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Ellen Hodgson Brown
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Banking on the People: Democratizing Money in the Digital Age Kindle Edition

by Ellen Hodgson Brown (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 79 ratings
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Today most of our money is created, not by governments, but by banks when they make loans. This book takes the reader step by step through the sausage factory of modern money creation, explores improvements made possible by advances in digital technology, and proposes upgrades that could transform our outmoded nineteenth century system into one that is democratic, sustainable, and serves the needs of the twenty-first century.

Ellen Brown is the founder and chairman of the Public Banking Institute and a Fellow at The Democracy Collaborative.

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  1. Print length
    331 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Democracy Collaborative
  4. Publication date
    May 1, 2019
  5. File size
    1400 KB
  6. Page Flip
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  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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  9. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
79 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book valuable and informative. They praise the author's knowledge and clear explanation of a complex system. The book provides an insightful analysis and roadmap to fiscal salvation, including Bitcoin as a fair medium of exchange.

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KnowledgeValue for money
7 customers mention "Knowledge"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's knowledge. They find the author knowledgeable and well-informed about banking. They appreciate her clear explanations and analysis of a complex system. The book is considered valuable and an eye-opening experience, providing a comprehensive overview of modern banking and the crypto space.

"Very informative. Difficult to grasp all that is presented. It leaves me with more questions than answers which frustrates me...." Read more

"Brown writes clearly and explains a complex system very well...." Read more

"...Reading Ellen Brown’s books has been an eye opening experience and is well worth the time and money to buy and read it." Read more

"Ellen Brown is extraordinarily knowledgeable, perhaps the leading expert, about how to make banking serve the common good for people, not just the..." Read more

5 customers mention "Value for money"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides good value for money. It explains the myths of scarce money, fractional-reserve banking, and monetary policy clearly. They appreciate the analysis and roadmap to fiscal salvation. The book also considers Bitcoin as an acceptable and fair medium of exchange.

"...economics incorporates Bitcoin into the mix as an acceptable and fair medium of exchange...." Read more

"...Nonetheless, worth the money. I would have given 5 stars if it was easier for the layperson to fully inderstand.Jeff M." Read more

"...Brown’s books has been an eye opening experience and is well worth the time and money to buy and read it." Read more

"Explodes the myths of scarce money, fractional-reserve banking , & monetary policy clearly...." Read more

Good news.... ELIMINATE INCOME TAX ON LABOR.... TAX WALL STREET INSTEAD.
5 out of 5 stars
Good news.... ELIMINATE INCOME TAX ON LABOR.... TAX WALL STREET INSTEAD.
Ellen Brown's books are the best read you can get on Money and Banking. She writes wonderful news, and is easy to read. This 3rd book in the Trilogy of Money and Banking is the most controversial because she proves there is no need for income taxation, when we have Public Banking. We can have "all the money we need" to rebuild our country. Do yourself a favor. Read these books. They make perfect sense. The reason banksters lie to you, is because they know if they tell you the truth, they are finished. Ye shall know the truth and it will set you free. (But first you will get really upset).Ellen's book, Web of Debt will provide a wonderful explanation of why banksters hide their real operations, just like the Wizard from OZ. Henry Ford quote "If the people knew how money is created, there would be a revolution by morning". Hint: it is created out of thin air, just like insurance.Ellen's book, The Public Banking Solution explains all the hows and whys of creating Public Banks in every state, just like The Public Bank of North Dakota. Check it out or buy it. Public banking is how we take our country back from the banksters.Buy all three of Ellen Brown's books and you will have better information about how Money and Banking actually work and how they actually SHOULD WORK, than any PHD course in this country.Check out all Public Banking Institute videos on youtube. Specially the one with Ellen Brown and Michael Hudson. You will become "giddy" from the Good News. Just imagine. (john lennon, we still miss you)Ellen Brown would be a great Treasury Secretary of the USA. Bernie, Liz, are you listening?Tax on labor is percentage slavery. Example: 100% tax = complete slave to taxation; so if tax rate is 45% (total all taxes), then you are a debt slave to taxes". I hope all the candidates for POTUS explain why they CAN'T fund a UBI, after Bernie tells them how we CAN.Get some popcorn. This debate could get interesting. Cheers for every mention of Public Banking.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • F. Henley
    5.0 out of 5 stars American system of credit economics
    Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Clear explanation of Hamiltonian economics incorporates Bitcoin into the mix as an acceptable and fair medium of exchange. Xi not America uses this system to lift millions out of poverty.
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  • William T. Dietrich
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I have read on Money and Banking
    Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I have read many books on Money and Banking over the last 30 plus years, and this is the most creative and innovative book I have read. Ellen Brown has come up with many real solutions that can take the money power away from the private bankers, and give it back to the public where the Founders originally intended it to be.

    By Federalizing the Central Bank and giving the Treasury the power to issue the currency, the Debt Money systems comes to an end! No longer will the Treasury have to issue interest paying Bonds to raise money to operate the Government.

    The Constitution in Article I, Section 8, Clause 5 says the Congress shall have the Power to coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures.

    To coin is used as a verb. At the time the Constitution was written, to coin money meant to create or to make money. Today’s Dictionary defines to coin as a verb meaning to make or to invent.

    In 1871 (Knox vs. Lee) the Supreme Court ruled that the Government has the legal right to issue money (Greenbacks) debt free. This was challenged in 1872 (Parker vs. Davis) and in 1884 (Julliard vs. Greenman), and the Supreme Court again ruled that the Government has the legal right to issue the currency. The legal right of the Government to issue the currency has been considered “settled law” since 1871.

    The Treasury can then pay off the $23 Trillion National Debt with US Treasury dollars in electronic form as all the bonds come due. All interest would be paid in US Treasury dollars, debt free. Over the next 30 years the entire National Debt will be paid off, freeing the next generation of a National Debt.

    I highly recommend you read this book to learn how the Money and Banking system can be reformed to operate in the 21st Century!
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Complicated information explained to help an average person to grasp.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Very informative. Difficult to grasp all that is presented. It leaves me with more questions than answers which frustrates me. Nonetheless, worth the money. I would have given 5 stars if it was easier for the layperson to fully inderstand.
    Jeff M.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Consistent Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Banking on, by and for people is the next necessary step
    Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Ellen Brown has forthrightly highlighted the need for basic banking services to be restored to their rightful sphere: in the public domain. In her book "Banking on the People", she goes into a fair amount of detail about why the current financial system is untenable, and how and why a new system of publicly-based services would work. Also included are some basic expositions of different monetary systems which have come the fore in the last few decades or so, with their pros and cons. One of my favorite sections is a discussion of allowing the public to open accounts directly with the Federal Reserve (Ch 13, mainly). I believe as she does that this would prove hugely popular with the public, and do more to stimulate the economy than "...merely tampering with interest rates or propping up Wall Street...".

    This is a great read that presents fundamental ideas of the economy and finance in an understandable manner, that are essential for every American (and people around the world, too) to know - and for which to advocate. Ms. Brown leads all chapters with relevant quotations from historical figures, and among the best are from Keynes: "The difficulty lies not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones", and from R. Buckminster Fuller: "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete."
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Mateus Vukovic
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Bank gets your Bucks, on your deposit!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2023
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    Sincce 1948, when the banks set up the works to keep the common man poor. They set up" Accrual Accounting" which lets corporations class people as an asset, then write off them use and worn out or dead. Zero accounting began. Before then, there was no "0" on the fooks, only nine numbers. Since then, the buck stops in their pockets!
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  • mc
    5.0 out of 5 stars Explodes the myths of scarce money, fractional-reserve banking , & monetary policy clearly.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    "It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning." Henry Ford The pitchforks are not yet out in force but regular people are angry and afraid. Unfortunately, much of the populist anger has been misdirected toward immigrants, minorities, and other powerless scapegoats while the real culprits grow richer and more powerful. Ellen Brown has always been a powerful voice for public banking but this current work is a fabulous update which extends the focus to digital currencies and introduces non-technical readers to modern monetary theory. We are entering a new era with new possibilities which demand different ways of thinking, organizing, and working which create and expand the emergence of abundance. We have the tools to realize abundance and distribute it fairly. We need to destroy some strongly held erroneous assumptions if we hope to do so. This book is a good place for the angry and fearful populists of today to discover the assumptions responsible for their plight.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Judy Lewis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Something everyone needs to know about.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2022
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    Brown writes clearly and explains a complex system very well. Parts of it were a little beyond me, but the last few chapters were disturbingly clear - and they explain why America needs to change its complex and vulnerable system of banking before it’s too late! Ellen Brown suggests public banking as the alternative to private banking and clearly states her reasons, leaving the reader with some hope!
    There are summaries at the end of every chapter and a banking history at the end of the book which I found very useful.
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  • Mary Moreau
    5.0 out of 5 stars Every American should read this book.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    If we were to follow just one of Ellen Brown's suggestions, creating postal banks and allowing all individuals, businesses, and local governments the same privileges that today only private banks have, we would have a much fairer economic system. And we would save the USPS!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Lawrence Lefcort
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone who interested in a better economic future
    Reviewed in Canada on September 30, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    As usual, Ellen Brown's writing is engaging, clear, succinct, and compellingly-written. Her research, references, and footnotes are incredible, and provide a wealth of additional resources to further one's knowledge about the subject. Anyone interested in changing our banking and financial system for the better should read this book.
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