FROM FINANCE TO ECONOMICS
Why does NO-ONE, actually know, how the various financial systems work? Political leaders, the Fed. chief, the “economists”, and the commentators, are all talking about the big problems in the US and global monetary systems. No one is sure about the consequences of hedge funds, credit default swaps, derivatives, deregulated banks, packaged sub-prime mortgages as securities, declining home prices, etc., etc. No one knows for sure what it will take to restore a semblance of stability.
No one truly understands how monetary systems work because they are not founded on facts. They are founded on concepts like “confidence” and “value”. The problem is that confidence and values change frequently and unpredictably. Facts remain constant. All monetary systems are out of sync with the Natural Economic Order of the universe.
What, then are the facts? First, the Natural Economy provides life support for free. No one has to pay the universe to have plants produce nuts, berries, tomatos, coconuts and bananas.
No cow or chicken has ever demanded money to produce milk or eggs. Second, the Natural Economy is abundant. Sunlight beams aboard the planet 24/7/365. It is the direct energy source for all plant life. We grow enough food to feed every human being. We could power all human activities only with solar and its renewable derivatives: wind, hydro, wave, bio-fuels, and geo-thermal. Third, the Natural Economy values all life forms equally. It doesn’t give less sunlight to snakes and spotted owls than it does to dogs and human beings.
The specific facts, about growing corn for example, are learned by every farmer. They stay the same from year to year and from region to region. Shipbuilders who design boats in the Amazon find that the laws of buoyancy work the same when their craft is used in Europe. Scientists in Egypt discover the same principles at work when they produce brass as the scientists in China
The Natural Economy of the universe is based on “sharing with”, freely, abundantly and equally. Monetary systems are based on “withholding from”. I will let you have what I have, only if you give me something that I value. If you don’t have anything that I value, I’ll go find someone who does. If what I have happens to be something that would save your life, oh well.
So, the good news is that we already know all the facts necessary to produce an extraordinarily high standard of living for every human being, and honor all other life forms equally. The only thing to do now is to switch our attention from financial systems to the Natural Economic System. We can do it relatively gently, gracefully or harshly and with suffering. But do it we will.
William Daniels
503-314-6902
wdinpdx@yahoo.com
10/11/2008
Hi Robert,
Thank you for your comments. I took a look at your website, and I certainly encourage you to keep going. We need lots of us to be engaged in what it takes to make the transition.
Best Regards, William
What is said above is perfectly correct as far as it goes. But we are at present living in a CAPITALIST SYSTEM. To have something like a Resource Economy (as understood by Jacque Fresco for example) is not going to happen overnight even with the credit crunch in full sway.
Humanity has to EVOLVE from the present system of over-production,greed, and competition to something which is sane, and sustainable....and ultimately something which in the end requires no money as a medium of exchange.
To reach that stage the present capitalist system can be goaded that way with the right financial incentives. In other words, competative sustainability (!) in which the world will become largely automated with new technologies both "simple", and complex.
When this has occured the present capitalist system will hopefully phase itself out along with money which would no longer exist, or be necessary.
Moreover, through this process stretching some decades people will be educated as never before about the vital importance of sustainability. But to achieve that end you have to TRANSFORM the present capitalist system otherwise money-less "utopian" notions will probably come to naught.
To understand the above more clearly (hopefully!) it would be wise to go the p2pfoundation entry on TRANSFINANCIAL ECONOMICS.
http://www.p2pfoundation.net/Transfinancial_Economics
If the BFI actually spent money in helping develop the electronic controls involved in TFE this would be well spent because reforming the present MONETARY SYSTEM IS THE BASIS ON WHICH REAL CHANGE,AND GLOBAL JUSTICE WOULD BE POSSIBLE. Can we possibly understand this, or not?????