Money Manipulation and War: Mises Circle in Boise

“It is no coincidence that the century of total war coincided with the century of central banking.” –Dr. Ron Paul

War is deadly and expensive. Since ancient times, political leaders have learned that monetary debasement is the best way to avoid unpopular heavy taxes to fund a war. Under a precious metal monetary standard, however, ordinary people realized the con. They noticed clipped coins and coins made out of diluted alloys. This realization didn’t immediately thwart the war-hungry leaders, but it did make the leaders and their wars unpopular. Hard money has always been a thorn in the side of those who want to expropriate resources from private citizens for their own ends.

Then the modern state discovered central banking and fiat paper money. Central banks were adopted with the promise that they would stabilize the economy and serve the public. Of course, they’ve done neither. Central banking destabilizes the economy and robs the public on behalf of the state. With the backing of a printing press, the government can spend and incur debt with impunity—the central bank is always there to buy government debt with new money.

Should we be surprised, then, that “the century of total war coincided with the century of central banking,” as Dr. Ron Paul observed? Politicians were unshackled from sound money constraints. They could easily magnify and extend their wars, as well as other government programs

Join us in Boise, Idaho, on Saturday, April 24, as we discuss the manipulation of money and how it directly coincides with war.

Schedule

Event schedule and venue details coming soon.

Registration

Registration details coming soon.

Speakers

Mark Thornton: Senior Fellow of the Mises Institute and host of the Minor Issues podcast

Jonathan Newman: Henry Hazlitt Research Fellow of the Mises Institute and Director of the Mises Academy

Ryan McMaken: Editor in Chief of the Mises Institute