X-Message-Number: 10885
From: 
Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 19:22:28 -0600 (CST)
Subject: The death of money - reply to Thomas Donaldson

Raw materials.

The planet is very large and made of matter.

The solar system is pretty big also.


The need to "settle accounts between us" (money as a medium) requires limited 
resources.

Looks to me like there's plenty to work with out there!

Maybe even infinite.

Trade implies need and scarcity.


If you have what you need, other desires can become preferences and not remain 
necessities.

If you don't, you have to get your money's worth.

(Yes, people do still starve in America).


Trade and its daughter, money, were born from the zero sum game mentality of 
history.

We have never had a human society lacking the fear of scarcity and death.


If to be human means retaining unnecessary fear, I am willing to quit the monkey
club.

In 1998 money, ownership and scarcity are the norm.

Like water is to a fish.

In 2098 abundance and freedom will be the norm.

Or 2198.

Or 2298.

The transition will be something to see.

Futures projected from scarcity thinking are common:

The Time Machine, Mad Max, Blade Runner, etc.


The future free of the need for trade (and money) will be entirely different 
from these.

Humans do better attracted by carrots than driven by sticks.

Here's to our future with BIG CARROTS!

I realize it is hard to imagine no longer needing sticks.

-George Smith

"The future ain't what it used to be!"

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