 |
A masterpiece on sound monetary policy, Bates' work reaches the layman with clarity and purpose, instilling an unparalleled understanding of what makes the economy tick, and how the government, spearheaded by the Federal Reserve, has become a deterrent to economic freedom. On a deeper level, the author's ability to directly connect with the Founding Fathers and to demonstrate how money was the link to monetary independence sets the work apart from others in its genre.
Even in the twenty-first century, the nature of money and debt is largely misunderstood, misconstrued, or simply ignored. Bates compares the currently astronomical, rising government debt with the intended gold standard upon which the United States was founded. By meticulously distilling her knowledge and research into digestible portions for her audience, Bates conveys how individual rights are the bedrock of American values and a free society.
Gold, as Bates asserts, is indestructible. She highlights the gold rush fever that gripped the world and notes the shortcomings of alternative currencies, including grain, silk, and even cattle. In fact, she transports readers all the way back to 700 B.C., to the introduction of gold pellets into the barter markets. Along with vital historical perspective, however, the work is imbued with technical understanding, such as the four requirements of "good money." Further, Bates is fearless in tackling key concepts, such as the age-old capitalism vs. socialism debate and the importance of a depression in spurring economic recovery, as with the Great Depression and the Great Recession of 2008-09. At its core, gold has continued to evolve throughout history, yet Bates' work poignantly demonstrates its unwavering value to a fundamentally thriving economy.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review