- cross-posted to:
- workreform@lemmy.world
- socialism@lemmy.ml
- cross-posted to:
- workreform@lemmy.world
- socialism@lemmy.ml
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He is doing video on MMT pog.The video is great. However, it skips one point that is balance of payments. There are Global south countries like Pakistan, India, South Africa etc which have their own currencies but they are limited by colonialism/imperialism. They can’t raise deficit because doing so would result in speculative attacks against their currencies and bond rating downgrades by western credit rating agencies (the same ones who were responsible for 2008) which makes it difficult for these countries to borrow foreign exchange (mainly dollars) from international markets. U.S. is in a special position because of the dominance of the dollar as the reserve currency, it doesn’t have to worry about balance of payment and as everyone else uses the dollar, there are no such problems. However, America is a shithole and it still doesn’t do basic shit.
This is why reducing import dependence and obtaining modern tech is so important for the third world.
That said I love his focus on real resources as what determines a country’s capabilities.
Don’t forget the influence of the petrodollar. Everyone uses the dollar not necessarily because they want to, but because the US has taken actions to ensure that oil can only be traded in dollars. This is part of why BRICS is seen as such a threat to US hegemony. If Saudi Arabia, Russia, and China are all agreeing to trade oil in something other than dollars, then suddenly the solvency of all of the economies of the world are far less reliant on the solvency of the dollar itself.
Great video, I learned a lot. But I’m confused about taxes now, I don’t really understand why they are needed if a government can just make all the money it needs. Can someone explain like I’m a dumb baby?
As far as I understand, taxes are used to finance services that capitalists refuse to provide, but more importantly, taxation is used to I think limit the supply of money. The government can print all the money it wants and nothing is inherently wrong, but that would devalue the currency. Be aware that I could be totally wrong.
