Where We Go From Here, Part 1: The Crisis of Financial Confidence
When confidence dies, the empire falls. This is just as true about the American Imperium, as with all the other kingdoms and empires of human history. And, one of the first things to fall when confidence fails, is money. And, the question in all of our minds is…
How much longer will Americans and Europeans be confident in their governments, their banks and their money?
Unfortunately, the answer is ‘not much longer’, and that spells doom for our current way of life. So, let’s look at how we’ve defined money over the years and see where our confidence is going.
Where We Go From Here, Part 1: The Crisis of Financial Confidence
Without a financial system or economy, you cannot have civilization. And, without civilization, your life will be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.
The Basis of Civilization
You might recognize the phrase ‘nasty, brutish and short’, but you might not remember where it comes from. The man who coined that phrase was Thomas Hobbes in his book, Leviathan, in 1651. And, his quote about the lack of social order is here:
“…In such condition, there is no place for Industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain; and consequently no Culture of the Earth; no Navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by Sea; no commodious Building; no Instruments of moving, and removing such things as require much force; no Knowledge of the face of the Earth; no account of Time; no Arts; no Letters; no Society; and which is worst of all, continuall feare, and danger of violent death; And the life of man, solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short.”
For all of his faults – and they are many – Hobbes understood one thing:
Without civilization, life is awful.
The only question is how much civilization you need. And no, don’t listen to Hobbes on this. His ideas are a foundation for the Antichrist – a topic for another time.
Again, how much civilization do you need?
Unfortunately, the answer for most peoples and nations is… more. No society ever says ‘this much civilization, and not an inch more’. Everyone, everywhere always wants more. And, it’s directly connected to the economy and financial confidence.
Do you want to make sure that your neighbor doesn’t kill you and steal your stuff?
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