bird - 9:15 am on Nov 13, 2006 (gmt 0)

Can anyone put forward some counter-evidence to show that money isn't being created out of thin air?

There's no such counter-evidence, because that is exactly how the money in your bank account was created. It has been "virtual" for a long time now, nothing more but a tangible manifestation of trust.

In case you actually don't trust that system, you better go back to bartering your veggies for the milk of your neigbhour's cow... ;)