Currency is supposed to circulate, not to be hoarded or hidden under the mattress. It's not expected to rise in value.
"Supposed to..." shit. What it is *supposed* to be is for one person to exchange a nominal value with another, a placeholder for resources. A promise for value fulfillment deferred.
I talk to farmer Joe. Farmer Joe, says I (in the manner of farming folk), I have baked some fine loaves of bread but I have surplus to my needs. I was wondering if I might make a fair exchange with you, perhaps for a chicken. Farmer Joe observes the bread. "That is some mighty fine bread" says he. "Unfortunately, all my chickens are accounted for right now but I have some chicks which will grow and I can let you have a chicken much like the ones you see before you in about six months if you would let me have one of those loaves of bread today". "Those are handsome chickens" say I "and I am sure would be tasty in my pot. I agree. Let us make notes of our exchange so that our transaction proceeds fairly over time". "Aha" exclaims farmer Joe, "there is no need for that bother since there is this invention. It is a piece of paper with a picture of a dead man on it. One of these is considered fair value for a chicken or a loaf of bread". I trust Farmer Joe so I take his piece of paper as a promise, hand over the bread and return to my homestead.
Six months pass. I return to farmer Joe. "Well met, farmer Joe" I call, "I have returned for my chicken". "Your chicken is well grown and healthy" he says "You'll get a good meal from that one". I hand over the picture of the dead man to farmer Joe. "Well, thing is" says Joe "Squire Sam has printed a whole lot more of these pictures, you'll need one of these and a tenth more for that chicken". "But what of our agreement?" I ask "I don't have a tenth more". "You'll have to speak to Squire Sam about that".
So I head to the castle and confront Squire Sam, "Squire Sam", I begin, "How is it that I make an agreement with farmer Joe to exchange a loaf of bread for a chicken and yet it is broken because you are free to print as many pictures of dead men as you please? Nice castle, by the way". "Well" said Sam, "See this sword?". "Yes", says I. "Well, if you don't shut up and fuck off, you'll be receiving the pointy end of it" said Sam. So I made my excuses and left.
