A world without money? Everything is free?

[nickbass79]

I have always wanted to see someone take a Scrooge McDuck-esque dive into a pool of coins. I suspect it would be hilariously painful for them.

Here you go!

 

[duff beer]

The societies that have lasted longest are probably the Shakers.

Shakers can exist in the US because they enjoy the benefits of living in a free country. What would happen if they had their own "country" and were responsible for border patrol, defense, infrastructure, tax collection, health care, safe drinking water, anti-terrorism, etc...??

 

[aborgman]

I like the sound of that! The key is to stop making communism or socialism look so dreary, horrible and a hard state of living, make it fun and full of everything everyone could every want for ever

Virtually free energy when we develop it combined with automation will eventually allow this.

I don't think it'll be anytime soon though.

...and we won't get there by attempting to ignore basic human motivations as communism did.

 

[aborgman]

you really should have quoted the entire post.

Why? You, an already existing creature, growing wings has nothing at all to do with evolution. It's completely unrelated to your question about evolution.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Here you go!

How have I not seen that before!!

 

[DwaynieAD]

Why? You, an already existing creature, growing wings has nothing at all to do with evolution. It's completely unrelated to your question about evolution.

Because you are willfully ignoring the tongue in cheek nature of what I posted in an attempt to turn it into something it clearly was not.

 

[MatticusMania]

the only problem I can see with my method is the possibility of a jet engine sprouting from my anus. It would certainly cut down on flight time but I'm not sure the ladies would be too into it.

You just dont know the right ladies

I have always wanted to see someone take a Scrooge McDuck-esque dive into a pool of coins. I suspect it would be hilariously painful for them.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsVvhFCWELI

Because you are willfully ignoring the tongue in cheek nature of what I posted in an attempt to turn it into something it clearly was not.

His response really was no different than mine.
I may have played to your tongue in cheekiness, but I was completely serious when I stated that, yes, you can change your evolution.
Just dont count on sprouting wings anytime soon.

 

[UncleFluffy]

How is it that hundreds of millions of toilets get cleaned on a regular basis when people hate doing it and when there is no financial incentive to do so?

Because it's their toilet and their crusty poop on it.

If you ask me to clean the sewers under the next-door neighbor's house without providing an incentive to do so I'll reply "Sorry but I'm too busy contributing to society by writing the most brutal metal album ever. Leave me alone."

 

[1958Bassman]

I lam Canadian. If there was no money. I wouldn't have oranges on my fridge; how would it get here and how would I barter with a grower 2000 miles away?

Greed is inherent and absolute. You may not be greedy but the guy down the street is; there's always someone.

These two simple facts should spell it out for you. I don't know why you would need any other reasoning to explain why money is required for not only social progress but longevity of individuals. without money I would have been in grave danger of death with a clot in my leg 10 days ago; prompt medical attention averted disaster. Thanks be to money. BTW I am not greedy and live a simple existence, my wife is greedy.

You don't need to barter directly with the grower- someone else can handle that and transport the goods, just like in the days before money was convertible. The reason fair trade is gone here in the US isn't because people lost interest in it, it's because a government can't tax it, so they made it illegal.

People used to pay doctors with whatever they had and in some parts of the world, that still works. Not a bad thing, either. The only reason currency is used is so it can be used between people from different places or when a government claims another place as their own.

 

[duff beer]

You don't need to barter directly with the grower- someone else can handle that and transport the goods, just like in the days before money was convertible. The reason fair trade is gone here in the US isn't because people lost interest in it, it's because a government can't tax it, so they made it illegal.

People used to pay doctors with whatever they had and in some parts of the world, that still works. Not a bad thing, either. The only reason currency is used is so it can be used between people from different places or when a government claims another place as their own.

Currency exists because it is a much better form of barter...it is universal and can be used by all of society for all products. Bartering chickens only works when the person you are dealing with wants a chicken.

 

[nickbass79]

Currency exists because it is a much better form of barter...it is universal and can be used by all of society for all products. Bartering chickens only works when the person you are dealing with wants a chicken.

Hence gold, silver and other precious items becoming sought after

 

[MatticusMania]

Some people are so poor all they have is money...

 

[skychief]

When the world goes moneyless and everything is free, Im gonna be camped in front of the GC and snag all the cool basses on day 1.

 

[Rusty Chainsaw]

It'll take three things to eliminate the need for money:
1) Spacefaring (to effectively open up unlimited amounts of land)
2) Replicator technology (to make anything in any quantity - goodbye material greed)
3) Abundant free energy (to power all of the above).

It's basically technologically driven anarcho-socialism, and not a million miles away from what Iain M. Banks postulates in his Culture novels.

That would remove the need for money and disconnect money from power. Now, dealing with peoples' desire to have power over other people, that's a whole different story...

 

[BassClef 2010]

Hey, guys, I just finished an opinion piece in favor of a moneyless, gift society. Would anyone be interested in reading it?
BTW, I found this video to misrepresent the movement's ideals.

 

[bassinplace]

Some people are so poor all they have is money...

I see what you did there. and +1.

 

[1958Bassman]

Have you ever wondered if that kind of "I want more than him" behavior is learned and not just human nature? Theoretically if this system was implemented wouldn't we be teaching our children to only take what they need or what is practical? Of course with technology advances how hard would it be for everyone to get what they want within reason? I sound like a commie.

Animals usually have Alpha members for a reason- they're naturally dominant and others will be naturally submissive.

If the World economy collapses, kiss technological advances goodbye. Look at how far technology has come, yet people die every minute due to the lack of clean water and sanitation.

If we end up with one economy, we'll need one government because someone is always trying to scam whatever systems are in place.

People taking only what they need? Sorry, but that's not going to happen until marketing ends. The only way people take only what they need is if what's available is less than what's needed.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Have you ever wondered if that kind of "I want more than him" behavior is learned and not just human nature?

Never being satisfied, always wanting more is inded a part of human nature.
It is what kept us alive so far and may also be what will kill us in the end.

I watched the documentary, not a fan at all of the concept. He pleeds for more technology, that nobody will invent short of customers and free hospitals, that nobody will build because there is no gain in doing so.
He's fully right on one thing though, money was conceived as a medium, it isn't a value. People should think about it more often.

 

[machine gewehr]

Having more than another person is not only about greed.

Lets say that in a flash, there is a massive nuclear holocaust, and all money systems are wiped out. Everyone gets to start over with an equal plot of land. The hard workers and smarter people are eventually going to produce more crops (read wealth) than others.

There will never be equality and who even knows if that's a good thing.

We all know what happens after a nuclear holocaust. Money gets replaced with bottle caps.

 

[two fingers]

Unfortunately there will always be those whose greed goes unsatiated, and they'll always want more than there fair share.
They will not be content unless they have more than you, and they'll take from you in order to see that they do.

Don't forget the other end of the scale. There will always be those who think they deserve whatever they need even if they produce nothing.