John Maynard KeynesJohn Maynard Keynes, (1883-1946) British economist

John Maynard Keynes Quote

“Lenin is said to have declared that the best way to destroy the Capitalistic System was to debauch the currency. . . Lenin was certainly right. There is no subtler, no surer means of overturning the existing basis of society than to debauch the currency. The process engages all the hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction, and does it in a manner which not one man in a million can diagnose.”

John Maynard KeynesJohn Maynard Keynes
~ John Maynard Keynes

The Economic Consequences of the Peace, 1920, page 235

Ratings and Comments


E Archer, NYC

It just goes to show the true intents of Keynesian economic policy. This should be proof enough that a concerted effort has been and continues to be aimed at subverting the economy and the nation.

Mike, Norwalk

Archer, yes - Welcome to the new USA (Union of Socialist Amerika)

Bryan Morton, Stuart, Florida

It doesn't get diagnosed because the common man doesn't see it as a problem until it's too late. He's too busy living it up on the temporary illusion of prosperity to worry about the impending disaster.

jim k, austin

Archer, Mike and Bryan are right and the debauching continues.

Anon
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Anon    2/9/09

Agree with all of the above. Especially Bryan. As long as there is hope there are those out there that won't be fooled again, there is hope for Americ(k)a.

Waffler, Smith

So Keynes has observed that Lenin was a smart man. Big Deal. The debauch of any currency will lead to an upset of any economic system regardless of what you call it capitalist, socialist or anything in between that uses currency. When I was in Korea it was said that cases of US Army MPC (military payment certificates) were stolen off of a dock in Inchon. Over night the Army issued new notes making the stolen money worthless. So yes anytime a currency becomes debauched it is time to establish another. As for now the US Dollar is the prefered currency around the world.

Bryan Morton, Stuart, Florida

"The US Dollar is the preferred currency around the world." Waffler "Of all things, I should imagine you could not possibly feel nervous on the Titanic. Why, the boat is absolutely unsinkable." White Star Lines booking agent

warren, olathe

The Obamanation pork bill will do just that to our currency. This inexperienced Marxist/fascist could finish off this country in 2 years if this type of legislation is not stopped. This bill and the ones soon to follow will harm the economy, create massive unemployment and put inflation through the roof. The crap these jackasses are going to pass will cause bureaucracies to be created that will have to be financed EVERY year not just this one. All of our savings and retirement plans will be going up in smoke because of the actions of these thugs. The recession would run its course and we would be ok but for this incompetent crap we put in office.

Elisabeth, Astoria, NY

The political system of the United States of America was created to be so perfect that I would only equate its power with that of the sun, which sets only to rise again. I trust that its natural force, which has come from powerful minds will weather the hidden forces that come from seasonal winds.

Waffler, Smith

Welcome Elisabeth they really do have wisdom in Astoria, NY. Your expression of faith and wisdom in the amazing politcal system of our Great Country is a breath of fresh air compared to the usual bunch of diatribe, negativity, and faithlessness we get from many contributors on this site. Please give us more from your fine tuned mined.

Ken, Allyn, WA

If only we had the political system the United States was created with, there would be infinitely more hope (of a more authentic kind). Nevertheless, we have what we have. As for myself I will continue to plan for the worst and pray for the best. A cynic is seldom disappointed and is sometimes pleasantly surprised. As for debauching or debasing a currency, it is only possible with a fiat currency which is why the dollar had to go off the gold and silver standard. When the dollar is based on a commodity of limited quantity the people will not allow debasement out of their own self interest, and their self interest turns out to be in the interest of all. The powers that be, however, had other ideas.

Thomas P, Roswell GA

I think thousands more than 300 men (people) in the US have diagnosed what this administration is doing. I has become anything but "subtle". I believe in the American people and they will soon go to the polls. This American debacle can end quicker than it began by the right vote. The correction is available by dramatic change in the federal tax code. The US should become the worlds "tax haven".

Anonymous
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    Anonymous    3/14/10

    Not new with Obama, this has been going on for dedcades and has resulted in a large number of manufacturing jobs being lost to other Continents such as China. The net effect has been the slowing of income growth in America and the increase in debt as politicians try to promise and borrow to sustain a high standard of living. Medical care promises will accelerate the symptoms of money supply growth and debt to the extent that pensions and medical care will fall in access or value for future workers and dependents or simply USA will continue to fade into the history of great economies and it's citizens will experience State control and loss of Freedom. Our enemies will plan accordingly and use this fault to conquer us and make us dependent upon them, OECD debt targets of 60 % of GDP will fail in Congress and White House and finally a massive loss of jobs will stop all of this. Misery and poverty follow for a decade while debate rages over a private banking system such as Germany.........but weakness rld stage threatens war and famine for one and all during this recovery.

    Roger Erickson, Yakima WA

    Reality accurately and succinctly observed and reported is rare, so valued and quoted: Truth.
    Real knowledge is power.
    Evil people shield and wield truth for evil purposes, and vice/versa.
    Lenin, a destroyer, lauded the tool use for destruction of his primary enemy, capitalism. Keynes saw this would work in ANY society, so is a valuable analytical model tool in economics, for it is an economic variable, with a range of zero[debased] to money[Aristotle definition], to predict economic health of any society.
    Knowing the root cause of our current global currency problems currently highlighted by Euro, we also have the global solution. Hard [not debauchable] money of INTRINSIC value.
    But as Keynes said, and these comments indicate, not one in a million can diagnose these simple facts from the societal symptoms. And the doing... will be opposed by the tyrants, for it takes away the anesthetic and darkness all successful bloodsuckers require to elude deadly retaliation.
    Keynes discovered that one in a million key. And shared. The way thus lighted, now any and all can open the economic liberty door.
    Thanks to Liberty Tree for keeping that light on.

    Chris R, York

    Crikey - very scary that some commentators here seem to think Keynes was arguing to debauch the currency.

    Mick, Manchester

    I wonder what Keynes and Lenin for that matter would have made of Bitcoin and other crypto currencies as attempts to debauch national currencies? Surely an indication that value and worth is ever more relative rather than intrinsic as these currencies doesn't really exist in the material world.

    bruski, naples FL Naples x

    Will we learn the lessons of history?

    Probably not. Our dollar has declined to less than 2 per cent of its value when the Fed was founded.

    Debt limit gone. Spending continues its rapid growth.

    Cheers,

    b

    Ronw13, OR
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    Ronw13, OR    2/12/18

    John Maynard Keynes, praised Montesquieu for his disdain of Physiocrats, favored the monarchies and hereditary aristocracy, as also somewhat favored slavery. A student at Christ's College founded by Lady Beaufort of Roman Catholic origin. Keynes while becoming the director of the Bank of England continued his left-liberal stances, a member of the Bloomsbury Group shuning moral responsibility for sake of pleasure, condoned lesbianism and homosexuality favoring personal relationships over patriotism. The founding fathers of the United States of America favored Physiocracy and Agrarianism ( Government of Nature ) with a debt-free currency system, honest classical economic model. With the intent, avoiding plunder of its citizens through usury and greed, lust of manipulation generating profit by international banking, lending houses. Gaming of the peasants denying them of their rightful inheritance. Individual sovereignty totally ignored. Brings to light the gaming profiters of today, whether for personal or patriotic sentiment, neglect or restoration of the wholesome family unit. five stars for accuracy, thumbs down for effect.

    E Archer, NYC

    Counterfeiting!! A common tactic in war is to counterfeit the enemy's currency to make it worthless. The British did it in the War of 1812 (not worth a Continental), the Germans did it during WWI and WWII, Iraq was printing US dollars -- the list goes on and way back in history. Massive immigration, also a debauchery of the ideals of American independence and self-determination, thus eroding the foundations of the nation. Fake news -- also a form of counterfeiting, debauchery of truth and facts, to confuse and divide the people. And ALL this to promote global taxation of everyone forever for the privilege of being born. Debt slavery for the people -- it's easy, just treat the counterfeit as real, and inherit the wind.

    @

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