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Special Feature: A Social Dividend:

The Social Dividend An Income

Guaranteed to
Each Citizen:
The Social Dividend is one of three principles
that comprise the Social Credit monetary reform Let us Free Society From the SYSTÈME
which is the topic of the enclosed booklet. The Shackles Of the Financial System FINANCIER
Social Dividend is an income granted to each
citizen from cradle to grave, without condition,
regardless of employment status. It is not an
egalitarian measure as those who are employed
would continue to receive their salary plus re-
ceive the Dividend. Receiving a Social Dividend
only makes sense in relation to two other prin-
ciples of Economic Democracy:
1. New credit belongs to society, not to pri-
vate companies (the chartered banks), and must
be created by a body established by government,
a National Credit Office. In fact, money draws
its value from the country’s productive capacity, SOCIAL DIVIDEND = SAVING THE PLANET
based on the existence of natural resources and
the presence of workers who are willing to de- CONSUMER SOCIETY = DESTROYING THE PLANET
velop these resources. The Dividend would not www.michaeljournal.org
be financed through taxes, but by society issu-
ing new interest-free credits. has summarized some of these articles and gath-
2. The other precept of Economic Democ- ered them into the booklet that follows. You will
racy is called the “Compensated Discount”. This find a Table of Contents below. Happy reading. v
is a discount on consumer prices for which re- Alain Pilote
tailers would be compensated, thus preventing (For the impact of the Social Dividend on the
prices from increasing and thereby preventing environment, see the article Social Credit Can
inflation. Dramatically Reduce the Waste of Resources in
When we hear the term dividends it is usually our August-September, 2018 issue.)
in the context of the owner of company shares
who receives a portion of annual profits in the
form of a ‘dividend’. It can truly be said that each
citizen of a country, i.e. each member of society, Contents
is a co-heir and co-capitalist and the owner of a 34 Foreword
tremendously real and productive capital: the
natural resources of a nation and the inventions 35 Reinstatement of Personal Rights
of past generations. 35 Commonly-Owned Capital
All human beings are, in an equal way, heirs 37 The Social Dividend
to this huge capital that keeps increasing and 37 Inheritance and Heirs
each person has a right to a portion of its fruits. 39 Shortage of Purchasing Power
The employed have a right to their salary and to
the Social Dividend. Others, who do not receive a 41 Progress and Unemployment
salary, are entitled to a Dividend. We say the Divi- 41 Freedom and Dignity
dend is ‘social’ since it is derived from a shared 43 Beneficial Effects of the Dividend
capital. 45 Objections to the Social Dividend
Louis Even wrote many articles on the Divi-
dend over a 35-year period. Mrs. Lise Rodrigue- 46 From Where Will the Money Come?
Fournier, a distinguished Pilgrim of Saint Michael,

www.michaeljournal.org MICHAEL May/June/July 2019 33