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End the Fed

4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 · rating details · 2,338 ratings · 287 reviews

In the post-meltdown world, it is irresponsible, ineffective, and ultimately useless to have a serious economic debate without considering and challenging the role of the Federal Reserve.

Most people think of the Fed as an indispensable institution without which the country's economy could not properly function. But in END THE FED, Ron Paul draws on American history, econo...more

Hardcover, 212 pages

Published September 16th 2009 by Grand Central Publishing

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Sep 20, 2010 Rasheed rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: All Americans; all students and teachers of Economics/Finance/Commerce

Recommended to Rasheed by: Infowars.com

Shelves: non-fiction, economics, favorites

The greatest enemy of liberty is the privately-owned central bank known as the U.S. Federal Reserve, the operations of which are shrouded in secrecy. When the Fed prints a new dollar, the value of each one in circulation goes down. The Fed shouldn’t be allowed to print money for the same reason you or I aren’t allowed to counterfeit.

The Tenth Amendment to the Unites States Constitution says that states aren’t allowed to declare as money whatever they want. Article 1, Section 10: “No state shall…...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Don rated it 5 of 5 stars

“The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial element in the large centers has owned the government ever since the days of Andrew Jackson….” ~ President Franklin D. Roosevelt

The author, Dr. Ron Paul, is a retired practicioner of obstetrics and gynecology, having delivered over 4,000 babies during his notable medical career. He also spent 22 years as a US Congressman from Texas, running for President in both 2008 and 2012.

I enjoyed this concise, easy to read book. In fact...more “The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial element in the large centers has owned the government ever since the days of Andrew Jackson….” ~ President Franklin D. Roosevelt

The author, Dr. Ron Paul, is a retired practicioner of obstetrics and gynecology, having delivered over 4,000 babies during his notable medical career. He also spent 22 years as a US Congressman from Texas, running for President in both 2008 and 2012.

I enjoyed this concise, easy to read book. In fact, it is the first book I would recommend to someone interested in learning about the private Federal Reserve System and its detrimental effect on our constitutional rights, freedom and liberty.

Dr. Paul explains the peril of American’s current debt-based, fiat currency that has no backing of any kind. In essence, the FED’s practice of creating money out of thin air, is counterfeiting, the result of which is a dilatory effect on the value of the US Dollar. By artificially inflating the money supply, the FED imposes a hidden tax on all Americans - known as "inflation". The result is a continuous downward spiral of the value of our money.

For those who know their history, you may recall that Henry Ford once remarked, “It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning.”

The same history buffs will recall that the Fifth Plank of Friedrich Engels’ and Karl Marx’s “Communist Manifesto”, requires a central bank, a necessary compliment to the central planning which is the touchstone of the Communist system:

“Centralisation of credit in the hands of the State by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly.”

Sadly, the two dominant political parties in the United States, namely, the Republican and Democratic parties, both support this Communist model, and incredulously, boast of their support of this model during their campaigns! I can recall political dinosaurs, Rudolph Giuliani and John McCain unsuccessfully attempting to castigate Dr. Paul for his campaign pledge to return America to the fundamental tenets of the Constitution and sound money.

I strongly recommend that every American read this book.
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Apr 05, 2013 BirdBrian's ghost rated it 5 of 5 stars

"…so when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said,
'Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.'"

-Genesis 47:15 (King James Version)

I got this book in January, after a snowstorm stranded my wife and I in Chicago for five days. Naturally, we did what any couple would do under the circumstances: we visited the Chicago branch of the Federal Reserve Bank.
me in front of the Federal Reserve

Truly, it was every bit as sickening as yo...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Scott Waldyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

The best way to view this book is as a gateway to similar books more heavily focused on economic theory. It's intended as an offering to a much broader audience, written so that the average reader can begin to understand where Dr. Paul is coming from and why this topic is important/why one should care.

At the same time, this work does illuminate what is known about the Federal Reserve and the Fed's role in our society. What's nice about this book is that I could read this in Ron Paul's voice, an...more

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May 23, 2012 William rated it 3 of 5 stars

An amazingly forthright and simple view of the case to end the Federal Reserve Bank and rid us of its misdeeds. Dr. Paul does a very good job of making his case for the abolition of an institution that has caused more harm to the population of the US and the World than almost any other in history. The Federal Reserve serves an elite few and institutionalizes the harmful effects of "Moral Hazard". A great start for people who are just cutting their teeth on this subject, this book provides some g...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Read this back in 2008 - 2009. You can't deny that Paul is passionate, consistent, and actually believes what he espouses. I'd like to skim this again since he's upped his profile with the 2011-2012 primaries.

Good and thought provoking book. It's important to look at both sides of an argument.

My concern is that switching back to a gold standard would completely alter capitalism as we know it. The ability to effectively create money out of thin air through interest and inflation drives growth in...more

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Jan 25, 2012 Ob-jonny rated it 4 of 5 stars

End The Fed lays forth a pretty convincing case that the Fed is the main cause of the boom/bust cycle in the American economy. I the repetitions of this boom bust cycle, the boom is inevitable smaller than the bust and the country is worse off in the long run. When the Fed prints money it reduces unemployment in an artificial way which can only be temporary. When money is injected into the system then new people are hired due to the temporary increase in demand. But the money eventually filters...more

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Dec 23, 2011 Ed Wagemann rated it 3 of 5 stars

End The Fed by Ron Paul

I first developed an interest in politics after 9/11. Why on earth would someone hate America that much, I wondered? Who is al qaida? What the hell is their problem with us? So I began paying attention to politics, U.S. foreign affairs in particular. During the Bush/Cheney march to war in Iraq in 2002 I was tuned in and I watched in amazemenat as that administration fed the American public one line of bullshit after another. I mean I was all for getting rid of Saddam, but...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Darryl Perry rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Never before have I read a book that starts out by stating, "Why you should care"; but that is exactly what Dr. Paul does with "END THE FED". He explains that the Federal Reserve has been given almost absolute power, unchecked of course, over the entire economy with little concern from Congress. Not only does Congress not care about the power of the Federal Reserve, they encourage the Fed to continue involving itself in the economy. "The Federal Reserve System must be challenged," Paul writes, "...more Never before have I read a book that starts out by stating, "Why you should care"; but that is exactly what Dr. Paul does with "END THE FED". He explains that the Federal Reserve has been given almost absolute power, unchecked of course, over the entire economy with little concern from Congress. Not only does Congress not care about the power of the Federal Reserve, they encourage the Fed to continue involving itself in the economy. "The Federal Reserve System must be challenged," Paul writes, "Ultimately it needs to be eliminated...No single institution in society should have power this immense. in fact, I believe that freedom itself is at stake in this struggle."
Dr. Paul continues by telling of the creation of, as G. Edward Griffin calls it, "The Creature From Jekyll Island". Which, most libertarians are aware, was formed by a small group of powerful bankers who had convinced the government that a "central bank was needed to stabilize the currency." Something the Fed has failed to do in nearly 100 years, thanks in part to fractional reserve banking, fiat currency and artificial manipulation of interest rates. A "dollar" is now worth approximately 5% of it's value in 1913, when the Fed was created; does that sound like a "stabilized currency" to you? It doesn't sound very stable to me, either. Devaluing a currency, as the Fed has done, is nothing less than fraud; just as adding water to a gallon of milk is fraud. Something Dr. Paul learned about early in life working on the family dairy.
Aside from his work on the family dairy, he credits a job with the Pittsburgh Press as helping him become interested in coin collecting. With coin collecting helping him understand the value of money. This led him later to study Mises, Hayek, Murray Rothbard, Hans F. Sennholz and Austrian Economics. it was his study of Austrian Economics along with Richard Nixon's "We're all Keynesian, now"statement and the removal of the Gold Standard that led him to become involved with politics.
Before going into details of his involvement with the Gold Commission and his interactions with Fed Chairmen; Dr. Paul spends a chapter explaining how central banks, all central banks not just the Fed, enable, encourage and fund wars, both legal and illegal, just and unjust. For the most part, all countries throughout history have been limited in how wars are financed; mainly due to have commodity based currencies. But, thanks to the advent of central banking, a government could just turn to the bank and request a large sum of money to fund whatever perceived evil lurked around the corner. The bank complies and expands the currency, reaping the benefits, and passing the cost on to the "little guy" or even worse, a future generation.
During the final days of President Carter's administration, a bill that was co-authored by Ron Paul and Jesse Helms was signed into law creating the Gold Commission. Possibly the most significant action of the Commission was a recommendation that Congress authorize the US Mint to mint a gold coin. The Congress actually authorized 4 coins; 1 ounce, ½ ounce, ¼ ounce and 1/10 ounce. These coins were minted with a legal tender face value, which has only compounded the problems associated with legal tender laws, which need to be repealed as much as the Fed needs to be abolished.
If the first third of the book was good, the last two-thirds is great!
Dr. Paul goes into detail, with transcripts of conversations he's had with both Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke. Of the two, at least Greenspan understands, or knows, the arguments for a Gold Standard. Yet, somehow, has lost the knowledge he had in the 1960's when he wrote an essay titled "Gold and Economic Freedom."
After writing about his "Conversations with Greenspan" and "...Bernanke"; he explains why Congress should be interested in monetary policy. One reason being that bad money and unjust taxation, including inflation, encourage the "black-market". "By destroying money and fueling the growth of the state," Paul writes, "the institution of a central bank is the biggest generator of underground criminal activity ever."
He goes on to explain "the current mess" and the Fed's "solution" of throwing more money into the market as being similar to "adding more poison to a poisoned patient amounts to a cure." And, "the current path is prolonging and extending the pain - while causing a slow death dressed up in fancy clothes."
"Why End The Fed?" Dr. Paul explains, "The Federal Reserve should be abolished because it is immoral, unconstitutional, impractical, promotes bad economics and undermines liberty. its destructive nature makes it tool of tyrannical government." The Fed has caused more "bubbles" than would have ever happened had a free market system of competing commodity-based currencies been in existence. In fact, inflation would be mostly non-existent without the Fed.
In the final chapters, Dr. Paul gives a Philosophical, Constitutional, Economic and Libertarian Case for abolishing the Fed. While each of these arguments is slightly different, they are also very similar. In short: The Fed creates inflation; inflation steals wealth from anyone who had saved some of their earnings; theft is illegal, immoral, and unjust. I'm reminded of a quote from Frederic Bastiat, "When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law. These two evils are of equal consequence, and it would be difficult for a person to choose between them."
In the end, Dr. Ron Paul explains "The Way Out." But, in an effort to not play the role of "spoiler" I will refrain from giving any details and end the same way Dr. Paul was greeted by 10,000 people when his "Rally for the Republic" speech began, with hopes that one day we can..."END THE FED! END THE FED! END THE FED!"(less)

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Apr 27, 2011 Bernie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have a new respect for Ron Paul. He has done a lifetime of homework on this topic and obviously knows what he's talking about. Paul titles his book with a demand: End the Fed. By the end of the book you'll support that demand as he does a convincing job in showing that our nation's economic problems are magnified and often even brought on as a direct result of the actions of the Federal Reserve. Paul starts with a fundamental fact about the Federal Reserve, "After all is said and done, the Fed...more

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Feb 09, 2011 Derek houston rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A very good read! This book should be read by of our congressmen and senators before they take office! Like Dr Ron Paul says conservatives, liberals, democrats, republicans, libertarians, socialists,........There is one thing we can agree on. The unchecked, unregulated, unsupervised, secretive operations by the FED needs more transparency. We have to demand H.R. 1207:Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009 sees a vote to ensure A full audit on the FED.
This book was not a "Conspiracy Theory boo...more

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Sep 10, 2010 getAbstract rated it 4 of 5 stars

getAbstract Book Review: End the Fed

Everybody cares about money, but do you really understand it? How much do you know about the Federal Reserve, the American institution that plays a profound but secretive role in steering the U.S. economy? Congressman and erstwhile presidential candidate Ron Paul believes that the Federal Reserve, not money, is the root of all evil. In his somewhat repetitious – and sometimes fearful – book, Paul holds the Fed responsible for wars, recessions, depressions, bub...more

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Mar 29, 2010 Abe Goolsby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: economics-finance

Ron Paul lays the ax at the root of the tree in this book by offering a very understandable explanation of how our increasing economic woes are chiefly attributable to two intertwined realities: the existence of the Federal Reserve and the corresponding system of perpetually debased fiat currency. To put it in even plainer terms, our problem is that our economy, for most of the last century, has been controlled by a giant, government-established and endorsed counterfeiting operation, one that is...more

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Mar 04, 2010 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Scary. China's inflation is the residual effect of our inflation; we are consumers to them; no longer are we producing--so what happens when China's bubble bursts (it will in six months to a year, maybe two, just as our housing bubble burst within six years of its making...we can't afford their commodities, and we are their strongest demand...ie look at all your kitchen product brand names. Consider China's population and tolitarian state. Consider its negotiations with the ME for a new currency...more Scary. China's inflation is the residual effect of our inflation; we are consumers to them; no longer are we producing--so what happens when China's bubble bursts (it will in six months to a year, maybe two, just as our housing bubble burst within six years of its making...we can't afford their commodities, and we are their strongest demand...ie look at all your kitchen product brand names. Consider China's population and tolitarian state. Consider its negotiations with the ME for a new currency, and perhaps Euro, as justifiably Greece just did today, rather than the dollar). Consider Russia's disdain for the US, siding with Iran when the gold standard inevitably will come into play. In the near, near future, China will need its money back. Temporarily, for reassurance, in case the stimulas plan backfires (which it will due to the FED's insistance on maintaining private ownership and insolvent deals with big corp. they will be unable to justify, or pay back) the US will soon heed to a Chinese 'eminent domain' on American soil. We will be unable to pay any of our debt, maybe some, but hardly sufficient. And so the Chinese, along with Russia and the Middle East invade the US, maybe disguised,maybe not...

So what then? When the US is inundated with debt to our Chinese bank that depends on the dollar that no longer exists? What happens when a business declares bankruptcy?

Long story short--DMV sized lines for rice and water: two/five years. Five/seven years, US banks closed, gone. Dollar is dead. Banks shut down. Civil unrest, not just in the US, but globally.

Paul's point : Edit the FED now, rather than later, because later, according to all the reputable sources he quotes, will mean the the United States will, indee become a third world country at best, if not bought state by state (depending on each state's deficit, agriculture, resources,etc) by other nations.

At least the great depression wasn't global... yikes. The congressman, from what I gather, has no intention other than to inform, so his proclivity for honesty is seldom rebutted by the genius economists of our time, only rebutted by the right wing (and the left: note the dire need for health care reform. Briefly as a cliffnot, health care will help lower our deficit and dependence on big business)...owned by guess who? Global big business. Personified by President Bush's new land ownership in South America? Why would a former president purchase thousands upon thousands of acres in Paraguay?

The constitution had its merits, if only, claims Paul, we would have abided by it.

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Feb 11, 2010 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: economics

My definition of a heroic person has three parts. They must be:
1. A speaker of truth
2. One who speaks truth in the face of great opposition.
3. One who lives out the truth they speak.
By these criteria, Ron Paul has always been an heroic figure on the American political landscape. Variously claimed by conservatives, liberals, populists and Libertarians as their candidate, Ron Paul just calls things the way he sees them. Coupled with Peter Schiff and other members of the Austrian school of Economic...more

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Jan 02, 2010 Alex rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: libertarian-limitedgovt, nonfiction

Although most of us are familiar with the Federal Reserve most of us don't think twice about how this organization operates or the ramifications of its policies on our economy. Did you know that the Federal Reserve is made of private banking institutions who benefit from inflation while US citizens pay the price in higher costs? Or were you aware that this quasi-governmental organization is not subject to the same audit requirements that normal governmental agencies are subject? The book include...more

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Dec 31, 2009 Desiree rated it 5 of 5 stars

A definite must read! Lots of scary stuff here about the US government's monetary policies. Once the US went off the gold standard, they were, and still are, free to print all the money they want. Therefore, there is no way to protect savings from confiscation through inflation. There is no safe store of value. A lot of the blame is placed on Greenspan who planted the seeds for our current financial calamity. Now that he is gone, we cannot continue to inflate our way out. Just as a disease can n...more

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Nov 26, 2009 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Let me preface my review by saying that this is my first introduction to Congressman Paul's written work, and so I must focus my observations on his conclusions to the scope of this book and its topic - the Federal Reserve, it's history, and the case for its disbandment.

Where this book succeeds is as an impassioned and very convincing elucidation on the fraudulent nature of the fiat capital system and the undeserving mystique that surrounds it. Paul's approach is direct and to the point, and cer...more Let me preface my review by saying that this is my first introduction to Congressman Paul's written work, and so I must focus my observations on his conclusions to the scope of this book and its topic - the Federal Reserve, it's history, and the case for its disbandment.

Where this book succeeds is as an impassioned and very convincing elucidation on the fraudulent nature of the fiat capital system and the undeserving mystique that surrounds it. Paul's approach is direct and to the point, and certainly does not patronize the reader in an earnest attempt to play utterly fair. His view is also patently "big tent" and does not focus in on any one party identity as the cause of social ills. Instead, he argues, and after some examination of his points, that the system of fiat money is directly to blame of the social environ that gives rise to much public injustice. With the wealth of good argument supplied, the undecided reader will likely agree with this point.

What the book is not, however, is a detailed blueprint as to what kind of monetary system could practically replace the current unjust fiat system and how such a system could be enacted, and that is sorely wanted for as one works though all the reasons the current system is invalid. Paul is very educated on his subject, and the sources he cites, among them famous Austrian School Economists that he identifies as personal heroes, are included in the book. I find it unlikely that he does not have a feasible replacement in mind or that he is incapable of clearly sharing it in his book - it would rather seem that his zeal and agitation to discount the current system have lead to a book that dedicates every chapter save one to negative didactic rather than constructing a replacement. By the time you are utterly convinced, you are craving an explanation of the intended new direction that is as detailed as the section dedicated on attacking the current - and instead only one chapter is provided.

Paul is an admirably honest voice, and he has done the American individual a favor by giving us this book. I sincerely hope that he continues in his struggle, as it at the very least stimulates a much needed dialogue in this country. Just taking this work on its own merits as a roadmap to sound money however, it could do with more Rousseau and less Cato the Elder.(less)

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Nov 03, 2009 Dylan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, books-i-own

This helped me understand the difference between fiat money and what Paul refers to as "sound" money. No doubt he's right that the Fed, like all powerful institutions, exists to concentrate its power further. The most interesting idea to me is that when the Fed creates money (i.e. inflates the dollar) the first receivers of the new money (banks, government agencies, corporations) can use it before it loses its value. By the time it reaches the last receivers (the average consumers) its value has...more This helped me understand the difference between fiat money and what Paul refers to as "sound" money. No doubt he's right that the Fed, like all powerful institutions, exists to concentrate its power further. The most interesting idea to me is that when the Fed creates money (i.e. inflates the dollar) the first receivers of the new money (banks, government agencies, corporations) can use it before it loses its value. By the time it reaches the last receivers (the average consumers) its value has been lost because the market has realized inflation has occured. Sound money in contrast requires no central bank because the money supply remains constant. (Virtually the only example of this kind of currency used consistently for the last 6,000 years is gold.)

I'm no economist, but it seems like all the money from all the economic recovery programs of the last year is still being played with by the first receivers as the Dow has surged and unemployment has climbed to 10%. If those last receivers ever see the money and unemployment goes down, the dollar will lose value, and probably quite a bit of it. People will find their paychecks don't buy very much, and their savings, as Paul would put it, have essentially been stolen by the banks, government agencies and biggest corporations.

But this information can be found elsewhere, and I wouldn't recommend reading this for a concise explanation of such things. Paul uses scare-words like communism and totalitarianism and platitudes like freedom and self-reliance to make his points. He is clearly playing to a certain demographic of which I'm not a member. I obtained this book illegally, though, so I can't complain. Libertarians only go halfway with their advocacy of "freedom." The state is only part of the system of oppression. Private wealth has been concentrated in the hands of a few since it came to exist along with the state. The two are inseparable and have become the hosts for unchecked technological progress that together threaten to do much worse than further disposses the majority. The solution has nothing to do with the movement to end the Fed.(less)

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Oct 24, 2009 Ron rated it 5 of 5 stars

"His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: 'What have you done?'"
(Nebuchadnezzar's confession Dan 4:22ff.)

Ron Paul's, "End the FED" serves as a grand demonstration of God's providence ordering all things that come to pass. He does not state this in the book. However, in it, th...more

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Sep 17, 2009 Ryan rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: economics, nonfiction

This latest book authored by Congressman Ron Paul is timely and important. Dr Paul lays out the economic catastrophe facing our nation. He ties the current fiasco to the Federal Reserve, our nation's central bank, and the powers it has assumed to regulate monetary policy through control of interest rates, reserve requirements, purchase of debt, and other maneuvers. He makes a strong case for not only auditing the Fed (through current legislation he has proposed in Congress) but also ending the i...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Chi Pham rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book discusses a lot, but honestly, it is what the book does not mention that matters. Ron Paul wants to end the Fed and rekindle the gold standard, yes, I understand, but he also advocates a deflation that he promises would solve the current economic problems in the long run. But in the process, that deflation would change the relationship between debtors and creditors, and the world is in too much debt right now to sustain such a bitter solution. What deserves more discussion in the book...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Bill Chen rated it 3 of 5 stars

I generally agree with Ron Paul's policies and this is no exception. However, I do think the case could be argued a bit better. Personally, as someone with limited previous knowledge of macroeconomics, a little more detail explaining certain terminology, process, and theory would have been helpful. For example, how do the twelve branches interact with each other, and what is the purpose of it? What was the theory behind Keynes's ideas? How does the Fed affect the international markets? (this is...more

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Oct 13, 2011 Clinton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, non-fiction, economics

End the Fed demands the abolishment of the Federal Reserve System. The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States; it is the exclusive lender of United States currency, and it is a public monopoly for creating money. Therefore, the Federal Reserve is a private bank but under the jurisdiction of the United States government.
The Federal Reserve was bestowed with great power under the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, and incrementally, the aggrandizement of this entity is ominously incre...more End the Fed demands the abolishment of the Federal Reserve System. The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States; it is the exclusive lender of United States currency, and it is a public monopoly for creating money. Therefore, the Federal Reserve is a private bank but under the jurisdiction of the United States government.
The Federal Reserve was bestowed with great power under the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, and incrementally, the aggrandizement of this entity is ominously increasing without any real oversight, audit and control by Congress. Congress is so blind that they barely even understand the magnitude and refuse to address the limitations of paper money. Thus, the Federal Reserve possesses an unimaginable preponderance over money and credit. It has the power to create money or credit out of thin air by inflating the money supply through lowering interest rates and no oversight over the logic and rational. Ron Paul has four reasons why the Fed should be abolished.
First, the philosophical case against the Fed is a moral stance. It is based on sound money where the central bank is unnecessary, and money is supported by a gold standard. The current system breeds fraud and corruption, and they are both accomplished by inflating the money supply, redistributing wealth by force and bailouts.
Second, the constitutional case against the Fed is vested in Article I, Section 10 and the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, yet the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Article I, Section 8 as for the justification of the Federal Reserve System in the historical McCulloch vs. Maryland case where the Tenth Amendment was completely ignored.
Third, the economic case against the Fed is inflation. Inflation is the most severe and regressive form of taxation. It encourages deficits, needless wars and excessive welfare spending. Inflation is monetary thief.
Lastly, the libertarian case against the Fed is as government expands, liberty suffers. Regardless of the intentions of government intervention whether social, economic or security, it hinders liberty at the hands of paternalism.
Overall, Ron Paul is a man of great passion, honesty and enthusiasm for real equality through more freedom and liberty rather than government taxation by force, and the abolishment of the Federal Reserve is a step forward. End the Fed is a wildly intriguing and witty interpretation of what sound macroeconomics should be regarding money. Ending the Fed will not be easy because the powerful elite severely enjoy this current system, and they will hold tight, but if the people come forth, the financial system will be everyone’s. “It is freedom we seek, and when that precious goal is achieved, the chant ‘End the Fed’ will become reality. End the Fed is one of my favorite non-fiction books. It is an excellent examination of what sound money is.(less)

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Sep 10, 2012 Joe rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you haven't read this book, you really should. It's not a question of whether you agree with Ron Paul's analysis of the country's financial situation or not, but simply that we have the discussion. There's no doubt that there are numerous issues that need to be resolved and this book attempts to clearly outline what those issues are and Ron Paul's solution to the issues.

Selected quotes:

Everyone should have an intense interest in what money is and how it's manipulated by the few at the expense...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Paul is an advocate of a return to commodity-based money (gold standard) as opposed to the fiat currency (backed only by our national reputation and credit rating) we use today.

He argues well on behalf of his position, but I'm finding myself researching why we gave up the gold standard to begin with, and it, too, offers substantial risks. I'm wondering why no one has advocated a both/and approach that allows both the percentage of gold backing and the interest rate to fluctuate. This might prove...more

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Jan 25, 2010 Brett Tompkins rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was pretty interesting and opened up my eyes to some things I should probably be aware of. It also helped to boost my understanding of how the economy works, and how the federal reserve fits into that whole world. It was difficult for me to follow at times and I felt like he was saying the very same 3 or 4 things over and over again. Inflation is immoral. Inflation is robbing middle and poor Americans of Wealth. The fed uses inflation to fund wars and welfare. Gold is good. Okay, we ge...more

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Oct 28, 2009 Brian rated it 5 of 5 stars

An excellent, thought-provoking--yet brief enough to read in a day or two (though some chapters you may want more time to ponder and research)--book.

I was attracted to Ron Paul via his campaign for president in 2008. I believe I had heard of him before, but he was never in the forefront so his voice was muffled by the noise of larger candidates.

Of all the candidates 2008 he seemed to be the most grounded, the most sound in his arguments, and the least likely to fling the rhetorical BS. His cal...more An excellent, thought-provoking--yet brief enough to read in a day or two (though some chapters you may want more time to ponder and research)--book.

I was attracted to Ron Paul via his campaign for president in 2008. I believe I had heard of him before, but he was never in the forefront so his voice was muffled by the noise of larger candidates.

Of all the candidates 2008 he seemed to be the most grounded, the most sound in his arguments, and the least likely to fling the rhetorical BS. His call for less gov't intrusion in our own lives as well as overseas struck a chord. It definitely goes against everything we have been taught over the years about how our economy is "the best in the world," or our educational system is the "most sound," or how we are the lone superpower and have a duty to be the "world's policeman." The situation in 2007-8 seemed to fly in the face of all those old paradigms and I felt he was the only candidate speaking so frankly about breaking down those old paradigms we are all indoctrinated by from our parents, teachers, professors, co-workers, as well as just friends and colleagues.

Ron Paul's popularity is finally starting to grow but it is not because of his natural charisma--but because of his age-old ideas of "normalcy" that founded our country. The principles behind our Constitution were not gov't intervention into each and every corner of our lives or the world. We need to respect the wisdom of those Founders because we have gone astray. We have become a nation of dependencies and believing that there truly is wealth & happiness that can be gained from thin-air. The very things are parents always taught us ("money doesn't grow on trees") is simply being turned upside down by the very country and gov't we are supposedly protected by. But that protection is a ruse when it encourages and allows our elected leaders to fleece us and rob Peter (who has been working hard and earned his wealth) to pay Paul (who is wealthy already and doesn't need anymore).

I am not a full-fledged Ron Paul-ophile, yet. But his call for throwing off the chains of the Fed and returning back to responsible economic principles of the free-market and savings, is very appealing. Imagine an actual return to those principles to get us out of these times (yes, it will be painful at first) instead of perpetuating and encouraging the very people that screwed us in the first place to continue doing so. Something is bass-ackwards about that belief...and hopefully Rep. Paul and those he inspires in the future will open our eyes and come to our senses. (less)

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Jan 01, 2010 Howard Olsen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Pretty good polemic from a guy who has become the right-wing equivalent of Ralph Nader - an elderly radical who appeals to young voters looking for purity in politics and business. Not me, I'm a wizened old cynic. Paul is very good on the history and function of the Federal Reserve. He is excellent on the moral aspects of monetary policy, pointing out that the loose money policies favored by banks and big government is punishing towards the prudent and thrifty. And, Paul is absolutely right that...more

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Oct 31, 2009 Brent rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: economics, government, libertarian, non-fiction, politics, public-policy

Ron Paul's "End the Fed" is the clarion call for Americans to awake and realize how the federal government is destroying wealth and future prosperity through the inflationary policies of the Federal Reserve System.

Paul explains the history of America's central bank, how it was created to serve a select few in the banking sector, and how its power has constantly expanded to meddle with and manipulate the value of the dollar. Paul reveals that the Fed's monetary policy of simply printing money is...more

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About Ron Paul

Republican United States Congressman from Lake Jackson, Texas, a physician, a bestselling author, and a former 2008 U.S. presidential candidate.
Originally from the Pittsburgh suburb of Green Tree, Pennsylvania, he studied at Duke University School of Medicine; after his 1961 graduation and a residency in obstetrics and gynecology, he became a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon, serving outside the Viet...more Republican United States Congressman from Lake Jackson, Texas, a physician, a bestselling author, and a former 2008 U.S. presidential candidate.
Originally from the Pittsburgh suburb of Green Tree, Pennsylvania, he studied at Duke University School of Medicine; after his 1961 graduation and a residency in obstetrics and gynecology, he became a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon, serving outside the Vietnam War zone. He later represented Texas districts in the U.S. House of Representatives (1976–1977, 1979–1985, and 1997–present). He entered the 1988 presidential election, running as the Libertarian nominee while remaining a registered Republican, and placed a distant third.

Paul has been described as conservative, Constitutionalist, and libertarian. He advocates a foreign policy of nonintervention, having voted against actions such as the Iraq War Resolution, but in favor of force against terrorists in Afghanistan. He favors withdrawal from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United Nations, citing the dangers of foreign entanglements to national sovereignty. Having pledged never to raise taxes, he has long advocated ending the federal income tax, scaling back government spending, abolishing most federal agencies, and removing military bases and troops from foreign soil; he favors hard money and opposes the Federal Reserve. He also opposes the Patriot Act, the federal War on Drugs, No Child Left Behind, and gun control. Paul is strongly pro-life, and has introduced bills to negate Roe v. Wade, but affirms states' rights to regulate or ban abortion, rather than federal jurisdiction.

While Paul was a leading 2008 presidential candidate in some Republican straw polls, he saw substantially less support in landline opinion polls and in the actual primaries. Strong internet grassroots support was indicated by his popularity as a web search term, his lead in YouTube subscriptions, and, on December 16th 2007, the largest one-day fundraiser in U.S. political history, netting over $6 million in 24 hours through an independently organized effort. His book commenting on the presidential run, The Revolution: A Manifesto, became a bestseller immediately upon release and went on to be #1 on the New York Times nonfiction best sellers list.

Judge Andrew Napolitano calls him "the Thomas Jefferson of our day."

Ron Paul, the New York Post once wrote, is a politician who "cannot be bought by special interests."

"There are few people in public life who, through thick and thin, rain or shine, stick to their principles," added a congressional colleague. "Ron Paul is one of those few." (less)

More about Ron Paul...

Books by Ron Paul

Liberty Defined: 50 Essential Issues That Affect Our Freedom

A Foreign Policy of Freedom: Peace, Commerce, and Honest Friendship

The Case for Gold: A Minority Report of the United States Gold Commission

Freedom Under Siege: The U.S. Constitution After 200 Years

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