Edwynn
Posts: 4105
Joined: 10/26/2008 Status: offline
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~FR~ Granted, the common meaning of 'fiat money' refers to non-commodity-backed money; one cannot redeem the paper money for a certain -fixed- amount of some commodity. But look at that very important term, '-fixed- amount,' and understand the dictionary meaning of the term fiat, i.e., 'by decree,' and you will see that all money has always been fiat money in the absolute sense. If that were not the case then almost every 'money' transaction would effectively be a barter transaction due to the constantly changing market value of the currency as constantly re-assessed by many different players. We would go to sleep at night having no idea what those coins could by us the next morning. Gold had value as currency because the government said it did, by decree. Salt had value as currency because the government said it did, by decree. The more meaningful term of currency is 'That Which Is Needed To Pay Taxes,' or, what the government will accept as payment. That, with minor amusing departures in times past, is the only historically and contemporary meaningful description of a currency, commodity-backed or not.
< Message edited by Edwynn -- 2/16/2012 1:50:40 PM >
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