There are many writers today analyzing our dire ecologic and economic circumstances that comprise an existential threat to civilization and perhaps even to life on this planet. Numerous aspects of the problem have been and continue to be discussed with few solutions presented as the capitalist economic system continues its assault on all life for profit. Even though to plant a field, drill an oil well or manufacture a widget requires money, just as any political or military campaign does, money is seldom discussed and is generally misunderstood.
The nascent monetary reform movement understands that the real cause of the extreme wealth inequality as well as the destruction of our resource base, is the monetary system. It is a systemic problem that affects human behavior as well as our planet. The movement understands, as did Aristotle, that money for most of civilization’s history, has played two roles:
1. An exchange medium for facilitating economic activity (it is just money)
2. An instrument of power capable of dominating the market (the hidden hand)
So, the question is, how can we change the system to retain the first role and eliminate the latter? To do this we must understand the monetary system we have. There are 3 characteristics of the current monetary system that bestows power on the undeserving.