7. The Rise of the Rothschilds

Think Punk 19. June 2024 No Comments

{Length 5:35 minutes}

The chapter from “The Rise of the Rothschilds” covers the origins and rise of the Rothschild family in the financial world. It starts in Frankfurt, Germany, where Amshel Moses Bower opened a coin shop in 1743, marked by a sign with a Roman Eagle on a red shield, which became known as the “Red Shield Firm” or “Rothschild” in German. His son, Amshel Meyer Bower, changed his name to Rothschild and realized that lending money to governments was more profitable than lending to individuals.

Meyer Rothschild had five sons, whom he trained in banking and sent to major European capitals to establish branches: Amshel stayed in Frankfurt, Solomon went to Vienna, Nathan, the most clever, was sent to London, Carl went to Naples, and Jacob to Paris. The family moved to a larger house shared with the Schiff family, both of whom would play significant roles in European and American finance.

The Rothschilds expanded their dealings with European royalty, including Prince William of Hesse-Kassel. During Napoleon’s campaigns, Prince William entrusted Nathan Rothschild in London with a large sum of money to invest in British government bonds, but Nathan used the funds for other investments. When William demanded his money back, the Rothschilds returned it with interest, keeping profits made from the investments.

Nathan Rothschild bragged about increasing his initial stake by 2,500 times in 17 years. The family’s cooperation and strategy led them to dominate European banking by the mid-1800s, becoming the wealthiest family in the world. They financed major ventures, including Cecil Rhodes’ monopolies in South Africa, American railroads, and steel industries.

By 1850, James Rothschild of the French branch was immensely wealthy, owning properties like the Château de Ferrières. The chapter concludes by noting the Rothschilds’ significant influence on European and global finance, setting the stage for examining the Bank of England’s impact on the British economy and its connection to the American Revolution.

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Categories: theMoneyMasters Tags: Tags: Alternative currency, Bankers, Bill Still, Debt, Dollar, Economics, Euro, Fiat currency, History, Iceland, International banking, Money, Money reform, Politics (TV Genre), Private money

6. The Bank of England

Think Punk 19. June 2024 No Comments

Length: {4:20 minutes}

By the end of the 1600s, England faced severe financial difficulties due to continuous wars with France and Holland. To address this, government officials sought loans from money changers. The solution was the establishment of the Bank of England in 1694, the world’s first privately owned central bank, despite being deceptively named to suggest it was a government entity. Initial investors were supposed to provide £1.25 million in gold, but only £750,000 was actually received. Nevertheless, the bank began operations, issuing loans and creating money out of nothing, leading to inflation and economic instability.

The Bank of England provided loans to politicians, backed by taxation of the British people, effectively allowing legal counterfeiting for private gain. This model of a privately controlled central bank has since been replicated worldwide. Central banks, though necessary, should not be privately controlled as they impose a hidden tax through inflation by creating money to buy government bonds. This increases the money supply, devaluing existing money and raising prices, leading to economic booms and busts rather than stability.

The formation of the Bank of England flooded the nation with money, doubling prices and funding speculative ventures. By 1698, government debt had soared from £1.25 million to £16 million, resulting in repeated tax increases. The economy experienced a series of booms and depressions, contrary to the central bank’s purpose of ensuring stability. The British pound has rarely been stable since the Bank of England took control. The chapter concludes with a mention of the influential Rothschild family, who would later play a significant role in banking and finance.

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5. Talley Sticks

Think Punk 19. June 2024 No Comments

Length {4:55 minutes}

The tally stick system, introduced by King Henry I of England around 1100 AD, was a unique monetary system designed to bypass the manipulative practices of goldsmiths. These tally sticks, made from polished wood with notches to denote denominations, were split lengthwise, with one half kept by the king to prevent counterfeiting. The other half was used as currency, widely accepted due to its mandated use for paying royal taxes.

This system endured for 726 years until 1826, significantly contributing to the British Empire’s growth.

Despite constant opposition from money changers promoting metal coins, tally sticks remained effective for tax payments.

The system eventually faced challenges in the 1500s when usury laws were relaxed and reinstated, leading to economic fluctuations influenced by the availability of gold and silver coins.

The tally stick system’s decline coincided with major political upheavals and the eventual establishment of the Bank of England, which sought to centralize financial power.

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4. The Goldsmiths

Think Punk 18. June 2024 No Comments

Length {4:40 minutes}

The chapter on the Goldsmiths delves into the historical manipulation of money by money changers, illustrating that such practices predate Jesus’s time.

Around 200 years before Christ, Rome faced significant issues with money changers. Efforts by early Roman emperors to curb the power of money changers through reforms of Usury laws and land ownership limits resulted in their assassinations. Julius Caesar later reclaimed the authority to mint money from the money changers, creating a more abundant money supply which he used to fund substantial public works projects. This move won Caesar the favor of the common people but incurred the wrath of the money changers, potentially contributing to his assassination.

Following Caesar’s death, Rome saw a decline in its money supply, leading to increased taxes and corruption. The money supply was eventually reduced by 90%, causing widespread loss of land and homes among the populace, reminiscent of contemporary America. This economic decline eroded public confidence in the Roman government, leading to a refusal to support it, which ultimately contributed to Rome’s descent into the Dark Ages.

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3. The Roman Empire

Think Punk 17. June 2024 No Comments

Length: {1:35 minutes}

The chapter on the Roman Empire focuses on the historical context and role of money changers during ancient times. It explains that to understand the problem of money changers, one must look back to Europe and Biblical times. Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple, marking the only instance he used force in his ministry. This action was due to the money changers exploiting their position within the temple.

When Jews traveled to Jerusalem to pay their temple tax, they could only use a specific coin, the half shekel of the sanctuary, made of pure silver and without the image of a pagan emperor. This coin was the only one acceptable to God, according to Jewish belief. However, these coins were scarce because the money changers had cornered the market on them, inflating their price to whatever the market could bear. This monopoly allowed money changers to make exorbitant profits, forcing Jews to pay high prices. Jesus saw this as a violation of the sanctity of God’s house.

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2. The Money Changers

Think Punk 16. June 2024 No Comments

Length: {1:14 minutes}

To understand the magnitude of the problem, we need to look back at Europe and the historical role of money changers. These money changers were referenced by James Madison and were even mentioned in the Bible, where Jesus drove them out of the temple. This event marked the only time Jesus used force in his ministry.

Money changers were in the temple because Jews coming to Jerusalem for the Temple tax had to pay with a specific coin, the half-shekel of the sanctuary. This coin was a half-ounce of pure silver and the only coin acceptable to God, as it was free from the image of a pagan emperor. However, these coins were scarce because the money changers had monopolized them, driving up their price to make exorbitant profits. This exploitation violated the sanctity of God’s house, according to Jesus.

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1. Intro

Think Punk 12. June 2024 No Comments

Length: {10:38 minutes}

Let me take you through a one month journey to learn unkown facts about history, which may let you see our current monetary system as an abritrary creation which may be changed.

To read the chapters will take you on average a minute; and if you don’t like reading, you find the entire information in the video below.

Bill Still discusses various economic issues in America, including rising debt, inflation, and the struggle of families to make ends meet. It attributes these problems to the Federal Reserve, describing it as a private, for-profit bank that controls the nation’s money supply, rather than a government entity.

The video argues that this system, established in 1913, prioritizes the profits of private stockholders over public interest. Historical figures like Charles Lindbergh and Barry Goldwater have criticized the Federal Reserve for its lack of transparency and its powerful influence over the economy.

The intro suggests that reforming the banking system, rather than focusing on the size of the national debt, is essential for addressing these economic issues.

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