Quote from ronblack:
No. Do not confuse credit with money. .....
Credit comes from latin Root: Credere - To Believe
One needs to believe or trust since there is really nothing tangible there. Just a repayment promise to believe in and the legal power to seize assets (for those who don't trust quite enough.) Without a legal system, there is no monetary system.
When the legal system gets corrupted excessively and stops defending the common people, bad things happen to the rulers of societies. At least that was true in ancient Rome I think. Common people seem only to tolerate a certain level of corruption before they react.
Together the people hold the real power but only when they act together towards the same end. Rulers know that. They like to keep them messed up with news shows, honey boo boo, and bachelorette - things that really matter to most of us. You know - bread and circuses. The more things change, the more they stay the same!