Money: The most useless thing in the world?

[MasterJedi]

I've been thinking about this for awhile now and I've decided to see what people think here.

This is probably way outside my other political viewpoints and not like me but I think it is. Imagine how it would be if there was no money, people went to work and did there job. Then got out and got whatever they needed or wanted. There would be no need to worry about how much things cost and the budget deficit because money wouldn't exist anymore!

An almost perfect world!

[John Dibble]

And then the fairies come out and play, and everyone lives happily ever after...

[Alcon]

Well, that sounds remarkably like Communism.

[MasterJedi]

Well, that sounds remarkably like Communism.

Very funny except the government doesn't own anything. It's capitolism in a way.

[Alcon]

Well, that sounds remarkably like Communism.

Very funny except the government doesn't own anything. It's capitolism in a way.

It's Animal Farm communism - it's what all communism is in theory, but never ends up being.

[David S]

If anyone feels unduly burdened by an excess of money I am willing to take it off your hands.

[KEmperor]

And then the fairies come out and play, and everyone lives happily ever after...

If anyone feels unduly burdened by an excess of money I am willing to take it off your hands.

[David S]

This must be opposites week. The Democrat understands money and the Republican does not.

[Lunar]

This type of Utopia would actually be leftist anarchy.  I personally know some folks that believe in this crap.  As far as famous people go, I think Chomsky is an advocate

[Alcon]

This must be opposites week. The Democrat understands money and the Republican does not.

Well, for what it is worth, I am a very libertarian Democrat.

[John Dibble]

Well, that sounds remarkably like Communism.

Very funny except the government doesn't own anything. It's capitolism in a way.

It's Animal Farm communism - it's what all communism is in theory, but never ends up being.

Quite right. It simply won't work. If people could just go out and get what they need or want, what's to stop them from getting more than their work is worth - I want a yacht, but I flip burgers, but I can get one cuz there's no need for money. So, in order to prevent people from taking more than their 'fair' share, there has to be some sort of organization in place to ensure that nobody gets more than anyone else(or since this is supposedly capitalism, what their labor is worth) - so you get government.

Now, money is extremely useful - it enhances the barter system. All goods are subjectively valued - I might value apples more or less than another person, for instance. Let's say we get rid of money and return to a barter system. Let's say that I make barrels for a living, David S grows apples, and Alcon bakes bread. I like apples and I like bread - they are both useful to me. David S will trade apples for barrels, because he needs them to store his apples, but say Alcon doesn't need any barrels - but he loves apples. So, if I want bread, I obviously can't trade Alcon barrels for them - this leaves me with two methods to get bread. I can either trade some barrels for apples and then trade my new apples for bread, or I can trade David S some barrels for some bread he got from trading with Alcon. Either way, it's a hassel - and that's only bartering with three producers and products, the more products and producers you add the bigger a pain it becomes to get everything I want. With a money system, I can just sell my barrels to anyone who wants them, and buy both bread and apples directly from whomever sells them - no going back and forth. Therefore, I think money is extremely useful because it serves as a medium for trade.

[MaC]

I've been thinking about this for awhile now and I've decided to see what people think here.

This is probably way outside my other political viewpoints and not like me but I think it is. Imagine how it would be if there was no money, people went to work and did there job. Then got out and got whatever they needed or wanted. There would be no need to worry about how much things cost and the budget deficit because money wouldn't exist anymore!

An almost perfect world!

Have you been hanging around opebo lately?

[Beet]

No.

[Redefeatbush04]

Hmm.......your twisted little utopia sounds pleasant Masterjedi. If it was feasible and everyone actually did their jobs I wouldn't mind it. However if people know that they can do no work and society would still give them a roof over their heads, plenty of amentities, and food on the table (or as bush says money on the table and food in the pocket.......he actually did say that) this would fail miserabley and someone would rise above the crowd and now you have went from an absolute lack of government to totalitarian rule. I am rambling. Let me know if any of what I am saying makes sense.  Money is a stupid thing. People base their lives around pieces of paper which stand for power. In the end none of it matters. People live in competition for this power. Why do they think they need this power? Because they feel it makes them live a better life. Yet in their pursuit to live a better life than everyone else, people forget what a better life is. It is not about secluding yourselves on multi-million dollar estates. It really isn't about how many vehicles you can afford to purchase. If we just stepped back and relaxed - we would realize that the key to a better life is not about surrounding yourself with possessions - but surrounding yourselves with friends, it is about caring for others (and viewing people as individuals and not as groups of people/cliques). Life is about choices - and making choices that benefit society and the world around you. Life is about the little things - the moments that take your breath away. Look back at your years past - what were your happiest moments. Was it when you were staring at that new thousand-dollar painting or was it when you were with your friends - maybe camping - maybe half-drunk god knows where - maybe it was just a deep conversation. I will take a great experience over a great possession any day. Don't let anything stand in your way. Anxiety and stress are all mental. If you don't let it bother you it won't. Even if you feel like everyone is against you - it doesn't matter. In the end none of it will matter. Next birthday, next christmas, next channakah, whatever, when someone asks you what you want. Tell them what you want to do, not what you want to buy.

 I think that was my worst rambling yet

[John Dibble]

Money is a stupid thing. People base their lives around pieces of paper which stand for power. In the end none of it matters. People live in competition for this power. Why do they think they need this power? Because they feel it makes them live a better life.

Well, considering I'm not a farmer or a hunter, I need something to trade for food - food makes my life better(since without it I die). So, money does make my life better.

Of course, I do agree with the sentiment that money isn't everything, but it's still the most practical system I can think for attaining your needs and wants.

[Redefeatbush04]

Money is a stupid thing. People base their lives around pieces of paper which stand for power. In the end none of it matters. People live in competition for this power. Why do they think they need this power? Because they feel it makes them live a better life.

Well, considering I'm not a farmer or a hunter, I need something to trade for food - food makes my life better(since without it I die). So, money does make my life better.

Food is one thing. You need it to survive. I'm talking about the accumulation of material possessions which people want - not those that they need. And I am not advocating communism/socialism. I am just saying that money is a strange thing. You don't see dogs trading pinecones and they are happy as hell.

[dazzleman]

Hmm.......your twisted little utopia sounds pleasant Masterjedi. If it was feasible and everyone actually did their jobs I wouldn't mind it. However if people know that they can do no work and society would still give them a roof over their heads, plenty of amentities, and food on the table (or as bush says money on the table and food in the pocket.......he actually did say that) this would fail miserabley and someone would rise above the crowd and now you have went from an absolute lack of government to totalitarian rule. I am rambling. Let me know if any of what I am saying makes sense.  Money is a stupid thing. People base their lives around pieces of paper which stand for power. In the end none of it matters. People live in competition for this power. Why do they think they need this power? Because they feel it makes them live a better life. Yet in their pursuit to live a better life than everyone else, people forget what a better life is. It is not about secluding yourselves on multi-million dollar estates. It really isn't about how many vehicles you can afford to purchase. If we just stepped back and relaxed - we would realize that the key to a better life is not about surrounding yourself with possessions - but surrounding yourselves with friends, it is about caring for others (and viewing people as individuals and not as groups of people/cliques). Life is about choices - and making choices that benefit society and the world around you. Life is about the little things - the moments that take your breath away. Look back at your years past - what were your happiest moments. Was it when you were staring at that new thousand-dollar painting or was it when you were with your friends - maybe camping - maybe half-drunk god knows where - maybe it was just a deep conversation. I will take a great experience over a great possession any day. Don't let anything stand in your way. Anxiety and stress are all mental. If you don't let it bother you it won't. Even if you feel like everyone is against you - it doesn't matter. In the end none of it will matter. Next birthday, next christmas, next channakah, whatever, when someone asks you what you want. Tell them what you want to do, not what you want to buy.

 I think that was my worst rambling yet

Dude, I never saw you post like this before.

There's a lot of wisdom in what you said.  Some people become so obsessed with their possessions that their possessions own them, rather than the other way around.  Their need to maintain and expand their collection of possessions rules their lives.

We all need money to survive.  But money is also about power and status.  The type of car you drive, and the type of neighborhood you live in, announce your station in life to the world.  It's easy to get caught up in all of it.

I don't think money is useless, but I think it's overly important to a lot of people.

[Redefeatbush04]

Some people become so obsessed with their possessions that their possessions own them, rather than the other way around.  Their need to maintain and expand their collection of possessions rules their lives.

We all need money to survive.  But money is also about power and status.  The type of car you drive, and the type of neighborhood you live in, announce your station in life to the world.  It's easy to get caught up in all of it.

I don't think money is useless, but I think it's overly important to a lot of people.

exactly

[Lunar]

Money represents capability to function in our society.  The more of it you have, the less limitations you face.  Some folks like to flaunt the fact that they have few limitations while others obsess over money simply because its the currency for societal success. 

[dazzleman]

Money represents capability to function in our society.  The more of it you have, the less limitations you face.  Some folks like to flaunt the fact that they have few limitations while others obsess over money simply because its the currency for societal success. 

That's very true.  Money gives you options.  That's the primary reason I covet money to a degree, not to have it for its own sake, but for the way it can give me choices in life that I wouldn't have without it.

It takes people who have lived both with and without money to really understand the difference that it makes in your life.  Those who have always had it don't appreciate it, and those who have never had don't understand sometimes how much easier financial reserves can make your life.

[7,052,770]

I've been thinking about this for awhile now and I've decided to see what people think here.

This is probably way outside my other political viewpoints and not like me but I think it is. Imagine how it would be if there was no money, people went to work and did there job. Then got out and got whatever they needed or wanted. There would be no need to worry about how much things cost and the budget deficit because money wouldn't exist anymore!

An almost perfect world!

Hey, I'll give it a go if yall will!

[dazzleman]

I've been thinking about this for awhile now and I've decided to see what people think here.

This is probably way outside my other political viewpoints and not like me but I think it is. Imagine how it would be if there was no money, people went to work and did there job. Then got out and got whatever they needed or wanted. There would be no need to worry about how much things cost and the budget deficit because money wouldn't exist anymore!

An almost perfect world!

The problem with your little scenario is that nobody would work because there would be no incentive.  And then the economic conditions would go spiraling downward.  There would be no supply of anything because nobody would produce it.

[opebo]

In a sense money is everything in the world - not just the most useful thing, but quite literally representing everything (since everything can be bought with money).

That said, this only has meaning within society.  If you're lost in the desert a canteen of water or some sort of radio would be more useful than a stack of C-notes.

[angus]

Well, that sounds remarkably like Communism.

...or an episode of Star Trek.

"Tea.  Earl Grey.  Hot."


"Please deposit seventy-five cents.  No, nevermind, this is Roddenberry's socialist-futura fantasy wherein all species from all planets speak and understand English, everyone has the appropriate organs to have sex with everyone else, and no money ever changes hands."

[TomC]

No, it's pretty useful, but overrated.