Some say civilizations collapse for printing money, debt, decline

But only if the debt is owed to private banks does it cause decline. King Henry I printed up all the Tallies he wanted, keeping half the stick as the stub to know how much tax to impose, and they worked for 500 years. From: http://SmartestMan.Ca/poembank we have:

HISTORICAL EXAMPLES

The record most successful case was in the British Isle,

Where "Tallies," sticks of money, left King Henry I with smile.

Accountants in the Treasury would split the stick in two,

One half would be the money and the other half its due.

A tally worth a pound of gold to pay the King's expense,

The other half amounted to taxation that made sense.

The tax collectors through the land all had an easy way,

Since people had their tallies and enough the tax to pay.

The tallies funded projects and could pay for everything,

With tallies matching tax, a hero, Henry I, their King.

For over 700 years, the tallies were in use, But having lost control of money now is Crown's excuse.

ANTIQUITY In third millenium BC, King Hammurabai Great: "No fractional reserve checking accounts. There's no debate."

B.C. 546, Bank of Lydia was Croesus' quest, "We'll use clay chips instead of gold and save the interest."

Soon warring tribes were summoned with Prince Cyrus at the head,

Who crushed their little country bank, King Croesus soon was dead.

The Spartan King Lycurgus said "All those who journey made,

Shall buy in with their gold for chips of clay in town to trade.

Whatever chips they have when leaving, with our gold we'll pay,

But we shall profit from the interest for time of stay."

Solon used a coinage bronzed and set financial rules,

"The money system's tricky so I must protect the fools.

No Greek for loan may pledge to slavery himself or kin,

To let our families be chained is more than mortal sin."

In B.C. 338 the Roman Empire took off,

With "Aes Grave" copper coins which paid for growth enough."

Ghengis Khan made money from a special bark with Seal,

Financing public works, no one refused to take his deal.