Introduction In 2011 I took a sociology class on global social problems. Three texts were required and one of them, Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism by Richard Robbins, stood out in several ways. The book was very rich in information with many on-the-ground narratives. It had a simple but effective overarching theory; … Continue reading “Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism”
Author: Govert Schuller
Richard Wolff’s Trajectory beyond MMT into SMR
Introduction Recently I watched two episodes of the progressive Thom Hartmann Program in which the host discussed banking and Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) with the Marxist economist Richard Wolff [1, 2]. Following are the pertinent points I came away with, which developed into a little article, in which I will try to make the case … Continue reading “Richard Wolff’s Trajectory beyond MMT into SMR”
On Money: Postal Financial Services
The social democratic wing of the US Democratic Party is floating two important proposals: 1) provide financial services through the wide network of postal offices to the so-called ‘unbanked and underbanked’ population; and 2) cap interest rates at 15% [6]. Both proposals have connections with monetary reform. The Kucinich NEED Act caps interest rates at … Continue reading “On Money: Postal Financial Services”
Dutch Report on Money and Debt and its Reception by Ons Geld
On January 17, 2019, a research institute of the Dutch government, The Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR), offered its report on banking and money-creation to the Dutch government [1]. The report was commissioned by the government after a motion in the Dutch parliament in March 2016 during a debate, which itself was triggered … Continue reading “Dutch Report on Money and Debt and its Reception by Ons Geld”
Ons Geld and the Road to the WRR Report
Ons Geld (Our Money) is a Dutch foundation promoting sovereign monetary reform. Its motto is “Money Creation for the General Welfare” and proposes four changes to the current, dysfunctional money system, which proposal is basically the same as what for example The American Monetary Institute [1] and The Alliance for Just Money [2] propose in the … Continue reading “Ons Geld and the Road to the WRR Report”
Human Causes of the Economic Crisis and Spiritual Solutions
A Seeker Speaks / Thursday, November 27, 2008 / Steve Larsen In recent months, we have seen unprecedented upheavals the US as well as the global economy. Big banks have fallen, as have insurance companies and brokerage companies followed by huge losses in the stock market. It is estimated US citizens have lost over a … Continue reading “Human Causes of the Economic Crisis and Spiritual Solutions”
Paying for the Green New Deal
Open Letter by Nick Egnatz to US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14). Dear Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, You have proposed an individual income tax rate of 70% on earnings in access of $10 million per year. This to fund a proposed progressive agenda of transitioning to clean renewable energy, expanded Medicare for All and tuition free public university … Continue reading “Paying for the Green New Deal”
Introduction to the Problem with Modern Monetary Theory (MMT)
By Govert Schuller. The Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) school is perceived sometimes as representing the ideas of the New Currency Theory (NCT) school so named by the eminent German economic sociologist and monetary reform theorist Joseph Huber. Huber, though admitting overlaps between the two theories, thinks the actual differences have profound consequences both at the theoretical … Continue reading “Introduction to the Problem with Modern Monetary Theory (MMT)”
Re-proportioning the US Senate: Back to a 1780 Fairness
The following is an exercise in calculating proportions of senators per amount of citizens in the USA. I will be comparing the smallest and largest states in the years 1780 and 2010. My conclusion is that the system is out of balance and propose a possible redress. According to the 1780 census the smallest state … Continue reading “Re-proportioning the US Senate: Back to a 1780 Fairness”
On Trump: Some Thoughts on the Anonymous NYT Op-ed
On September 5 The New York Times took the unprecedented step to publish an anonymous opinion piece titled “I am a Part of the Resistance in the Trump Administration“. According to the NYT the op-ed was written by a “senior official in the Trump administration“, who claims that there is an organized ‘resistance’ operating at the … Continue reading “On Trump: Some Thoughts on the Anonymous NYT Op-ed”