This will be the home page of a debate which stems from an article published by new Nolan Chart columnist Master C on September 21, 2008. Entitled "Financial Bailout or Refilling the Cookie Jar?" it was Master C's first contribution to the Chart. I often reply to first-time columnists via the Reader Comments section to try to get a little debate and discussion going. It's my way of welcoming newcomers. He replied not via the Reader Comments section of the article, but rather via email. This led to a little give-and-take, and before we knew it, we were in a debate.
The quality of the discussion and the range we covered led me to believe that this was a debate that others would want to follow. So we're bringing it online for your viewing pleasure. While Master C's bailout article was the instigator of our debate, we've decided that it won't be the official starting point. Instead, each of us will publish a short piece which constitutes our respective "first proposition," to borrow a phrase from the British debating tradition.
This article will serve as the Table of Contents of the articles of the debate, which shall be offered in chronological order as he and I contribute new articles to the discussion. We will also include links in each article included in the debate, both to this article's table of contents and to the previous and (ultimately) the next article in the debate, so that readers can easily follow the give-and-take. Depending upon how much readership this debate attracts, the format might become the basis for additional programming done to the site to enhance this kind of discussion on issues between consenting debaters.
So let's begin. Question: Is the Federal Reserve System fraudulent, and should it be reformed or abolished? Let's introduce the participants.
Master C taught college level Economics for 18 years before retiring. He also worked in significant occupations in banking (7 years) and manufacturing (6 years). He has an extensive interest in many things from photography, movies, books, theater, sports, computers, travel, restaurants, and politics.
Walt Thiessen is the founder of the Nolan Chart website and a long-time libertarian. After years working in both corporate and small company positions, primarily in computer-related positions, he became a small-time entrepreneur. He was the Libertarian Party's candidate for Congress from Connecticut's 5th District in 1996. Today, he works at home and helps promote freedom-related issues.
Articles published in this debate so far:
| The Federal Reserve: a Primer. | Master C | 10/03/2008 |
| Yes, The Federal Reserve Is Based In Fraud And Must Be Abolished | Walt Thiessen | 10/04/2008 |
| A Fiat Money System Is Necessary for Growth and Investment | Master C | 10/04/2008 |
| The Federal Reserve Gives Us Freedom | Master C | 10/05/2008 |
| You Can Rant, But You Can't Hide | Master C | 10/07/2008 |
| Rebuttals in the Federal Reserve Debate | Walt Thiessen | 10/07/2008 |
| Fraud Is the Root of Fractional Reserve Banking, Part I | Walt Thiessen | 10/07/2008 |
| A Truthful Article Is Much Stronger Than One That Is Made Up | Master C | 10/09/2008 |
| Redirect to Master C's "A Truthful Article Is Much Stronger Than One That Is Made Up" | Walt Thiessen | 10/09/2008 |
| Everything Is Fraud To Walt! | Master C | 10/09/2008 |
| Fraud Is the Root of Fractional Reserve Banking, Part II | Walt Thiessen | 11/19/2008 |
| Proof That Paper Money Is Not A Commodity | Walt Thiessen | 11/19/2008 |
| Look! It's The Holy Grail! | Master C | 11/20/2008 |
| Inflation, Deflation, and Oil Prices | Walt Thiessen | 11/21/2008 |
©2008 Walt Thiessen, all rights reserved. You must have written permission from the author in order to republish this work.
Published: Thursday, October 2, 2008
Last modified: Friday, November 21, 2008
The views expressed in this article are those of Walt Thiessen only and do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Walt Thiessen is solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
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Reader Comments:
Posted By: Jim Stewart
Date: 2008-10-04 03:13:04
This debate does not seem to have caught the attention of many readers. Nor do they have a way to join or judge it.
To provoke responses from both the participants, I'll add that once they agree on a few facts such as the meaning of "credit", both will admit that the Federal Reserve System is not just fraudulent.
It is based on a much older and wider fraud common to each and every bank in the world that conducts "fractional reserve" banking.
Then the challenge becomes not proving the fraud but exposing it!
Posted By: Jake, the champion of the constitution
Date: 2008-10-04 05:12:26
Walt - posted link on the facebook site. my two bits is to add in part 1, 2 etc in the article title. other than that great idea, see how it goes.... maybe we need a major bank to fail :)
Posted By: Tim
Date: 2009-01-20 11:11:46
When Master C gets backed into the corner, he can only resort to name calling and bitter resentment.
I hope when I get to that age I am not as bitter and irrelevant.