Benjamin Franklin was asked how he could explain the remarkable prosperity of the New England Colonies. Franklin replied:
“Why, that is simple! In the Colonies, we issue our own paper money. It’s called ‘Colonial Scrip.’ We issue it to pay the government’s approved expenses and charities. We make sure it’s issued in proper proportion to make the goods pass easily from the producers to the consumers. In other words, we make sure there is always adequate money in circulation for the needs of the economy. In this manner, by creating ourselves our own paper money, we control its purchasing power, and we have no interest to pay, to anyone.
You see, a legitimate government can both spend and lend money into circulation, while banks can only lend significant amounts of their promissory bank notes, for they can neither give away nor spend but a tiny fraction of the money the people need.
Thus, when your bankers here in England place money in circulation, there is always a debt principal to be returned and usury to be paid. The result is that you have always too little credit in circulation to give the workers full employment. You do not have too many workers, you have too little money in circulation, and that which circulates, all bears the endless burden of unpayable debt and usury.”
Benjamin Franklin