Found this on the TZM Global Site:
www.thezeitgeistmovement.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=9...
This article was posted:
www.positivemoney.org.uk/2010/09/douglas-carswell-mp-introduces-bill-to-...
A Google search brought up others:
www.talkcarswell.com/show.aspx?id=1572
There are various opinions in the comments. I don't know how much publicity somethng like his attracts? Perhaps it will make people think? And I have no idea whether or not this is a topic that is frequently discussed in Parliament?
This is incredible!
First stop, kill FR banking, next get rid of the profit motive by eliminating money all together. Whilst I don't believe reform is a long term solution I actually think this is a good move towards what we are trying to achieve.
I hope that instead of satisfying people that "a solution is found, we can all relax now" people will understand better why change is needed, and with our help they can realise that we can't stop at that, we need to use the momentum of change and take it all the way.
Carswell is a rightwing Tory who believes in free-market private-enterprise capitalism. So hardly favourable to the idea of a moneyfree resource-nased economy.
If you examine his proposal closely it wouldn’t end so-called “fractional reserve banking”, only limit it. In introducing his Bill in the House of Commons on 15 September he explained:
Banks would still be able to lend money on the first category of deposit account, as today; which would still lead to the banking system (but not an individual bank) being able to lend more than the initial deposit as the original money was lent out, spent and re-deposited by others, lent again, etc. The amount they could lend would be limited only by the number of depositors who chose the second category. But how many would? They would have to forgo interest on their deposit and also probably have to pay the bank to keep their money. I don’t see many takers.
As the first comment on his blog put it:
hrm yeah - I guess it sounds better when you think about it from a rose-tinted TZM-tainted point of view, but the reality is as you say, that they will simply make the appearance of giving us the choice, but there will be no real choice at all.
http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=7396d6c5dc44c9d3b64d8265c&id=9c585e46...
"Positive money" is a contradiction in terms. There's nothing positive about money. It's a barrier to satisfying our needs and causes no end of trouble. We need to get rid of it. This lot just want to keep the money system and monkey around with it, and would probably end up making it worse.
On a sidenote, I recall seeing this particular politician in a recent Dispatches report where he says that "privatising the arms industry is better for Britain, and more profitable/efficient" - I paraphrased this a little. So he is a bit of a war-lover. Here is a direct quote from the war-mongering bastard: "We could instead be a formidable military power." - source: www.talkcarswell.com/show.aspx?id=1589
In reality this bill will not go anywhere. It's good exposure though of how the banking system works.
[i]"In trying to solve the terrifying problems that face us in the world today, we naturally turn to the things we do best. We play from strength to strength, and our strength is science and technology." [/i] - B.F. Skinner
I find that your view of money is a bit simplistic.
Money does have positive aspects- it would not have been invented otherwise?
I understand that the problems of the current economic system has more to do with those who manipulate money systems than some flaw which is inherent in any given money system. You had it right when you said "This lot just want to keep the money system and monkey around with it, and would probably end up making it worse."
The trouble is with 'this lot', and what they have done with our money, and they will definitely end up making it worse- you only see it as worse because of which side of the balance you are; 'they' would see it as better.
It is not a problem with money itself, but with those who control how it is created, and how it operates.
You also said " It's a barrier to satisfying our needs and causes no end of trouble."
But, new systems of money have historically been created to break barriers to satisfying our needs.
Please read this short book which gave me a broader understanding of how money systems come to be, and for what purposes.
http://www.altruists.org/static/files/The Ecology of Money (Richard Douthwaite).pdf
I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
The members of this site argue for a 'Resource Based Economy'; does not the use of the word 'economy' imply some sort of money system?
While I sympathise with you in wanting to take 'root and branch' action on the monetary system, I think that an end to the fractional reserve system alone would have many positive effects on our lives by reducing the economic (and therefore political) significance of the banking industry.
Although you have made it clear that Mr Carswell's bill only proposes a reduction in fractional reserve lending, I agree with those who have pointed out that anything which promotes discussion of this esoteric subject is to be welcomed at this time.