Machiavelli - The Art of Power in The Modern World

Summary

The script delves into the concept of secrecy and power, highlighting Machiavelli's influence on political strategy through 'The Prince.' It traces his life, education, and political roles, showing how his observations of leaders like Cesare Borgia shaped his theories on statecraft and manipulation. The narrative then explores how Machiavelli's principles have been applied by rulers, including Stalin's use of propaganda and terror, and extends to modern politics and economic policies, such as the shift from the gold standard to fiat currency, leading to inflation and its detrimental effects on society.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ The script discusses the inherent opposition to secrecy in a free society and the dangers of a monolithic conspiracy that operates covertly.
• 🌍 It highlights the global influence of Machiavelli's political philosophy, particularly 'The Prince,' which has impacted business, politics, and power structures worldwide.
• 📚 The historical context of Machiavelli's life in Florence and the political climate of Italy during his time is crucial to understanding his political theories.
• 🤔 The script raises questions about the influence of Machiavelli's works on modern politics and the potential manipulation and control of society through power dynamics.
• 👶 Born in 1469, Machiavelli's education in 'Studia Humanitatis' or 'Studies of Humanity' laid the foundation for his future contributions to political thought.
• 🏛️ The Medici family's rule and their influence on Florence's culture and politics during Machiavelli's lifetime shaped the environment in which he developed his ideas.
• 🛠️ Machiavelli's diplomatic experiences and observations of power in action across Europe provided the material for his influential works on statecraft and leadership.
• 😈 The script suggests that 'The Prince' was seen by some as a dangerous guide for rulers on gaining and consolidating power, even being banned by the Catholic Church for over 200 years.
• 💡 The dual nature of Machiavelli's legacy is presented, with 'The Discorsi' advocating for a self-governing republic, while 'The Prince' is viewed as a manual for tyrants.
• 💰 The script connects historical lessons on the dangers of uncontrolled spending and inflation to the modern economic situation and the potential for political manipulation through fiscal policy.
• 🌐 It concludes with a warning about the potential collapse of economies due to unchecked inflation and the parallels between past financial crises and current global debt.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script discussing?

The main theme of the video script is the impact of secrecy and manipulation in politics and society, with a focus on the historical influence of Niccolò Machiavelli's political philosophy and its application in modern times, particularly in the context of power, propaganda, and economic policies.

How does the script describe the nature of the 'conspiracy' it mentions?

The script describes the conspiracy as monolithic and ruthless, relying on covert means to expand its influence. It involves a tightly knit, highly efficient machine combining military, diplomatic, intelligence, economic, scientific, and political operations, with concealed preparations, buried mistakes, and silenced dissenters.

What is Machiavelli's view on living under absolute rule according to the script?

According to the script, Machiavelli, in his work 'Discoursi', advocates for a self-governing Republic and suggests that living under a monarch with absolute rule is akin to slavery, providing the political underpinnings for both the English and American revolutions.

How did Machiavelli's 'The Prince' influence rulers and the concept of power?

The Prince is described as a guidebook for rulers on gaining and consolidating power. It was considered dangerous and was banned by the Catholic Church for over 200 years. It has influenced tyrants, despots, and dictators and had a profound impact on various sectors, including business, politics, religion, and global power structures.

What was the significance of Machiavelli's diplomatic experiences in shaping his political theories?

Machiavelli's diplomatic experiences provided him with firsthand observations of statecraft, leadership, and manipulation. These experiences, combined with lessons from Greek and Roman history, gave him the material needed to write 'The Prince', which detailed the tactics rulers use to gain, consolidate, and exercise power.

How did Joseph Stalin utilize Machiavelli's teachings on power and control?

Joseph Stalin applied Machiavelli's teachings by using terror, force, and propaganda to transform the Soviet Union into a world power while gaining public support. He employed extensive propaganda to cultivate a cult of personality, ensuring public love and allegiance, which protected him from being ousted from power.

What is the 'Inflation Tax' mentioned in the script, and how does it affect the population?

The 'Inflation Tax' refers to the decrease in purchasing power caused by the government printing more money, leading to higher prices for goods and services. It is a hidden form of taxation that erodes the value of money and savings, affecting everyone, but hitting the poor the hardest as they are more likely to hold their wealth in cash.

How does the script connect the historical use of representative money to the current state of fiat currency?

The script explains that representative money, which was backed by precious metals like gold, has evolved into fiat currency, which is not backed by any intrinsic value. This shift allows governments to print money without limits, leading to inflation and the gradual devaluation of currency.

What are the long-term consequences of the government's continuous spending and money printing as outlined in the script?

The script suggests that continuous spending and money printing lead to unsustainable national debt, inflation, and the eventual devaluation of currency. It argues that this could result in economic collapse and social unrest, as well as the potential for authoritarian control in the face of financial chaos.

How does the script link Machiavelli's advice on generosity to modern economic policies?

The script connects Machiavelli's advice by pointing out that modern politicians may engage in excessive spending to appear generous and gain public support. However, this can lead to higher taxes, inflation, and ultimately, public resentment, which Machiavelli warned against.

What is the 'American Dream' referred to in the script, and how has it been affected by economic policies?

The 'American Dream' in the script refers to the traditional idea of prosperity and homeownership for the average family. It has been affected by economic policies, particularly inflation and the rising costs of living, which have made basic goods and services unaffordable for many, turning the dream into a nightmare.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Influence of Secrecy and Machiavelli's Philosophy

This paragraph delves into the concept of secrecy and its antithesis in a free society, contrasting it with the covert operations of a ruthless, monolithic conspiracy. It introduces Niccolò Machiavelli as a pivotal political philosopher whose works, 'The Discorsi' and 'The Prince,' had contrasting influences on governance and power. 'The Prince,' in particular, is highlighted as a controversial guide for rulers seeking power, influencing figures across various domains. The paragraph also outlines Machiavelli's background, education, and the political landscape of Italy during his time, setting the stage for his political insights and the birth of the Florentine Republic.

05:02

🌟 Machiavelli's Diplomatic Career and 'The Prince'

The second paragraph focuses on Machiavelli's unexpected appointment within the Florentine Republic, despite his lack of diplomatic experience. It details his roles and responsibilities, including his missions across Europe, where he observed the inner workings of power. These experiences, coupled with historical lessons, informed his writing of 'The Prince,' a controversial work on statecraft and leadership. The paragraph also discusses the posthumous publication of 'The Prince' and its varying interpretations over time, from a work of the devil to a pragmatic expose of political power dynamics.

10:22

👑 Stalin's Totalitarian Rule and Machiavellian Tactics

This paragraph explores the application of Machiavelli's principles by Joseph Stalin, who is said to have annotated his own copy of 'The Prince.' It describes Stalin's use of terror, force, and propaganda to consolidate power and transform the Soviet Union into a world power. The paragraph details the extent of Stalin's purges, his manipulation of public perception through propaganda, and the creation of a cult of personality. It also examines the impact of Stalin's rule, which resulted in the death and subjugation of millions, and his ability to maintain public support through extensive control of information.

15:24

💼 Modern Propaganda and the Illusion of Virtue

The fourth paragraph shifts focus to the present, drawing parallels between historical propaganda and modern political tactics. It discusses the role of mass media in shaping public perception of political leaders and the use of propaganda to persuade and control. The paragraph also touches on the economic disparities in the USA, hinting at a growing wealth gap, and introduces a sponsor, Masterworks, offering investment opportunities in art as a means to grow wealth. It concludes with a quote from Machiavelli on appearances versus reality in politics, suggesting modern politicians prioritize image over substance.

20:25

💡 Understanding FIAT Currency and Inflation Tax

This paragraph provides an educational overview of the evolution of money, from bartering to the use of sea shells, precious metals, and eventually paper currency. It explains the concept of Representative Money and the Gold Standard, leading to the introduction of FIAT currency in 1971. The paragraph discusses the impact of governments printing money without gold backing, leading to inflation and the devaluation of currency. It introduces the term 'Inflation Tax' and illustrates how it erodes purchasing power over time, providing historical examples of stable prices pre-1971 and the subsequent rise in costs of living.

25:28

📉 The Economic Aftermath of World War I and the Weimar Republic

The sixth paragraph examines the economic consequences of World War I, particularly for Germany, which abandoned the Gold Standard and resorted to printing money to fund the war effort. It describes the hyperinflation that gripped Germany in the 1920s, leading to a dramatic devaluation of the German Mark and severe economic hardship for its citizens. The paragraph also discusses the Treaty of Versailles and the reparations imposed on Germany, which further exacerbated the country's financial crisis and set the stage for political upheaval.

30:30

🏦 Bretton Woods, Nixon, and the Emergence of Fiat Currency

This paragraph discusses the Bretton Woods Conference, which established a new global monetary system with the U.S. Dollar as the world's reserve currency, effectively pegging it to gold. It then describes how the U.S. government's spending超出了其黄金储备，导致世界各国开始用美元兑换黄金。随着黄金储备的枯竭，尼克松总统在1971年宣布停止美元兑换黄金，标志着布雷顿森林体系的结束和法币时代的开始。

35:33

📈 The Impact of Inflation and the Erosion of Purchasing Power

The seventh paragraph explores the effects of inflation on the economy and society, particularly focusing on the 'Inflation Tax' that erodes savings and purchasing power. It provides examples of how prices have skyrocketed since 1971 and how this has affected various aspects of life, from the cost of everyday items to education and housing. The paragraph also discusses the broader economic implications, such as stagnant wages despite increased productivity, and the increasing reliance on debt as the 'American Dream' becomes unattainable for many.

🌍 Global Debt and the Future of Inflation

The final paragraph addresses the current state of global debt and the potential long-term consequences of continued money printing by governments. It highlights the short-sighted focus of politicians on election cycles rather than long-term fiscal health and the inevitable economic collapse that may result from unchecked inflation. The paragraph ends with a quote from Machiavelli about the dangers of perceived generosity leading to financial ruin and a reference to Thomas Jefferson's warning about the abuse of paper money.

Keywords

💡Secrecy

Secrecy in the script refers to the concealment of information or actions from the public or other entities, which is fundamentally opposed in a free and open society. It is a key concept in the video as it discusses the opposition to secret societies and proceedings, and how a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy operates covertly to expand its influence, as exemplified by the statement 'Its preparations are concealed, not published.'

💡Machiavelli

Niccolò Machiavelli is a central figure in the video, known as one of the greatest political philosophers of all time. His works, particularly 'The Prince' and 'Discoursi,' are highlighted for their influence on political thought and actions. The video discusses how Machiavelli's ideas on power and governance have shaped modern politics and have been used by leaders like Joseph Stalin, as referenced in the line 'But what did Machiavelli say? Who did he influence and how has what a man wrote 500 years ago, shaped the modern world in which we live today?'

💡Propaganda

Propaganda is a recurring theme in the video, illustrating how it is used by rulers and governments to manipulate public opinion and maintain power. The script mentions Stalin's use of propaganda to cultivate a cult of personality, ensuring public support and obedience, as indicated by 'Stalin would go to extreme lengths to develop a cult of personality, with the state producing an endless stream of propaganda.'

💡Inflation Tax

Inflation Tax is a term used in the video to describe the hidden cost of currency devaluation due to excessive money printing by governments. It is presented as a stealth tax on the populace, eroding the purchasing power of money over time. The script explains this concept by stating 'The more money the government prints, the less the dollar is worth. And the less the dollar is worth, the more expensive things become in relation to the dollar.'

💡Fiat Currency

Fiat currency is a type of money that is not backed by a physical commodity, such as gold, but rather by the government that issued it. The video discusses how the shift from commodity-backed money to fiat currency has allowed governments to print money without limit, leading to inflation and the devaluation of savings, as mentioned in 'But to understand what FIAT is, we first have to understand what money is and where FIAT has come from.'

💡Diplomacy

Diplomacy is highlighted in the script as a key aspect of Machiavelli's experiences and the insights he gained, which he later incorporated into his writings. The script notes Machiavelli's various diplomatic missions, such as 'For the next 14 years, Machiavelli would be sent on various important missions across the European continent, where he would travel to numerous states, representing Florence's interests.'

💡Statecraft

Statecraft refers to the practices and tactics used by rulers to gain, consolidate, and exercise power. The video emphasizes how Machiavelli's observations of statecraft were influenced by his diplomatic experiences and historical lessons, culminating in his work 'The Prince,' which the script describes as 'a collection of notes and lessons he had observed regarding statecraft, leadership, and manipulation.'

💡Great Terror

The Great Terror was a period of political repression in the Soviet Union led by Joseph Stalin. The video uses this term to illustrate the extent of Stalin's use of fear and violence to eliminate opposition and consolidate power. The script describes it as 'a campaign to rid society of his rivals and anyone who displeased him,' which 'would spread fear across the entire country.'

💡Cult of Personality

A cult of personality refers to the excessive adoration and idolization of a single leader, often through state-controlled media and propaganda. The video discusses how Stalin created such a cult to ensure public support, as evidenced by 'Stalin would go to extreme lengths to develop a cult of personality, with the state producing an endless stream of propaganda.'

💡Economic Powerhouse

The term economic powerhouse in the video refers to a city or region with a dominant economy, often due to specific industries or financial prowess. The script mentions Florence becoming an economic powerhouse under the Medici family's rule, 'with their expertise in banking and commerce transforming the city into an economic powerhouse.'

💡Hyperinflation

Hyperinflation is an extreme and rapidly accelerating rate of inflation, which can quickly erode the real value of money. The video uses the example of post-World War I Germany to illustrate the devastating effects of hyperinflation on an economy and society, as described in 'The more they printed the less the currency was worth, and hyperinflation soon arrived upon the doorsteps of every household in the country.'

Highlights

The concept of 'secrecy' is fundamentally opposed to the principles of a free and open society.

A monolithic and ruthless conspiracy exists, which relies on covert means to expand its influence.

Machiavelli's 'The Discourses' advocates for a self-governing Republic and criticizes absolute monarchies.

Machiavelli's 'The Prince' is viewed as a guidebook for rulers on gaining and consolidating power.

Niccolò Machiavelli was born into a family that valued a classical education.

Machiavelli received a classical education known as 'Studia Humanitatis'.

The political landscape of Italy during Machiavelli's time was fragmented with various city-states.

Machiavelli was appointed to key positions in the Florentine Republic, despite his lack of diplomatic experience.

Machiavelli's diplomatic missions provided him with firsthand experience of statecraft and leadership.

The Prince was not published until after Machiavelli's death, and was considered dangerous by some.

Joseph Stalin used Machiavelli's principles to consolidate power and control the Soviet Union.

Stalin's use of propaganda was instrumental in creating a cult of personality and maintaining public support.

Machiavelli's teachings on the appearance of virtue are reflected in modern politicians' focus on image.

The shift from Representative Money to Fiat Money has allowed governments to print money without limits, leading to inflation.

Inflation, or 'Inflation Tax', erodes the purchasing power of money and disproportionately affects the poor.

Global debt has reached a record high, with significant implications for the future of economies and societies.

Transcripts

The very word "secrecy" is repugnant  in a free and open society;  

and we are as a people inherently and historically  opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and  

to secret proceedings. For we are opposed around  the world by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy  

that relies primarily on covert means for  expanding its sphere of influence. It is  

a system which has conscripted vast  human and material resources into the  

building of a tightly knit, highly efficient  machine that combines military, diplomatic,  

intelligence, economic, scientific and political  operations. Its preparations are concealed,  

not published. Its mistakes are buried,  not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced,  

not praised. No expenditure is questioned,  no rumor is printed, no secret is revealed.

Machiavelli is one of the greatest political  philosophers of all time. His work “The  

Discoursi' would advocate for a self-governing  Republic and highlight that living under a  

monarch with absolute rule was akin to slavery,  providing the political underpinnings for both  

the English and American revolutions. But  Machiavelli's other work, The Prince, would  

have a far more sinister influence. A guidebook  to rulers on how to gain and consolidate power,  

the Prince was considered so dangerous it was  banned by the Catholic church for more than 200  

years. It has not only paved the way for tyrants,  despots and dictators but has had a profound  

impact on business, politics, religion and the  halls of power on every continent of the globe.  

But what did Machiavelli say? Who did he influence  and how has what a man wrote 500 years ago,  

shaped the modern world in which we live today?  From the White House to the Kremlin from the  

Vatican to the Federal Reserve, this is how a  man from Florence changed the course of history.  

This is how the writings of Nicolo Machiavelli  are used to manipulate and control everyone.

In 1469 Niccolo Machiavelli was born in Florence.  

The son of a lawyer, he was not born into a  family of great wealth nor one of poverty,  

but a family that prioritised a classical  education, with Machiavelli being trained in what  

was known at the time as “Studia Humanitatis”  or in English the “Studies of Humanity”.

At the age of 7, he would begin learning Latin,  followed by Grammar, Rhetoric and Poetry,  

with the education considered complete when one  had learnt Ancient History and Moral Philosophy.

It was commonly believed that these subjects  would best prepare someone for public life, as  

Cicero had once said, “These disciplines nurture  the values we principally need in order to serve  

our country well”. And luckily for Machiavelli,  that time would come sooner than expected. 

500 years ago, Italy was not the same as it  is today, it was not one unified country,  

but rather a collection of independent  city-states, each with its own ruler  

and governments. The Pope ruled Rome, the  Medici’s Florence, and the Sforza family Milan,  

all competing and waging war against  each other for power and influence.

It was In 1434 that the Medici family  had established their rule over Florence,  

with their expertise in banking and commerce  transforming the city into an economic powerhouse.

In 1469, the same year Machiavelli was  born, Lorenzo de Medici came to power,  

with his family renowned for being  keen financiers of Florentine culture,  

using their immense wealth to fund artists  such as Michelangelo, Botticelli and da Vinci.

But although the Medicis were great patrons of the  Italian Renaissance, Lorenzo was accused of being  

a tyrant, whose greed, corruption and immorality  defied the teachings of the Christian church.  

He would later die in 1492, and just two years  later, King Charles VIII of France invaded Italy.  

The Medici family, who had ruled Florence for  60 years, would now lose their grip on power,  

with the Florentine people supported by  the French driving them out of the city.

Florence then established a Great  Council, composed of thousands of men  

from the region's noble families. From  these men, a small group were elected,  

and they in turn would appoint others to help  run the city. The Florentine Republic was born.

With many positions within the republic needing  to be filled, Machiavelli's name was put forward,  

with it being likely that his intelligence  and drive were noticed by the great council.  

And so, in 1498, at the age of just 29  and with no prior diplomatic experience,  

Machiavelli was elected to the Secretary of  the Second Chancery, a position that had to  

coordinate all the correspondence and relations  with regard to Florence's territorial possessions. 

Shortly afterwards, he was also  appointed Secretary to the Ten of War,  

the committee responsible for all the foreign  and diplomatic relations of the republic.  

In this position Machiavelli could be  called upon to travel on behalf of the Ten,  

negotiating with potential allies, gathering  information and aiding the Ten’s ambassadors  

by writing up detailed reports on foreign  affairs and sending them home to Florence. 

For the next 14 years, Machiavelli would be  sent on various important missions across  

the European continent, where he would travel  to numerous states, representing Florence's  

interests and getting to see for himself, how  power really operated behind closed doors.

For his first mission, Machiavelli would visit  Caterina Sforza, the Countess of Imola and Forlì,  

before being sent for 6 months to the  court of Louis XII, the King of France.

He was next sent to observe Cesare Borgia,  the Duke of Romagna and Captain General of  

the Papal army, who with the support of the French  would conquer large portions of Northern Italy.

In 1506, Machiavelli would  visit the new Pope, Julius II,  

making extensive notes on his character  and leadership, and a year later would  

be sent on his last mission, to the court  of the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximillian I. 

It would be these diplomatic experiences coupled  with lessons from Greek and Roman history,  

that would provide Machiavelli with the  material needed to write The Prince,  

a collection of notes and lessons he had observed  regarding statecraft, leadership and manipulation.

Far from the Christain ideals of  modesty and temperance of the time,  

The Prince would delve behind the  curtains and highlight the true  

mechanisms and tactics rulers use to  gain, consolidate and exercise power.

The Prince would not be published during  Machiavelli's lifetime, with it being only  

5 years after his death in 1532, that the first  printed copies of the book were distributed.

Some would call it the work of ‘Satan’s finger’,  

and others a ‘handbook for tyrants, with  William Shakespeare in the early 1600s,  

using the term “Machiavel” to refer  to a cunning and scheming person.

But over time, some would begin to see The  Prince in a different light, that it described  

the world as it really operates, with The French  philosopher Rousseau believing its contents were  

a service to the public, exposing and allowing  them to observe the secret tactics of tyrants.

English philosopher Francis Bacon stated that  ‘we are much beholden to Machiavel and others,  

that write what men do, and not what they  

ought to do. But perhaps the Prince's  impact is stated best by author Tim Parks:

“Machiavelli’s little book was a constant  threat. It reminded people that power is  

always up for grabs, always a question of  what can be taken by force or treachery,  

and always, despite all protests to the  contrary, the prime concern of any ruler.”

But for one ruler in particular,  Machiavelli’s words would have a  

profound impact, one that would  not only change the course of  

history but would result in the death and  subjugation of tens of millions of people.

In all actions of all men, and especially  of princes where there is no court  

of appeal, the end justifies the means.” Perhaps no man in history has taken these  

words more seriously than Joseph Stalin, who was  known to annotate his own copy of The Prince.

Ruling over the Soviet Union from  1928 until his death in 1953, Stalin,  

would through the calculated use of terror,  force and propaganda, transform the Soviet  

Union into a world power while gaining the  love, support and admiration of his people.

“You must either pamper people or destroy them;  harm them just a little and they’ll hit back;  

harm them seriously and they won’t be able  to. So if you’re going to do people harm,  

do it in such a way that you do  not have to fear their vengeance.”

To consolidate his power Stalin was willing  to use any and all tools at his disposal to  

completely crush his opponents, making sure  they stood no chance of challenging his rule.

His political rivals would be shot, citizens  who spoke out against him would be hunted down,  

and millions would be sentenced to backbreaking  work in Gulag labour camps where they would be  

forced to carry out decades of slave labour  on highly dangerous projects for the state.

In 1937, Stalin would take these measures  to the extreme, launching The Great Terror,  

a campaign to rid society of his rivals and anyone  who displeased him. Lasting for a year and a half,  

The Great Terror would spread fear across the  entire country, with over 1,500 people being  

killed each day. Husbands would turn on their  wives, children on their parents, and by the  

time The Great Terror came to an end, there were  none left to speak out against Stalin's rule. 

By the time of Stalin’s death in 1953, over  26 million people had been shot, imprisoned,  

or subjected to internal exile, an average of  over 1 million per year. But how was Stalin able  

to get away with so much? How could he purge,  torture and control an entire empire, without  

any repercussions? The answer lies within one of  Machiavelli's most important rules… Propaganda 

“So long as he has the people on his side  a ruler needn’t worry about conspiracies,  

but when they are against him and hate him  he’ll have to watch everyone’s every move.”

Stalin understood that public support was crucial  to his position. If he was loved, and the people  

swore allegiance only to him, it would be very  difficult for his enemies to oust him from power.

And so, Stalin would go to extreme  lengths to develop a cult of personality,  

with the state producing an endless stream of  propaganda, portraying Stalin as a Hero and a God.

Statues of him were erected across the country,  

the city of Tsaritsyn was renamed to  Stalingrad, and during World War II,  

Stalin's name was added to the national anthem. The printing presses were also nationalised,  

with only officially sanctioned writers  able to publish books and write plays.  

Thousands of posters would be produced to make him  appeal to every aspect of society; to the worker  

he was a common man, smoking a pipe and riding  the subway with his fellow citizens. To families,  

he was a father figure, beloved by children who  would present him with flowers and adoring smiles,  

and to soldiers he was the defender  of Mother Russia, a great general,  

wearing a military uniform and leading the Soviet  armies to victory during the second world war.

“The best fortress which a prince can  possess is the affection of his people”

Every citizen of the Soviet Union, no  matter their age would be targeted by  

Stalin's propaganda machine. In 1935,  the phrase, "Thank You Dear Comrade  

Stalin for a Happy Childhood!" appeared  above doorways at nurseries, orphanages,  

and schools. People's homes would also begin  incorporating private "Stalin rooms" a place  

featuring his portrait, where they could fully  dedicate themselves to their beloved leader.

Known by titles such as ‘Brilliant Genius of  Humanity’ and ‘Gardener of Human Happiness’,  

Stalin was known to receive standing ovations  after his speeches. Most would last upwards of  

15 minutes, with the secret police carefully  watching the crowd and arresting the first  

person to stop applauding, a crime punishable  by 10 years of hard labour in the Gulag.  

With complete control over the information his  citizens received, Stalin’s cult of personality  

would be extremely effective, with him  being loved by the general population,  

many of whom believed the country  would completely collapse without him.

Stalin’s death would see a massive  outpouring of grief with citizens  

from across the empire travelling to Moscow to  pay their respect. Even prisoners in the Gulag,  

many of whom Stalin had sent there himself, are  known to have wept at the news of his passing.

With Machiavelli's book by his side, Stalin  had managed to convince an entire nation of his  

greatness, to feel genuine love for him, all the  while committing numerous atrocities against them.

But it's not just those in the past that  use Machiavelli's teachings… For politicians  

in the present are just as duplicitous,  they just use different means of control…

Means less obvious to the common man…

Modern mass media has made the most  tyrannical leaders fiercely beloved…

Even by the subjects they’ve taken advantage of…

But influence and resources in the hands  of a tiny few eventually leads to unrest…

It cripples even the most powerful empires.

If you look at the news, you can see these  dynamics are even further entrenched today…

Bloomberg analysts estimate  that in the next 25 years,  

over 62% of the USA's wealth will  belong to its wealthiest 1%...

That number would CRUSH the previous all-time  high of 51%...set in 1928…a year before the  

stock market crash and the Great Depression,  meaning it’s harder than ever to get by… 

Luckily, there is now a very  exciting new way to maybe get ahead…

We haven’t gotten the chance to invest  yet but, you can now join us in getting  

access to the same markets elite members  of society have had access to for decades…

All thanks to today’s sponsor Masterworks…

By giving investors just like you the chance  to potentially protect and grow their wealth…

With million-dollar, blue-chip,  investment-grade art.

They’ve delivered on 16 exits, all of  them profitable for their investors… 

But it’s easy to see why nearly  800,000 people have signed up so far…

Masterworks’ offerings have sold out within hours…

But our subscribers can now skip  the waitlist and start collecting  

today…just click the link in the description.

Perhaps I can help you Chuck.  

I think the election was a victory for good  government. It might also be called a victory  

for propaganda, but that would have been equally  true if our opponent had won. But how can you  

study it? Well, you can begin by investigating  techniques of propaganda. You’ll find that the  

purpose of most propaganda is to persuade people  to believe something, to do something, or to buy  

something. I find it interesting and there is  plenty to study. Here I have but a few of the many  

books on the subject. Hitler and Nazi Germany had  a campaign of propaganda that ran over many years.  

Then there is a wealth of propaganda to study  on the subject of Russia and Communism. There  

is propaganda to study in our own American  elections, national as well as local. And in  

many of the major issues on which elections often  hinge. Well if I don’t learn about propaganda,  

it won’t be because there is no way to study it.  That’s right Chuck, remember the techniques of  

propaganda and use the procedure we outlined as a  powerful force. So powerful that your study . . .  

YOUR STUDY of propaganda is important not  only to you, but to me and to the world.

“In general people judge more by  appearances than first-hand experience,  

because everyone gets to see you but  hardly anyone deals with you directly.  

Everyone sees what you seem to be, few  have experience of who you really are”

Modern politicians prioritise one  thing above all else; their appearance.  

Machiavelli argues that rulers should cultivate  the appearance of virtue, to present themselves  

as virtuous and moral, even if they do  not necessarily act that way in private.

“A new ruler ‘cannot always act in ways that  are considered good’, but it is crucial that  

he should nevertheless appear to be good,  and especially that he should appear to  

be ‘exceptionally compassionate,  loyal, humane, honest and devout”

But what is the best way for a  modern politician to appear virtuous?

The answer is to spend, spend and spend. Who  doesn't want more money for infrastructure  

projects, education, healthcare or social  services? The more money a politician spends,  

the more they are seen as compassionate and  the higher their chances of re-election.

But this hasn't always been the case.  Historically, this way of appealing to  

the masses has always ended in disaster  and looks a little something like this:

A ruler comes to power and embarks  on a large amount of spending on  

public projects. The people are pleased  and happy with the many benefits they  

receive from the government. Their taxes  are then raised to pay for the spending.  

They then begin to hate the leader and  then the leader is removed from power.

As Machiavelli argues, generosity is  self-defeating, the more you spend,  

the more you will need to tax, and the  more you tax, the more you will be hated.

“Above all, he mustn’t seize other  people’s property. A man will sooner  

forget the death of his father  than the loss of his inheritance.”

But modern politicians have found a sneaky  and deceiving way around this. A way most  

people are completely unaware of:  something called Inflation Tax.

Have you ever wondered why things  used to be so much cheaper? In 1971,  

a new house cost $25,000 and the average  rent was only $150 dollars per month.

A movie ticket would cost $1.50,  

Eggs 45c per dozen and gasoline would set you  back a whopping 40c per gallon at the pump.

Even a Harvard Education would cost you  just $2,600 for a full year of tuition.

So why are things so much more expensive today?  The answer is simple: The government prints money,  

as much as they like, in unlimited  amounts. The more money they print,  

the less money is worth, and as a result,  the prices of goods and services go up.

But you might be asking yourself a question, how  are they able to print so much money? They’re able  

to do this because of the type of money we have,  a type of money called FIAT. But to understand  

what FIAT is, we first have to understand  what money is and where FIAT has come from.

Before money existed, humans had to  barter, that is, goods and services  

had to be traded for other goods and services,  a cow for a sheep, an apple for an orange. But  

this system was incredibly inefficient, and  not everyone wanted what you had to trade.

And so would rise a form of money, a medium  of exchange, a unit of measurement and  

a store of value, that everyone agreed  to use so they wouldn't need to barter.

In ancient societies, money would first  appear in the form of Sea Shells and Beads,  

things that were all small, similar in  size, durable and easily identifiable.  

Factors that are common occurrences for forms of  money across different cultures and timeframes.

As civilisations evolved and become more  advanced, money would begin to appear in the  

form of precious metals, usually silver or gold,  that were then melted down and formed into coins.

This form of money would last  for thousands of years, until,  

in the modern age, we have adopted paper as our  form of money. However, this paper was not like  

the fiat money we have today, instead, it  was something called Representative Money,  

a piece of paper that represented  something else of intrinsic value.

Rather than have to carry around  a lot of heavy metal coins,  

people would deposit their money into banks,  who in turn would issue them paper banknotes,  

which represented the amount of  precious metals they had exchanged.  

These banknotes, a new form of currency,  would then circulate around the economy,  

and at any time, could be redeemed  for their value in silver or gold.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, governments  and central banks would adopt this system  

and apply it to their national  currencies, for example in 1934,  

under what was known as The Gold Standard, a  $35 bill would be backed by 1 ounce of gold.

It was important that paper money was backed  by gold, as it imposed limits on government  

spending. They wouldn't be able to print  more money, without in turn increasing the  

amount of gold they held in reserve.  As a result, prices remained stable,  

and people were able to save without the fear of  inflation eroding away their purchasing power.

But not all countries and governments  had precious metals backing their money,  

and as a result, the governments printed too much,  

hyperinflation ensued and both the  currency and economy collapsed.

Before the Great War, Germany was a wealthy  nation, with its currency backed by gold.  

They were a world leader in manufacturing, with  unravelled expertise, in optics, chemicals,  

and machinery. The German Mark, the British  Shilling, the French Franc, and the Italian Lira  

all had about equal value, with 4 units of each  currency able to be exchanged for 1 U.S Dollar.

However, in 1914, at the start of the First  World War, Germany abandoned the Gold Standard  

and resorted to printing money in order to fund  the conflict. But this policy worked to no avail,  

and by the end of the war in 1918, Germany  was surrounded, its allies were defeated,  

with inflation beginning to take a toll on the  population, prices having doubled since the  

start of the conflict. As a result, Germany was  forced to surrender, and 7 months later in 1919,  

they signed the Treaty of Versailles, which  named Germany as solely responsible for the  

outbreak of the War, and demanded that huge  reparations be paid to the Allied forces.  

The Germans would refer to this  agreement as the “Article of Shame”.

But these reparations, which totalled two  years of its pre-war GDP, would prove too  

costly for the German state to bear. Resources  would soon begin to be stipped and taken from  

their country as forms of repayment,  including goods produced in factories,  

their livestock and raw materials  such as lumber, iron and coal.

As these assets flowed out of the country, the  state would resort to printing vast quantities  

of money in order to pay the workers  and finance government expenditure.  

As the Reichsbank, Germany's central bank began to  print more and more, it was hard to stop, with the  

government enlisting 130 companies to help churn  out piles of increasingly worthless paper notes.

The more they printed the  less the currency was worth,  

and hyperinflation soon arrived upon the  doorsteps of every household in the country.

Do you remember that 4 German marks in  1913 were worth around 1 U.S. dollar? Well,  

the government printed so much money, that  by the end of 1923, it wouldn't cost 4,  

or 40 or even 400 marks to purchase 1  U.S Dollar, but instead 4.2 billion.

Prices for everyday items would begin to spiral  out of control, with wheelbarrows needed to  

transport people's money to local stores. A loaf  of bread, that had cost 250 marks in January 1923  

would cost more than 200 billion in November. Cash  would be burned for fuel, children would use paper  

notes as building blocks and create kites for  their entertainment. Eventually, It ended up  

costing more to print 1 note than the note itself  was worth, with the currency soon collapsing.

The German Mark would serve as a lesson of  history and a warning to future economies that  

a currency backed by nothing, will eventually be  worth nothing. With the destruction and carnage  

financial collapse brings about, giving tyrants  and despots the opportunity to seize control.

At Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, Delegates from  44 Allied and associate countries arrived for  

the opening of the United Nations  Monetary and Financial Conference.

After the Second World War, the United  States had emerged as a financial superpower,  

having accumulated over 80%  of the world's gold supply.  

And so, they would sort to position themselves,  as the leader of a new global monetary system,  

one that would promote peace and stability, that  would help prevent the outbreak of another war.

To negotiate this new system, 44  nations from around the globe would  

travel to Bretton Woods in New Hampshire,  where they would all mutually agree upon  

a new framework by which the world's  currencies were exchanged and valued.

Under this new system, nations, instead  of pegging their currencies to gold,  

as had been done under the gold standard, would  instead peg their currencies to the U.S Dollar,  

which in turn was pegged to gold at $35 per ounce.

The world was effectively  back on the Gold Standard,  

countries could trade their  currencies for U.S Dollars,  

which, then could be exchanged for gold. The  U.S Dollar was now the world's reserve currency.

However, fast forward 30 years and history would  begin to repeat itself. Much like the Romans,  

The Chinese, The Spanish, The British, The  Germans and all rulers and governments that  

have come before, The United States fell into the  same trap. They began to spend beyond their means.

Overly ambitious projects like “The Great  Society'', social programmes aimed at  

eradicating poverty were introduced, and The  Vietnam War, a geopolitical conflict aimed  

at stopping the spread of Communism, began to  soak up vast sums of government expenditure.

Foreign nations, realising the U.S.  government had printed more money to  

fund these ventures than they had in  gold reserves, would begin to panic,  

and started the process of swapping their  dollars for gold. With the nation's gold  

reserves being depleted, Richard Nixon on  August 15th 1971, would address the nation  

via Television and declared that he was stopping  the international convertibility of USD into gold.

Accordingly, I have directed the  Secretary of the Treasury to take  

the action necessary to defend the  dollar against the speculators.  

I have directed Secretary Connally to suspend  temporarily the convertibility of the dollar  

into gold or other reserve assets, except  in amounts and conditions determined to be  

in the interests of monetary stability and  in the best interests of the United States.

With the Dollars link to gold being severed,  the Bretton Woods system had come to an end,  

with the age of Fiat currency emerging. All the  world's currencies were now backed by nothing.

What would result is one of  the greatest heists in history,  

an act of deception so big that even  Machiavelli would look on with astonishment.

No longer would governments around the world  have to raise excess funds via taxes, something  

Machiavelli had warned against, instead they were  now free to print as much money as they wished.  

They could now steal their population's wealth  without them even realising it, because although  

the amount of money in their bank account stayed  the same, the value of that money went down.

For example, if you had saved $1  dollar in your bank account in 1913,  

the same year the Federal Reserve was  created, that dollar would only be  

worth 4 cents today. In just 100 years, the  dollar has lost 96% of its purchasing power.

But since 1971, the United States Government  hasn't just printed a lot of money,  

they have embarked on the greatest spending spree  of any nation at any point in recorded history.

Let's take a look at their national debt.  

Since its founding in 1776, through the American  Revolution, the Civil War, as well as the  

First and Second World Wars, by 1971, the U.S.  national debt stood around $400 billion dollars.

What had taken nearly 200 years to accumulate,  would now be dwarfed by comparison. Just 50 years  

since the dollar had left the gold standard, the  national debt now stands at $31 trillion dollars.

There were no world wars, no great depressions,  but with fiat money now under government control,  

they have managed to accumulate  $31 trillion dollars of debt.

So, what are the costs of this?  Well, the cost is Inflation Tax:

The more money the government prints, the  less the dollar is worth. And the less  

the dollar is worth, the more expensive  things become in relation to the dollar.  

In other words, prices will keep going up as your  purchasing power goes down. It's a sneaky way of  

taxing your savings without the government  having to take the money from you directly.

As you can see, when money is sound, that is  backed by something of intrinsic value like gold,  

prices remained stable for hundreds of years.  

People were able to save and hand  that money, that store of value,  

down to the next generation. But in 1971, that  all changed, and prices begin to take off.

Take Campbell's Soup for example, prices  remained relatively stable for decades,  

but then 1971 rolls around, and  the price begins to explode.

What's worse, is inflation tax doesn't just show  up in the price, you can also have something  

called “Shrink-flation” where the price remains  the same but the product is reduced in size.

Whether it is electricity, food or fruit,  

the case remains the same. Since  1971, prices have begun to rise.

But it's not just consumer items that are affected  by inflation tax, it's EVERYTHING in the economy.  

Since 1971, productivity has increased by  nearly 250%, but compensation has remained flat.  

Productivity has increased, but  compensation has moved sideways.

This can also be seen in the  cost of education. While the  

average earnings for those between  22-27 years old have barely moved,  

the cost to attend higher education has  skyrocketed. Most young adults today now  

have to saddle themselves with massive debt’s  just to be able to afford to go to college.

And then when they graduate, they face another  huge problem. The cost of housing. Since 1971,  

the value of homes has gone parabolic, far  exceeding income growth during the same period.

In the 1950s, 60’s and 70’s, it would  take on average 2.5 years of your labour,  

in order to save up and purchase a house. By 2020  that figure has risen to 7 years. House prices  

have risen so much, you now need to work nearly 3  times longer, just in order to buy the same house.

The American Dream, the old tale of  each according to their own ability,  

where an average family could accumulate  a modest fortune and own a small plot of  

land with a house and a little white picket  fence, was now out of reach for most Americans.  

The American Dream was slowly turning into the  American Nightmare, where even the most basic  

of goods and services were becoming  unaffordable for the average citizen.

So what did they do? They turned to debt,  easy credit that would allow them to live  

the same life as their parents. While  everything got more expensive, Americans  

would borrow and borrow while accumulating  the most debt of any generation in history.

Inflation hurts everyone, but it hurts one  group, in particular, the hardest, the poor.  

The wealthy know the game that is being played,  and that's why they protect themselves against  

inflation by owning assets, such as gold,  real estate, stocks, bitcoin and rare art.

When the government prints more  money these assets, on average,  

over time increase in value, but for the  poor, who hold most of their wealth in cash,  

the value of their money is totally destroyed and  they are crushed by the rising cost of living.

Inflation is the most destructive disease  known to modern societies there is nothing  

which will destroy a society so thoroughly  and so fully as letting inflation run riot.

Inflation doesn't arise because you’ve got  consumers who are spendthrift they've always  

been spendthrift. it doesn't arise because you've  got businessmen who are greedy they've always been  

greedy. Inflation arises because we as citizens  have been asking you as politicians to perform  

an impossible task. We've been asking you to  spend somebody else's money on us but not to  

spend our money on anybody else. Everybody talks  against inflation but what he means is that he  

wants the prices of the things he sells to go up  and the prices of the things he buys to go down.

The real tax on the American  people is not what you label taxes,  

it's total spending. If Congress spends  50 billion dollars more than it takes in,  

if Government spends 50 billion dollars, who  do you suppose pays that 50 billion dollars?

The Arab Sheikhs aren't paying it. Santa Claus  isn't paying it. The Tooth Fairy isn't paying it.  

You and I as taxpayers are paying it  indirectly through hidden taxation

But it's not just the United States and  the Dollar that are experiencing Inflation.  

Whether you hold the Nigerian Naira,  the Argentine Peso or the Turkish Lira,  

governments around the world  are stealing the wealth of  

their populations as inflation erodes  away their currencies purchasing power.

So, what's going to happen from here? Well,  it's going to get a lot worse, everywhere.  

Governments and politicians in the U.S. and  around the world are not interested in the  

long-term trajectory of their nations. Instead,  they are solely focused on the election cycle,  

what they can promise now, and what  will garner them the most votes.

They are interested in POWER. And if they have to  spend vast sums of money on different programs in  

order to bribe the public to vote for them, that  is what they are going to do. And why wouldn't  

they? They no longer have to raise taxes from  the population in order to fund these projects.  

They simply print the money, hold  on to power for as long as they can,  

and the population is none the wiser as to  why everything around them is crumbling.

Unfortunately, the debt in most nations  is already too large to be paid back,  

so more money will need to be issued  in order to pay it off. In other words,  

the debt is already so high, the only way  forward is for nations to print more money  

and in doing so, inflate their way out  until their currencies are worthless.

The debt to GDP ratio in the United States is  already over 130%, that’s double the size of  

the economy and higher than during World War  2. By 2050, that ratio is expected to exceed  

200% of GDP, totalling more than 100 trillion  dollars of debt. By the end of the century,  

in the year 2,100, just 73 years from now,  if politicians carry on down the same path  

of money printing they are currently on, the  national debt will exceed 1 quadrillion dollars.

Whether it be 10, 50 or 100 years from now,  

sooner or later the chickens are coming  home to roost, As Machiavelli has said:

“If you’re determined to have people think of  you as generous, you’ll have to be lavish in  

every possible way; naturally, a ruler who follows  this policy will soon use up all his wealth to the  

point that, if he wants to keep up his reputation,  he’ll have to impose special taxes and do  

everything a ruler can to raise cash. His people  will start to hate him and no one will respect  

him now he has no money. Since his generosity  will have damaged the majority and benefited  

only a few, he’ll be vulnerable to the first bad  news, and the first real danger may well topple  

him. When he realizes this and tries to change his  ways, he’ll immediately be accused of frugality.”

As of 2023, global debt has reached a record $300 trillion dollars

This equates to $37,500 for every person on the planet

"Paper money is liable to be abused, has been, is, and forever will be abused, in every country in which it is permitted"

Thomas Jefferson, 1813