Financial freedom and sovereignty is deeply rooted in the principles of self-determination, the ability to manage one's own economic resources, and the fair use of earnings. One of the most glaring examples of this disparity is the way governments have systematically deducted money from our paychecks under the guise of income taxes. These taxes are taken without our consent, often with little to no transparency about how these funds are managed or invested. Over the years, the cumulative effect of these deductions amounts to a significant portion of our hard-earned income, yet we are left with no direct control over how this money is used. The government and financial institutions leverage these funds to generate further wealth, often through investments and other financial mechanisms that yield substantial returns. The profits generated from these investments, however, are not returned to the taxpayers who supplied the capital. Instead, they are funneled back into the system, perpetuating a cycle where the wealthy and powerful grow more affluent, while the average worker sees little benefit from the fruits of their labor.
Social Security is another area where this financial imbalance becomes evident. From the moment we start working, a portion of our earnings is deducted and funneled into the Social Security system. This money is ostensibly held in trust for us, to be returned in the form of benefits when we reach the age of 65. However, for decades, this system has been used as a tool by the government to generate wealth through various investment strategies. The funds collected are not just sitting idle in a vault somewhere; they are actively invested in government bonds, securities, and other financial instruments that yield interest. The irony here is that while this is technically our money, we have no access to it until we reach a specific age, and even then, the benefits we receive are often not reflective of the total amount we contributed, especially when adjusted for inflation. This delay and control over our own money represent a form of economic servitude, where we are forced to wait and hope that the system will still be solvent and generous enough to support us in our old age.
The manipulation of our finances doesn't end with taxes and Social Security. Consider the money we deposit in banks—a portion of our income that we save for a rainy day, a big purchase, or retirement. Banks, by design, do not let this money sit idle. Instead, they loan it out to other individuals and businesses, collecting interest on these loans. This practice, known as fractional reserve banking, allows banks to lend out many times the amount they actually hold in deposits. The profits generated from these loans and the interest collected are substantial, yet the depositors—the true owners of the capital—receive only a fraction of this wealth in the form of minimal interest rates. Essentially, we are providing the banks with the capital they need to generate enormous profits, but we see very little return on our investment. This system is designed to benefit the financial institutions at the expense of the individual depositor, further perpetuating the cycle of economic inequality.
Another disturbing aspect of this financial system is the concept of the "strawman" corporation, which is created in our name at birth using our birth certificates. When we are born, a legal entity is created, represented in all capital letters, that is used by governments and financial institutions to generate wealth. This entity, separate from our natural live breathing individual, is used in various financial transactions and is the basis for much of the debt and financial obligations we are tied to throughout our lives. The truth here is that our birth certificates are used as a form of collateral or bond, traded and invested in by governments and financial institutions. The wealth generated by this process, however, is not something we are directly aware of or benefit from. Instead, it is used to fund various government projects, pay off national debt, and support the financial system that ultimately profits the elite. This hidden financial manipulation is yet another way that our economic freedom is stripped away, and our sovereignty is compromised.
The cumulative effect of these practices is a system that systematically drains wealth from the average person, funneling it into the hands of a few powerful entities. We are, in many ways, economic slaves to a system that takes from us without our consent, invests our money without our knowledge, and returns very little of the generated wealth to us. This is not the financial freedom that we are promised, but rather a form of economic servitude that keeps us tied to the system, working harder and longer for diminishing returns. The idea of sovereignty—the ability to control one's own destiny and resources—is a far cry from the reality we face today. Instead, we are left to navigate a financial landscape that is designed to benefit the few at the expense of the many, a system that takes more than it gives, and that, in the end, leaves us with little to show for our years of hard work. This is the very definition of modern-day enslavement, a far cry from the ideals of freedom and independence that are supposed to define our lives.
Trevor Winchell
8-9-2024