Voltaire’s Warning: How Debt Became America’s New Chains
In 1767, the renowned French philosopher, Voltaire, wrote these prophetic words, ”It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.” Chris’ new strike, Voltaire, reminds us that men have once again become fools, although not the same type of fools to which Voltaire was referring.
2026 "Voltaire V1” Silver Proof Coin, by Chris Duane
Unlike Voltaire, Chris’ round utilizes the quote with reference to debtor’s chains, not religious chains. This is applicable today because unfortunately, unlike during Voltaire's time on earth, money has now become men’s god.
So yes, there remain some oddly religious overtones relating to the financial system that today’s fools revere, but these pale in comparison to those that flourished during Voltaire’s lifetime. And, unlike during 18th century France when you were thrown in debtor’s prison if you failed to pay your bills, acquiring debt today has become an artform.
In fact, it is an unspoken sign of success if you are in debt because, of course, all successful people have mortgages, car loans, student loans and credit card debt.
These four categories combined are referred to by economists, and banksters, as “household debt”. And unfortunately, the recent acceptance of enormous levels of personal debt as the new normal, has placed everything these individuals value at risk. People’s lives are literally in someone else's hands and those hands have no heart.
2026 “Voltaire V1" Silver Proof Coin, by Chris Duane
Americans are swamped with debt, debt they deliberately choose to undertake. Unlike their parents, and grandparents, they wanted to go to college and so they took out student loans. They didn’t want to live in the city anymore, like their grandparents did, so they moved to the suburbs and then had to buy cars with car loans. They no longer wanted to live in rentals, like their parents did, so they bought houses and took out mortgages.
And when all of those purchases were acquired, they discovered that their income did not allow them to buy enough gas, food, clothing, or even furniture to sustain the life they dreamed of. That's also when they began to realize that even a nice vacation was out of the question. So, rather than sell the house and move to a less expensive town, or neighborhood, they began to max out their credit cards as well.
Today, the household debt in America amounts to $18.8 trillion dollars. When compared to the entire federal government’s outrageous U. S. National Debt of $40 trillion dollars, household debt adds up to 47% of the federal government’s debt. That is a shocking piece of information. People are literally chained to their debt.
Generation X, who are between 45-60 years of age, are currently up to their necks with an average of $158,105 of debt. And this is per individual, not per household. Granted, they are at the stage of their lives where the traditional responsibilities are at their peak.
But, when you compare their situation to that of their parents at the same age, the numbers are mind-numbing, especially if you add the burden of the federal government's debt, which is now at $360,000 per taxpayer! These literally, cash poor Americans, are walking around covered with chains just as was Scrooge’s greedy, materialistic, dead business partner, Jacob Marley. Chains beget more chains.
For comparison, let’s look at 1960, when the Greatest Generation were in their 40s. And, more importantly, before “easy credit” and, when incurring personal debt was still frowned upon. At that point in time, the average household debt was just $3,811! Even when adjusted for inflation, it was still only $7,000. Their debt load represented approximately 50% of their disposable income.
Today, despite the significant increases in incomes, Gen Xers have saddled themselves, thanks to reckless banksters, with household debt amounting to 80-85% of their disposable income! After food, clothing and gas, it's no wonder there's no money left to furnish their homes, much less consider going on a nice vacation.
And, unfortunately, all of this occurred despite wives, and young mothers, entering the workforce to help pay these basic bills. Just to make matters worse and thanks to inflation, prices have increased by 1000% since 1960 as well. So today, you need $10.90 to buy what $1 would buy in 1960. More chains dragging the average guy into slavery.
Paying taxes is another chain that fools accept as normal. In 1960 the average American household spent approximately 20% of their total income on federal, state, and payroll tax deductions. Today, the figure is 27.3%. But, the average median household’s gross income in 1960 was just $5,600 which resulted in a $1,120 payout for taxes. Today, the average median household’s gross income is at $83,730, which sounds great, but it results in a tax payout of $16,614 a year! That’s enough to reward yourself, for the hard work you did during the last year, by going on a spectacular family vacation. But no! You can’t do that…because somebody’s chains are around your neck.
But worse yet, what are you getting for all that money you give the government? Good schools? Not anymore. They don’t even teach cursive, much less anything else of value. Today, it's more like anti-Christian propaganda and brainwashing, than an education. Maybe a good defense system to stave off invaders? No, the 11 million incursionists, and now occupiers, have been jumping our porous borders for decades. Well, what then? Anyone? Anyone? Just more crushing chains.
So, what exactly are we foolishly getting farther and farther into debt for? Could it be for salaries for more bureaucrats to hassle us every time we pursue one of our dreams? Or for more rules, regulations and restrictions, and for the thousands of tiny tyrants to implement them? Yes! Asinine administrative chains.
Heck, we are discovering that our tax dollars are actually being used for things we are opposed to, like spending $1.5 million for DEI initiatives in Serbia; or $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru; or $47,000 for a transgender opera in Columbia or $70,000 for a diversity program in Ireland! These bureaucratic nincompoops are actually wasting our taxes by spreading garbage around the world while we have to pay extra to get our own garbage picked up here. There are chains to bear everywhere.
Americans are mired in debt because, while they are working their tails off and toiling away to support their families, everything, and everyone else, was stealing from them. They have had their pockets picked so often they think that’s normal too, Most people no longer object to the process. In fact, they don’t even notice it's happening anymore.
So, if you acknowledge the whirling debt dervish, how do you get off this out-of-control Merry-Go-Round and throw off the chains? Well, since most fools are not willing to stop spending, especially the women, the next best thing you can do for your family is spend your money on physical silver. It will help break the chains that bind you because It never bursts, disappears, disappoints or loses its intrinsic value. And, it is completely fool-proof!
Chris’ new round, Voltaire, is a vivid reminder of how important it is to never allow yourself to become someone else’s fool. It’s time to rectify the situation and wise-up because Voltaire also wrote, “The wise man questions the wisdom of others because he knows the world is full of fools.”
And, you can be guaranteed that a wise man will never become somebody else's fool.
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