Here’s another video from Positive Money for those of you who have yet to catch on to the fact that our financial systems are dysfunctional by design. I know lots of people find this stuff dull but if we don’t change the ways that we use money then the financial crises will keep coming, one…

Here’s a nice clear article by Iain Macwhirter about currency options for an independent Scotland. He looks at the experience of Slovakia which entered a brief currency union with the Czech Republic before being forced to go its own way, eventually joining the euro in 2009. He’s careful not to make direct comparisons with Scotland’s…

Here’s an excellent article by Frances Coppola on a late 18th century version of basic income in the parish of Speen in Berkshire, and more general history of poor relief in English parishes at the time. Sadly the perverted “morality” of the wealthy demanding work-for-welfare from the poor is still alive and well today. Consider…

This is an interesting article from David Graeber in which he suggests that much of the “work” we do has no tangible benefit apart from making us feel that we’re part of the workforce. He maybe overstates the case a bit but who hasn’t spent time at work doing stuff that’s utterly pointless? Another good…

The Problem Is Bigger Than The Bedroom Tax

Here’s an excellent article from Gerry Hassan in which he takes our politicians and media to task for failing to address the real problems in our society. He argues that the debate on the UK government’s welfare reforms is so narrow and shallow that it completely misses the point: we have a chronic poverty/hardship/welfare/finance problem…

They just don’t get it, these “experts”. Here’s Adair Turner (former Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry, former Chairman of the UK Financial Services Authority, member of the Financial Policy Committee, part-time lecturer at the London School of Economics) explaining very clearly why debt is the main problem with the UK economy and then completely…

Blame Ignorance, Arrogance And Indolence, Not Immigrants

This article by Jeremy Warner in the Telegraph is disturbing on two counts. His erroneous argument is a distraction from what’s really wrong with our economy, and it has stirred up a foul nest of malcontents (see the comments below the article) who appear to blame immigrants for everything that’s wrong with our society. Jeremy…

Savers Should Stop Bleating And Start Investing

I feel sorry for people who have money tied up in poorly-performing financial products from which they can’t escape, but I have no patience with the likes of this lot – saveoursavers.co.uk – who seem to think that they have a God-given right to an income from money that’s lying idle in a bank account.…