A World Without Currency

[DefunctTheory]

I just really have to ask... why are so many so insistent that such a system wouldn't possibly under any circumstances work? What is your vested interest in convincing me and everyone else reading this thread that an economy based on good will and discipline rather than money is impossible? Are you being paid to convey that point of view? If not, then you're doing it... guess what... for free. You can do something that not only does the world no good, but actually spreads and reinforces the concepts of inequity, greed, and poverty for free but can't conceive of a world in which things actually beneficial to society are done for free?

For the record, I never said it would be random, un-trained people doing needed jobs. We have people in the world now that know how to do these jobs. People can also be trained. Who would be trained to do a job that requires training? The person who volunteers for it. Who would volunteer for it? A good person. The people bashing this concept are essentially proclaiming that there are no good people in the world. I know that there's at least one. Naive? I prefer the term 'Enlightened'. Wolves can't act like bees? Well, a lone wolf certainly can't act like a bee. But no man is an island unto himself. You can only do something if there's a benefit to yourself? I am the universe; I am all of mankind. That's the mentality that allows you to be cooperative and social; you are doing it for yourself, just with a broader definition of 'self'. The All is in the One and the One is in the All.

How much crack do you need to smoke to get to where you're at now?

 

[midknight129]

How much crack do you need to smoke to get to where you're at now?

How eloquently you dodged the question. Should I take that to mean you failed to come up with an answer?

 

[DefunctTheory]

How much crack do you need to smoke to get to where you're at now?

How eloquently you dodged the question. Should I take that to mean you failed to come up with an answer?

You're just spitting out meaningless drivel and happy wishes.

How can I answer questions that are based on false assumptions and what can best described as 'wishful thinking' on the subject of human nature?

And you accused me of being an advertiser, a bannable offense here.

 

[midknight129]

You're just spitting out meaningless drivel and happy wishes.

How can I answer questions that are based on false assumptions and what can best described as 'wishful thinking' on the subject of human nature?

And you accused me of being an advertiser, a bannable offense here.

You (among others) are obviously missing the entire point of the discussion. Let me refresh the opening question for you.

"How would a system without money work?"

This isn't a debate on whether it would work or not, but a discussion on how it would work. So stop derailing the thread and stop negatively criticizing other people's opinions on the subject.

 

[DefunctTheory]

You're just spitting out meaningless drivel and happy wishes.

How can I answer questions that are based on false assumptions and what can best described as 'wishful thinking' on the subject of human nature?

And you accused me of being an advertiser, a bannable offense here.

You (among others) are obviously missing the entire point of the discussion. Let me refresh the opening question for you.

"How would a system without money work?"

This isn't a debate on whether it would work or not, but a discussion on how it would work. So stop derailing the thread and stop negatively criticizing other people's opinions on the subject.

Oh, no.

Part of telling someone how a theoretical situation would work is telling them how and why it wouldn't. And you just spent the better part of, what, 10 post arguing over human nature, and how it would work in reality.

It's called a discussion: the exchange of ideas, arguments, and counter points. If it was just an exchange of ideas, we'd have an 'idea board.'

And I don't know what forum you came from before this, but this is hardly derailed. In fact, it's right on point. Though if you want this topic to be about watermelons, I can make that happen.

 

[nothinghere]

If the world didn't had any currentcy, they would make formed bronze or gold and give them value, just like money.

That would still be currency...

 

[StormShaun]

I reckon get a universal money system, like credits in Mass Effect, it would be awesome and the crdits will be stored in a chip in your arm that you can scan to buy stuff....just like ME.....mass effect

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

It wouldn't ....

Current populations require credited reward. A world without 'currency' (assuming you also mean the removal of commodity trading and other liquid assets in lieu of currency) is a world in which all order has been removed...

 

[TAGM]

Well, you know how some Minecraft communitys have an econamy running, where you trade stuff for other stuff?
That's pretty much how it would work out in the real world.

 

[TheMatsjo]

What I'm trying to say is, screw hippy nonsense, long live capitalism. Equal rewards for equal skill level/work done are what got us here, and it will continue to strive us forwards.

While it sounds nice and punchy, you're very overtly simplifying. What is hippy "nonsense" exactly? Long live what capitalism? How do you determine rewards? How do you determine equal worth? Did that get us here? Why will it continue to drive us? Is it taking us to places we want to be? Can other paths be more desirable?

Capitalism as a theory makes statements about property, not about competition, rewards or values. Bunching things lump sum may be satisfying, but it's also very misleading and confusing and, I would argue, best avoided.

And in a more general note, money does not by itself motivate people; it's the combination of a practical tool with the social benefit of status.

Cheers,
Matsjo

 

[DefunctTheory]

What I'm trying to say is, screw hippy nonsense, long live capitalism. Equal rewards for equal skill level/work done are what got us here, and it will continue to strive us forwards.

While it sounds nice and punchy, you're very overtly simplifying. What is hippy "nonsense" exactly? Long live what capitalism? How do you determine rewards? How do you determine equal worth? Did that get us here? Why will it continue to drive us? Is it taking us to places we want to be? Can other paths be more desirable?

Capitalism as a theory makes statements about property, not about competition, rewards or values. Bunching things lump sum may be satisfying, but it's also very misleading and confusing and, I would argue, best avoided.

And in a more general note, money does not by itself motivate people; it's the combination of a practical tool with the social benefit of status.

Cheers,
Matsjo

The assumption that people will 'do what needs to be done' without rewards is hippy nonsense (Well, probably not really HIPPY, but nonsense itself).

As for capitalism... its a system that allows for the private ownership of business, with the intent to make profit. The rewards, competition, and values are inherent. I don't think I should have to explain anything about that to you.

In fact, I'm pretty sure you're just being difficult, probably because I was offensive (How this escaped the mod that haunts me, I'll never know).

 

[TheMatsjo]

The assumption that people will 'do what needs to be done' without rewards is hippy nonsense (Well, probably not really HIPPY, but nonsense itself).

As for capitalism... its a system that allows for the private ownership of business, with the intent to make profit. The rewards, competition, and values are inherent. I don't think I should have to explain anything about that to you.

In fact, I'm pretty sure you're just being difficult, probably because I was offensive (How this escaped the mod that haunts me, I'll never know).

Enlighten me if I'm missing this part of the thread where someone claimed that people should just be nice and get along (paraphrasing)? I had gained the impression that it was a thought experiment about how a world without currency would work. Not being facetious here.

Those values are not inherent at all, they are the result a of a very long and complex process in human development and culture. In fact, there is a continual debate and struggle concerning all kinds of aspects within this capitalist framework. Wishing to bunch these aspects together under a "capitalism" umbrella is, again, convenient but not accurate.

To give you an example of what I meant with my questions in my previous post: you can argue that some things exist only DESPITE of capitalism, rather than because of it, such as civil rights, social security and public services. These are in direct conflict (not opposition I recognize) with the bottom line, which is what forces capitalism into ever higher degrees of production.

I have no intention of being difficult, only honest and as thorough as I can manage.

The part I'm going to assume I agree with you is that people won't "just" help each other if only we would give them/ourselves the space to do it. We want a motivation to step outside of our comfort zone, I would go as far as to say that if there weren't any rewards to doing so, we would let each other rot as much as we could get away with. Of course that isn't the case, so we cooperate. I don't believe that love will conquer all or that singing songs and fornicating will get us out of any jam. I must add however, that money is not the be-all end-all of motivators, not by a long shot.

Cheers.