David Korten Quotes

We should be moving toward local currencies not global or European currencies.

Wall Street sees a social fabric or social contract as inefficiencies, which need to be removed.

There is no visible sign that the current politicians in the US are willing to see the need for change.

There is a huge shift taking place in the global awareness in the last 5 years with strong views about globalization and the power structures of major corporations.

There are actually very few US politicians who have integrity and vision.

The professional study of economics has become ideological brainwashing. It is a defense of the excesses of the capitalist system.

The first principle of the market economy is that it is comprised of many small buyers and sellers, which implies a substantial degree of equity. Another fundamental market principle is that costs are internalized in the producer’s price.

The EU will face problems similar to the US: an increasing gap between the citizens and decision makers in Brussels and a perceived or even real lack of democracy.

So, there is enormous instability in the global economy with a shift of winners and losers.

Not exclusively, but the bulk of our local economy should be covered by local currencies, which is more efficient than having global currencies which lose connection with reality in the markets, shops and communities of the people.

My own experience in the third world was that even if people started to make more money, the cost of living and housing increased often faster than the wages.

My claim is that we do not have a market economy, but a capitalist economy.

Moreover, statistics can be deceiving: the growth of jobs in the US in the 90s was due to many part-time jobs, with no benefits and generally low pay.

More humane societies are usually smaller, like the Scandinavian countries and Holland, where it is much easier to reach consensus and cooperation.

More and more surveys in the US are indicating a change in values taking place among consumers, who become more concerned about quality of life, food, health and the environment.

Money is not wealth. Money is a claim on wealth.

Money is a mechanism for control.

Money flows into the US, and inflates US assets, and allows the US to have a monstrous trade deficit. That means we are consuming more than we are producing.

It will take some time before a politician will capture the imagination of the American people and have the vision and understanding to do what is necessary for a better future for the people of America and the world.