Thanks for the responses, I am glad we can discuss this idea.

Quote from: Nefario on April 04, 2011, 08:10:48 AM

The reason money exists in the first place is to allow the allocation of finite resources. Where resources are limited but wants (and to a lesser extent needs) are not.

It is important to note that we can have abundance of all necessities of life if we so choose. We don't because it would not be profitable. I'm sure everyone here would like to see all people have everything they need to survive. What they don't realize is that we can provide this, we simply do not value those goals, because we have been manipulated into being greedy, competitive consumers. We can choose to be better.

Quote from: theymos on April 04, 2011, 08:18:20 AM

The only way you can enforce a resource based economy is through totalitarianism (at a degree that is probably impossible). Otherwise, people will acquire wealth, and a money will emerge spontaneously.

I don't think so, not in a society that values life and has access to the neccessities of life. We are taught to believe that people are naturally greedy or need someone to keep them in line. People will choose to work together if they are brought up to do so. We are currently raised to be competitive and dominant, at least in the dominant monetary system culture.

Quote from: caveden on April 04, 2011, 09:15:16 AM

Quote from: LightRider on April 04, 2011, 07:51:25 AM

If we declared all of the earth's resources as common heritage for all the world's people, and used the methods of science to construct and provide all of life's necessities for all people, then there would be considerable reduction in hunger, crime, war and poverty, not to mention unnecessary suffering due to lack of access of medical care or inadequate educational opportunities.

Seriously, this approach has been tried multiple times in history. Declaring all earth's resources as common implies in more hunger/crime/war/poverty.

Although Zeitgeist people do see the evil in the monetary system - and for sure there is - they fail greatly in understanding economics and ethics.
The main problem in the monetary system is the monopoly of money and central banking, not the existence of money itself. Money is fundamental.

This approach is unprecedented. I believe what you are referring to is the failed attempts of single countries trying to maintain governments, armies, false authority and a flawed monetary system that tried to impose their will on others. Not to mention the fact that they did not have access to the production and communication technologies we have today. There could not have been a positive outcome when you maintain such destructive values and institutions. We have been conditioned to fear changes like this because of our flawed education and ignorance of the real differences between those failed attempts and a chance to have real change.

Quote from: epii on April 04, 2011, 09:55:38 AM

Quote from: caveden on April 04, 2011, 09:15:16 AM

Money is fundamental.

I'd say private ownership and trade is fundamental, inasmuch as - regardless of the society - it arises spontaneously and can only be eliminated by force, but money itself is only "fundamental" to a certain kind of society. A society with a large population, an active economy, and easy communication over long distances could not plausibly be sustained without money... but theoretically if we were willing to go back to the bronze age, money wouldn't be necessary. Wink

Private ownership is a reaction to scarcity. What we are talking about is the abundance of access to all of life's necessities. We do not need to return to an ancient technological state to achieve this goal. We can have a far better lifestyle for all people, in fact the "wealthiest" person today would live far better in a society that values life and the environment that sustains it.

Quote from: rebuilder on April 04, 2011, 11:11:55 AM

Radical redesign of society, huh. This kind of thing comes up every now and then. Usually it leads nowhere. Sometimes it kills millions.

Millions are being killed now in the name of the profit motive. We are seeking to put an end to this type of outcome.

Quote from: caveden on April 04, 2011, 12:09:02 PM

It's interesting though, because most of our "way of thinking" comes from the times when our ancestors used to live like that. No wonder why so many people seem to hate money, profit etc, as well as think the economy is a zero-sum game. It was indeed from a zero-sum world that we evolved. A very interesting text on this subject: http://mises.org/daily/4700

The fact is that people are kept ignorant of the way the economy works because it is ultimately a false and destructive institution, manipulated by the people in control for their own benefit. This is antithetical to the way we have evolved, and that is why we have negative reactions to, and a desire to leave, such ways of life. It is antithetical to life itself. You would not survive if your organs operated in a market style economy. We cannot survive as a species if we continue our present course.

Quote from: sortedmush on April 04, 2011, 08:10:12 PM

Hi there LightRider,

I'm actually very happy that you guys have noticed Bitcoin and see it as a stepping stone to Jacque's resource based econamy. Being on the anarcho-capitalist side of things, I was very excited when Stefan Molyneux and Peter Joseph had that debate recently. I personally think the shit is going to hit the fan pretty soon, and I'm glad that people with differing ideas are talking things through before it all kicks off. Although I have to say I agree with Molyneux's critique of the Zeitgeist Movement, I do also wish you guys the best of luck.

If you think that bitcoin will help you get to where you want to be, then I encourage you to spread the word and get more people involved. If you can convince Peter Joseph to do a video on bitcoin, that would be awesome.

Thanks! I just want to point out that I do not speak on behalf of the movement, I am just an individual who wants to make the world a better place for all people, who also happens to be interested in computer science and technology. I think that Bitcoin can be an interesting and better alternative to our current system, but I don't desire it to be dominant in the long term. I favor a transition to a global RBE that benefits all people, not just those with access to power and computational ability. I doubt PJ will produce a video about this system, but I'm sure it will interest the movement some day soon. I agree that things are going to get very bad for many people in the near future, but we are trying to help make people aware that we can choose to do better.

Quote from: em3rgentOrdr on April 04, 2011, 08:11:47 PM

Quote from: LightRider on April 04, 2011, 07:51:25 AM

I hope to support the bitcoin system as long as I am able, and I hope to see it become a dominant and thriving ecosystem in the months and years to come. Thank you for your time and attention.

Why would you want to support bitcoin money, if your goal is the abolishment of money?

As I mentioned in the OP, I think this could be an interesting transitional system between our current destructive model and a true moneyless society. I understand that this change will not happen instantaneously, but I think it can be helpful to demonstrate how technology can be a far better alternative to our old traditional and false institutions.

Thank you again for your thoughtful responses.