Here is an awesome article touching on multiple points that really change how one thinks about the monetary system. #1) The Fed does not Monetize the debt #2) Monetization happens by act of Congress #3) The bond market does not fund Govt spending #4) The Govt can never run out money and does not rely on the Fed If you can read this article with out an agenda in mind and just try to conceptualize what it means, it starts to make sense. If you hate the Govt and the Fed and refuse to even budge from that ideology than you will probably not understand anything it is saying. Here is a great quote... http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-02-09/markets/30050751_1_treasuries-gold-bars-monetization