Money is often used as a system of control, with those who control the money supply having the power to limit access to resources. Money has four distinct properties: it is a system of accounting, a store of value, a medium of exchange, and a tool used as a system of control. Despite these properties existing for thousands of years, money today often falls short of these values, particularly as a store of value. Governments often abuse and control populations through money, using it as a political tool to control access to financial markets and surveil money movements. The story of money as a system of control has the potential to end badly if governments continue to spend recklessly.
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Money: A System of Control
Introduction
People say that money is the root of all evil. And there’s definitely a point there. One of the most misunderstood and underestimated properties of money is that it is a system of control. Those who have authority to distribute money have the opportunity to cut human beings off from resources.
The Four Properties of Money
In a video by Andreas Antonopoulos, he spoke about how money has four distinct properties. The first property is that money is a system of accounting. The second property is that money is a store of value. The third property of money is that it’s used as a medium of exchange. The fourth property, is how money is used to control.
Money as a System of Control
Money is used as a political tool to control who has access to financial markets and who doesn’t. It aims to have complete surveillance of all money movements worldwide. Money as a form of control has all the elements and signs of totalitarianism. Banks, for example, have all the power that they want. A police officer can confiscate your money. A judge can sign a warrant to freeze your account. But a bank can do both of those things without any authorization from anyone.
How Money is Used to Control
This system uses money as a political tool to control who has access to financial markets and who doesn’t. It aims to have complete surveillance of all money movements worldwide. Banks have all the power that they want. A police officer can confiscate your money. A judge can sign a warrant to freeze your account. But a bank can do both of those things without any authorization from anyone.
Money and Globalization
A globalized economy requires complex interdependent trade relationships to continue to operate effectively. And access to money is a large determinant of a functioning global economy success. When countries and individuals can be left out of the global economy, there needs to be a careful system of checks and balances to ensure that it is for a good reason.
Conclusion
Money is a system of control, and those who have the authority to distribute money have a lot of power. It is important to be mindful of how money is being used as a form of control, and to work towards creating a more equitable system.
