Could you live in the absence of money?

[Hayesimus]

Why do we need a monetary system? We could do soooo much more if profit weren't an issue. Think about possible breakthroughs that are held back because of the market and all that. I mean things like alternative fuels would probably be further along than they are if it wasn't for the oil companies buying off some of the ideas of others and holding back so they could maximize profit. I mean why is there hunger in the world when there is always so much food lining the shelves of your local grocery store? Why does medicine come at such a high cost?

Why the heck aren't we progressing more toward living offworld? Population is growing at enormous rates, we are rapidly running out of habitable locations on earth. More research and development is required to spread to other locations like the moon or perhaps space stations or one day another system. The very survival of the human race depends on that. I mean if an asteroid hit us today, thats it pretty much. But if we began reaching out, then we could survive to rebuild.

So... could you live with the single goal of making the human race better? I could. It would be so much more rewarding knowing that you were part of something grandiose in such a cosmic way. :P But... maybe i'm just dreaming of a world where people are judged for their character more than they are the kind of mobile phone they carry. :D

[Alexander]

Why do we need a monetary system? We could do soooo much more if profit weren't an issue. Think about possible breakthroughs that are held back because of the market and all that. I mean things like alternative fuels would probably be further along than they are if it wasn't for the oil companies buying off some of the ideas of others and holding back so they could maximize profit. I mean why is there hunger in the world when there is always so much food lining the shelves of your local grocery store? Why does medicine come at such a high cost?

Why the heck aren't we progressing more toward living offworld? Population is growing at enormous rates, we are rapidly running out of habitable locations on earth. More research and development is required to spread to other locations like the moon or perhaps space stations or one day another system. The very survival of the human race depends on that. I mean if an asteroid hit us today, thats it pretty much. But if we began reaching out, then we could survive to rebuild.

So... could you live with the single goal of making the human race better? I could. It would be so much more rewarding knowing that you were part of something grandiose in such a cosmic way. :P But... maybe i'm just dreaming of a world where people are judged for their character more than they are the kind of mobile phone they carry. :D

Without a monetary system, society would collapse. In fact, a man had similar ideas as yours. His name was Karl Marx, and as we saw - that didn't work out so hot.

P.S. I actually do think people are more judged by their character than what mobile phone they have.

[Buffy]

You're a good person, Hayes, with good intentions and the aptitude to follow through. You're assuming that everyone has the same work ethic, and that people are all as generous as you. Human nature is complex; we're not always "good" at heart. We tend to duck it up. There is fungus among us. And we're sometimes that fungus. People are selfish. As long as you're involving people, who are notoriously self-serving, there will never be the Utopia you're referring to. Unfortunately.

[Hayesimus]

I was being sarcastic about the mobile phone part but i disagree. I don't think people are judged by their character nearly as much as they should be. And if the whole planet decided to work for a common goal then yes society would function without a monetary system. I suppose what I am getting at is a world without greed more than a world without money. Without greed, there would be no real need for money.

[Hayesimus]

You're a good person, Hayes, with good intentions and the aptitude to follow through. You're assuming that everyone has the same work ethic, and that people are all as generous as you. Human nature is complex; we're not always "good" at heart. We tend to duck it up. There is fungus among us. And we're sometimes that fungus. People are selfish. As long as you're involving people, who are notoriously self-serving, there will never be the Utopia you're referring to. Unfortunately.


but if more people tried, then it could work. :S if the good outnumbered the bad, then it would be a better place. If our politicians did what was right, rather than what they think will get them better results in the polls, then we'd be in a far better situation right now.

[Buffy]

but if more people tried, then it could work. :S if the good outnumbered the bad, then it would be a better place. If our politicians did what was right, rather than what they think will get them better results in the polls, then we'd be in a far better situation right now.

I agree completely. But that's the difference between idealism and realism. :frown:

You can still make the world a better place, even if you don't revolutionize it. :smile:

[Alexander]

but if more people tried, then it could work. :S if the good outnumbered the bad, then it would be a better place. If our politicians did what was right, rather than what they think will get them better results in the polls, then we'd be in a far better situation right now.

If the good outnumbered the bad, it still wouldn't work. Because "bad" will still exist. Utopic societies are disastrous, and a near impossibility.

And I never said people are most often judged on their character - I said more so than their mobile phone.

By the way, communism looks great on paper. Everyone is fed, everyone is equal, everyone does their fair share. Except it's corrupted - like the human nature - and can never succeed.

edit: Unfortunately (lighten it up :))

[Hayesimus]

Well, i'd settle for a direct democracy again. We have the technology. We can rebuild him. We can make him stronger than before.. wait... i may be mixing my thoughts here...

[x999x]

Never.

Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy marshmallows and thats kinda the same thing.

[Youngbinks]

Just like Buffy and Alexander have said, while your ideals are great and would be amazing to put into action, society as a whole just isn't up to it. Capitalism is the cornerstone on which our country survives, without it, our social infrastructure would crumble.

[Buffy]

If everyone acted like you do, Hayes, the world would be a much better place. I wish it was so.

[acosmichippo]

Money can't buy you happiness. But it can buy you Joy...

...and SHE knows how to make you happy.

[Hayesimus]

haha. you know Joy?! I haven't seen her since she got that rash...

[acosmichippo]

yeah, sorry bout that.

[Hayesimus]

HAHA yeah love how my humanitarian thread turned into a hooker rash thread. :P

[acosmichippo]

whoah, idunno what you're talkin about.

[Hayesimus]

righhhhht... anyway. so how would you(anyone) make the world a better place?

[Alexander]

Hahahaha acosmichippo just threw you under the bus.

That was incredible.

[Hayesimus]

I'd give you a cookie. But i eated it.