burning money

[casey]

Would burning or destroying money make for a reasonable form of pacifistic protest against capitalism? I am just looking for new way to protest BESIDES picketing, marching, or writing letters.

[Red Circle]

Either a good way of protesting or a fast way to get broke

[Red Circle]

Seeing as how the dollar bill is pretty much the symbol of america these days (besides the flag and MTV) i don't see why not

[Iepilei]

it's illegal to do, but sure why not?

If you want to be more effective however, you can always tag it.

[abstractmentality]

if you want it to burn for a very short time, you can make a 50/50 solution of alcohol and water, soak the money in it, and then burn. a small amount of fire should ensue, but the actual paper will not burn if you mixed the solution corretly.

that should avoid the legality of the issue.

(Edited by abstractmentality at 9:41 pm on Oct. 1, 2002)

[Ian]

I think the money would be better spent on something else, maybe donate it to our comrades in Cuba, for it is legal tender there.

[CheGuevara]

What type of alcohol? Rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover or something, or beer?

Most protests involve some sort of expense. This would definitely be an attention getter, but to make it cost effective you should do it in front of some sort of crowd. If you just sit on the curb and burn it, you'll look like a weirdo. And obviously, use only $1 bills. I agree that tagging it would probably be more effective though. Picketing and marching are excellent forms of protest. I think the only realistic and worthwhile reason for radical protesting is to get other ordinary people's attention. I think letter writing is an absolute waste of time, unless its objective is to serve as an announcement. Pleas for this and that, such as what Amnesty International does, are useless crap.

(Edited by CheGuevara at 6:43 am on Oct. 2, 2002)

[ArgueEverything]

"This would definitely be an attention getter"

Yes, it would get everyone's attention and make us look like fools.

Unless it is done by millions of people, it will have no economic impact whatsoever. I agree with Ian Rocks, money can be better spent on important things. Charity, for example.

[CheGuevara]

I don't think the idea is economic impact. The idea is to show them our hatred for money. Although charity could work to win people to our cause, I think $1 burnt in front of a crowd would do more good than $1 spent on charity.

[Goldfinger]

You could just photocopy the money. I know it's illegal, but it's for a worthy cause.

Besides, I think we should brake the laws if we don't hurt anyone. Laws are there to prevent moral crime, not to restrict freedom of expression.

[LOIC]

A french singer had burned a bank note on TV many years ago. A lot of people were shocked.
But the problem is that nobody is shocked when they see a tramp sleeping in the street.
My opinion is that money is just an instrument used by capitalists to alienate people.
What's wrong with burning money? It's just some paper.

[Blackberry]

Quote: from Apocalypse When on 9:52 am on Oct. 2, 2002
You could just photocopy the money. I know it's illegal, but it's for a worthy cause.

Besides, I think we should brake the laws if we don't hurt anyone. Laws are there to prevent moral crime, not to restrict freedom of expression.

Try telling the lawmakers that.

[Goldfinger]

hmmm, maybe then they will make a law against argumenting against a law?

[antieverything]

Tag those motherfuckers!

Write shit like, "Capitalism is the religion of Greed"

"In $ we trust"

"kill your boss"

"strike-just do it"

"George W Bush-International Terrorist"

[Angie]

Burning it's going to do very little. The only person anyone harms in burning money is themselves, really. It's your money - who's going to suffer from your burning your own money? Very few people are going to care.

Re the story about the French singer, I'm trying to understand why people would be shocked. The only two reasons I can come up with is that people will either be:

(a) Shocked by the apparent stupidity of burning money (yes, a lot of people will think it stupid and pointless - money is a necessity in our societies, so burning won't be considered a positive move, though I understand why you'd want to consider it); or,

(B) The sort of person who's too far gone Capitalist to be turned from their heartless path. Sort of like a child crying over a dead family pet, somewhat. You can't convert someone that addicted to money, sad but true. That's like converting Bush to Tibetan Buddhism and the peace-loving ways of the Dalai Lama, sorry.

Tagging is an interesting idea, just make sure that if you do, you hand over any money face-down. Shop-keepers aren't supposed to accept imperfect notes, and it is a crime to deliberately destroy one. Lastly, be subtle - it's a tad obvious if you hand over a small pile of notes and each and every one of them is tagged. It's about weeding them into the system, not getting yourself trotted off to the local police station.

(Edited by Angie at 12:19 am on Oct. 3, 2002)

[abstractmentality]

Quote: from CheGuevara on 10:40 pm on Oct. 1, 2002
What type of alcohol? Rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover or something, or beer?

(Edited by CheGuevara at 6:43 am on Oct. 2, 2002)


it has to be a strong concentration of alcohol. beer is not nearly as concentrated as it would need be. if you are really thinking about doing that, i would suggest experimenting with it prior to taking it into the crowd.

[BOZG]

I'd go with the tagging idea. Leave your message and pass it on to the world.

On the topic of famous people burning money, the British(?) band KLF burnt a million pounds a few years back.

[PunkRawker677]

There was once a thread dedicated to slogans to write on money. Perhaps someone can look for it and bring it back.

[BOZG]

Was that not the graffiti thread PR and someone posted slogans found on walls and shit?


If it is, here's the link, there are some good slogans in it though I don't think any have anything to do directly with money. http://www.che-lives.com/cgi/community/top...rum=14&topic=86 (http://www.che-lives.com/cgi/community/topic.pl?forum=14&topic=86)

(Edited by BornOfZapatasGuns at 11:22 pm on Oct. 2, 2002)

[Xvall]

Hey guys! How about instead of BURNING the money, we give it AWAY! You know? To the needy and stuff?

[CheGuevara]

If you can get one American to wake up from their brainwashing through burning $1, it's done 1000 times more good than that same $1 spent on charity.

[PunkRawker677]

No. This one was a bit older i believe. And i'm sure it was directly related to money. Only thing is, it could have been on a different message board. I'm gonna search now.

[Moskitto]

I throw money into bins.

[Lefty]

moskitto- thats VERY good when people are walking by, and you throw it in something icky, like used nacho cheese or something.
other ideas for tags:
BURN ME
you are not a slave
money is the root of all evil
think of life without greed
do you need this?

some of these are from the liner notes of "renegades" by RATM.