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plan has succeeded (League of Nations, -even the UN is a mess), a world language has failed (Esperanto); in fact there is no world spanning system that has succeeded or does not have some sort of tandem or back up system. A global currency would be a footnote with the League of Nations and Esperanto.

Lesser problems would include negotiations over what symbols to put on the currency and what denominations to have, what to call it, and who would have authority over printing and minting. Symbols on the bills and coins, would probably be neutral to avoid any accusations of bias over ownership and sovereignty. Even the currency's name would have to be neutral to avoid the same issues.

The myth of money and alternative currencies:

The myth of money lies in the fact that we give some intrinsic worth to bits of paper and metal. Anything could be used as money, but currencies are perceived at being at that value because a central power tells us what it is worth. Not all cultures believe in hard currency and its power, thus unequal dominance would reign with larger countries and multinationals controlling weaker economies. Some countries, either because of ideological, religious, or cultural beliefs would not want to share a currency with another nation or their enemy or submit to what in effect could turn out to be neo-economic-colonialism. Because of the nature of free market economies and more socialist states, a single currency would end up in the hands of the marketers.

Alternatives to money would not also work. The Gold Standard is not the same as a single currency as the general population at large doesn't use gold. It was the preserve of the government and elite. Diamonds, like any other mineral/element, would necessarily lead to environmental degradation as miners sought evermore declining resources in sensitive areas. Plus with the general population walking around with pockets and pouches full of gold or diamond bits and dust, crime rates would soar, destabilising the market. A cashless system could also rival bills and coins, negating the need for a single currency.

Some people say that in the past, the Romans and other conquering empires established single global' currencies, but really there were other local currencies and trading systems in effect, as seem in archaeological investigations. There has never been a true global currency and there never will be. No other single global system has worked. Mankind is and always will be an individualistic-inclined and protectionist being and the temptation to impose any single global system upon him will be doomed to fail, as two World Wars have found. A single global currency would lead to a world of less choice, less character, and less freedom.

Learn more about this author, Ray Burke.
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