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No, you're right, I am saying it is destabilizing for a country to have more than one currency. It does weird things to culture. Look at why Europe is so messe

by bitops 14y ago

No, you're right, I am saying it is destabilizing for a country to have more than one currency. It does weird things to culture. Look at why Europe is so messed up right now - they adopted a single currency without a real government to match. Much as I might not like her, Margaret Thatcher was right when she said that "single currency is a federal Europe through the back door". It's either that or big trouble down the line. I see you're from Denmark, so think of Legoland (in Billund, I assume you've been - it's silly!). Yes, they take all kinds of currency there, but it's very isolated and localized. At a broader national level, there is just the (sic) kroner. I've never once paid with US dollars at a pølsevogn in Copenhagen. :) The full argument is quite long, but at heart, yes - I believe that the gold standard was a bad idea and remains a bad idea. Going back to it will not solve any of our current economic problems, it's a waste of time. Thanks for sticking with the conversation btw! It was fun. :)

mseebach 14y ago
You can actually usually pay with euros in most establishments catering to tourists, including pølsevogne. Like most casual cash transactions in Denmark, it's unlikely to go on the books, though. Also, I'm not arguing for (or against, for that matter) the gold standard, just that if people feel they're better off transacting in a different currency than the single, nationally sanctioned one, they should be able to do so without incurring a forceful response by the government. For the record, I don't think that freedom extends to producing coins that are easily mistaken for those belonging to a different currency. > Thanks for sticking with the conversation btw! It was fun. :) Likewise, although I would still appreciate a response to http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4697030 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4697030
icebraining 14y ago
Look at why Europe is so messed up right now - they adopted a single currency without a real government to match. Much as I might not like her, Margaret Thatcher was right when she said that "single currency is a federal Europe through the back door". It's either that or big trouble down the line. We adopted a single currency, which is the new government-enforced legal tender. You're right that it caused plenty of problems, but it's hardly relevant as an example of destabilization caused by many currencies.

by bitops 14y ago

mseebach 14y ago

You can actually usually pay with euros in most establishments catering to tourists, including pølsevogne. Like most casual cash transactions in Denmark, it's unlikely to go on the books, though. Also, I'm not arguing for (or against, for that matter) the gold standard, just that if people feel they're better off transacting in a different currency than the single, nationally sanctioned one, they should be able to do so without incurring a forceful response by the government. For the record, I don't think that freedom extends to producing coins that are easily mistaken for those belonging to a different currency. > Thanks for sticking with the conversation btw! It was fun. :) Likewise, although I would still appreciate a response to http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4697030 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4697030

icebraining 14y ago

Look at why Europe is so messed up right now - they adopted a single currency without a real government to match. Much as I might not like her, Margaret Thatcher was right when she said that "single currency is a federal Europe through the back door". It's either that or big trouble down the line. We adopted a single currency, which is the new government-enforced legal tender. You're right that it caused plenty of problems, but it's hardly relevant as an example of destabilization caused by many currencies.