tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53246864840716464.post921551078785762745..comments2024-02-29T00:46:38.800-08:00Comments on Washingtons Blog: The Economics of TrustUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53246864840716464.post-80535190794590017862008-12-15T12:23:00.000-08:002008-12-15T12:23:00.000-08:00Dennis Kucinich has introduced a new bill, HR 7260...Dennis Kucinich has introduced a new bill, HR 7260, into Congress: Transparency in the Creation of Wealth Act of 2008-<BR/>To increase the quality and public accessibility of research by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System on the effects of monetary policy on the distribution of wealth in the United States, and the proportion of newly created monetary resources directed into various sectors of the economy, and for other purposes...(http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h7260/show )...<BR/>I think the bill is meant to expose how the Federal Reserve System works (or has failed to serve the people of the United States, but has served to concentrate wealth and power into fewer and fewer hands). Dennis has also spoken at the American Monetary Institute Conferences and they have been championing a monetary reform bill- The American Monetary Act (see http://www.monetary.org/amacolorpamphlet.pdf ).<BR/><BR/>I must admit that prior to 9/11, my main focus was on monetary reform, global economics, advocating local currencies, helping people to understand what I considered to be a major blind spot of our culture- what money is, how it is created, how deeply it effects all of us. <BR/> <BR/>(A group of us were planning on protesting the IMF, World Bank and the Bush policies in September 2001, and campaign ing against the high human and environmental costs of the "cheap goods" that Americans were consuming because of artificial rates of exchange... but the 9/11 attacks cancelled the meetings/the protests...)<BR/><BR/> At the same time Stephen Zarlenga finished writing his book on The Lost Science of Money (which I'm currently reading), which is, in many ways a history of power, since those who control the monetary system held the real power in both ancient and modern times. Often, who was in charge, was not known. Who determined the rates of exchange and profited by the disparities wasn't well publicized, but a very powerful, profitable secret.<BR/><BR/>If we are to ever have "trust" and "faith" in our government, there will have to be accountability, openness, honesty, transparency... basically a "revolution" from where we are now to the ideals so often espoused, but rarely followed. Trust is generally built upon actions, and can just as easily be destroyed by them. Parents who love and nurture their children generally earn their trust and respect. Parents who abuse and take advantage of their children are more likely to lose their trust and respect.<BR/><BR/>The corporate media has failed us in so many ways, but I think the only hope it has of redeeming itself would be to expose the biggest crimes, lies, of our times and demand some sort of accountability. It might bring down the guy who pulled the 50 billion dollar Ponzi scheme, but it is refraining from going after the biggest crooks, Robert Rubin, his proteges, the entourage surrounding Obama, who would keep expanding the bubble, if they could get away with it.Carol Brouillethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01683936149296666342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53246864840716464.post-50224580501312096212008-12-15T11:38:00.000-08:002008-12-15T11:38:00.000-08:00VERIFY, THEN TRUST.Being an old cynic that believe...VERIFY, THEN TRUST.<BR/>Being an old cynic that believes nothing I can't personally verify puts me ahead of the curve now. Where would one start this trusting. I can't think of a single agency or business that I would trust at present. You have to work pretty hard to figure out the simplest of things. If for instance you want to know what unemployment is doing the government numbers have been manipulated to the point they are worthless. You must know where to got to get the real data and in doing so you have just destroyed your trust in the government.<BR/><BR/>When Ronald Regan introduced Trickle Down Economics in 1980 and sold this free market babble to all hands it was pretty easy to see if you wanted to look that Chicago School Economics never has worked anywhere and actually has been a disaster everywhere it has been tried.<BR/><BR/>What I'm saying I guess is , Where to start? We have been fed untruths for so long I don't feel that taking the first step should be mine. <BR/><BR/>A start would be if Obama on the first day would remove every signing statement signed by Bush, all of them no exception.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13156080225918567393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53246864840716464.post-18459437907098992152008-12-15T06:17:00.000-08:002008-12-15T06:17:00.000-08:00I would also add the trust to the companies that d...I would also add the trust to the companies that deliver consumer goods and services, which is even more important for the economy than the trust in government. There's no doubt that lots of companies throughout decades have taken enormous advantage of the consumer's trust, and practically destroyed it - to the degree that the mere fact of a product being advertised has become a red flag. If I purchase a nicely packaged car for my kid's birthday, only to discover that the way car is designed and made at Chinese factory, it simply cannot drive under any circumstances - it's a lesson - and we now have these lessons every day.<BR/><BR/>In the very root of our problems there's not a government, not the Congress, but first of all, our ever increasing incompetence, laziness, and resulting uncompetitiveness of our economy.dzintohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05521705084211279701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53246864840716464.post-32931512508009805782008-12-14T22:40:00.000-08:002008-12-14T22:40:00.000-08:00Granted, Governor Blagojevich overtly violated the...Granted, Governor Blagojevich overtly violated the trust of the people in the state of Illinois. But could it not be argued that the U. S. Congressionals are in a position to covertly violate the peoples' trust with each bill submitted for passage?<BR/><BR/>Point being, unless there are measure(s) in place to prevent any monies being given to potential Congressional members and incumbents, how is it possible to fully trust Congressional representatives to act in the interest of America and their constituents - as opposed to lobbyists and outside interests providing monetary and/or service<BR/>contributions?rbblumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497415613849581361noreply@blogger.com