The Wind Up Bird Chronicle

All language is but a poor translation.

1.  

   Historically, there have been only two effective ways for a lender to try to wriggle out of the opprobrium: either shunt off responsibility onto some third party, or insist that the borrower is even worse. In me­dieval Europe, for instance, lords often took the first approach, employ­ing Jews as surrogates. Many would even speak of “our” Jews-that is, Jews under their personal protection-though in practice this usually meant that they would first deny Jews in their territories any means of making a living except by usury (guaranteeing that they would be widely detested), then periodically turn on them, claiming they were detestable creatures, and take the money for themselves. The second approach is of course more common. But it usually leads to the conclu­sion that both parties to a loan are equally guilty; the whole affair is a shabby business; and most likely, both are damned.

   – David Graeber, Debt: The First 5000 Years (via le-kif-kif)

   (via mandapolos-deactivated20121130)

   Source: le-kif-kif

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