughout the world.
|