Is this really still our Country?: It's all in a wheelbarrow full of cash

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

It's all in a wheelbarrow full of cash

I've noticed something that really bugs me. The symbolism of a wheelbarrow full of cash seems to have changed over the years. While reading a ridiculous article somewhere suggesting that anyone who compares our financial situation to the German Wiemar Republic should be automatically ignored and written off as a, "fool incapable of intelligent and forward thinking debate.". I did a google search to find some historical pics of Germans back in the 20's. I also searched "wheelbarrow full of cash", and to my instant horror it occurred to me that this image is now being used a symbol of success or worse a sign of largess and corporate greed. It seems somewhere along the line people got the idea that this image should be used to portray people taking large amounts of money in their success as business people.

Do they realize how wrong this is? I have to assume the answer to this question is no. Most of the images depict happy looking people in business suits. Some even go so far as to have arm pumping signs of victory. I wonder if they would be arm pumping if they needed all that cash just to buy some groceries or a tank of gas for their car? I bet not. Worse still is that the the German example is not the only one. This type of hyperinflation has occurred several times in Europe, Africa and South America but modern day economists still feel secure in their Keynesian ways.

Back during Germany's hyper inflationary period between 1922 and 1923 things got so bad it wasn't just a matter of getting your cash to market before it was worthless but the smaller denominations were put to more utilitarian uses. They used Cash (Marks) to light their stoves and even wallpaper rooms. It was also used for child's recreation. You can still find old photos of Children using bundles of cash as building blocks and industrious boys who built kites out of worthless paper currency.