Kazeko

It's funny, because my point was missed, regardless.


I'm not trying to endorse the devaluation of the dollar, I'm simply pointing out that "what effect has it had on the people" is taken out of context.


Here's a great example of some of the contextual issues missed in EVERY debate like this.


1. This forum exists, because a free market has been let loose. The computer industry, in the last twenty years, has done nothing but produce BETTER quality products, for LESS money, and repeatedly put MORE computer technology in the hands of MORE people....

All the while the value of the dollar has dropped.

Corporate America made it possible.

2. You say that gas prices have tripled, and our wages have not.
Has it yet occured to you, that we paid less for gas for the last sixty years, than any other country in the world?

See if you can find the price of a Liter of gas in Japan, in 2000. It was 4 bucks a gallon then, it still is now. The price has risen slightly, as all market values fluctuate. Only now are we beginning to pay the same price for a gallon of gas, that the rest of the world has.

So... What inequity are you pointing out? Are you saying we should pay less than everyone else, for a gallon of gas?


3. The point I'm trying to make, with both statements is this.

Henry Ford put a car in the hands of every one of his employees, not because of charity. Not because he wanted to be nice, but because he realized, that selling to the masses produced a profit. Henry Ford put an automobile into the US Standard of Living. The influences of the computer industry helped to put computers into that same standard.

Yet you cry that Corporate greed is ruining the country, yet every major leap in the improvement of American Lives (and those of other countries) - has been caused by Big Business.


Cell phones are standard fare now, NOT because the government made it happen, NOT because it was a nice thing to do.

But because someone could turn a profit on it.


My point, and my statement, was that Government is the cause of core inflation, not Business. The government, should have no control over the value of a currency. It's only function, IMO, is basic infrastructure, protection of rights (of both the people and business) and protection from the use of coercive force.

This was largely out of context for the topic of this thread, so it was deleted because it was a hi-jack. Since it was sparked, I've reposted.


The value of the dollar decreases or increases as a result of multiple things - the printing of bills, the spread of wealth, (if everyone has money, then money has no value, or less value) and the international value of US products.

Neshi is correct, but the real problem, is that many companies (i'll cite specifically, GM, Ford, Chrysler) have always tried to influence things like the FRB. - They pushed for huge import tariffs on foreign Vehicles in the 60's and 70's because Japan was producing a better quality product for less money, and rather than operating on a competitive level, they sought to use the government to force Japan out of the market. (And were successful until the 80's)

It's commonplace now. Drop the value of the dollar to try and force foreign companies out - the exchange rate eliminates their profits. It's like an economic twisting of arms.


Basically - it's still coercive control. My point wasn't denouncing the dollar, but rather exalting capitalism as a politico-economic ideal. I'll repost the quote.
(And when reading this, Hobo, understand that I do not support Ron Paul. Aligning yourself with ANY party in an attempt to achieve goals you believe in requires that you sanction ideals that you do not. I realize Ron Paul and the Libertarian party endorse the gold standard, but their goal is still Socialism.)