- 08 May 2013 21:25
#14230786
We've discussed how post-scarcity economies would work on here in detail, going over different minutae involved. However, I don't think we've established a viable plan for instituting a post-scarcity economy as of yet.
The first part would being exposing money for what it is; our current system does its best to promote the illusion of money being a fixed-good rather than a vehicle for value exchange, and promotes a usury-based system. This is why we need a reform and a stimulus-
This isn't to ignore other necessities, such as geoengineering or funding scientific research, but those aren't directly applicable to instituting a post-scarce system. Hopefully such a program as I've outlined would radically change the economy, exposing the illusions of scarcity; as a result, neither personal goods, nor energy, nor even currency, would be held in short supply. As secondary and tertiary sectors condense, this shifts labor to a ZMP scenerio, the programs instuted would be necessary and continue to drive public opinion to post-scarcity.
Once such a stimulus has been accomplished, akin to a five or ten year plan, we'll need to keep moving. At this point, we'll have a flexible monetary policy and not-for-profit fiscal sector, as well as universal zero-energy homes and 3D printing. The economy at this time would likely be mostly ZMP work, with CAD designs, IT systems, and the materials still needing to be purchased. However, we'd still be using montary transactions rather than energy accounting, and scarcity would still present itself. A second stage would be needed to breech further into post-scarcity.
As a result of the second stage implementation, the result would be a two-tiered economy that mixes mutual credit and post-scarcity. Fiat would occur nominally, with the government creating/destroying currency in a single loop for many households (such as paying a geoengineer's property taxes), while peer-to-peer exchanges that continue to exist would largely be performed by mutual credit with no patent-based or capital restrictions, so that what value-exchange continues occurs with no lack of currency, information, or resource restriction.
The first part would being exposing money for what it is; our current system does its best to promote the illusion of money being a fixed-good rather than a vehicle for value exchange, and promotes a usury-based system. This is why we need a reform and a stimulus-
- The first step would be removing the shroud around monetary policy and usury. We'd need to renovate our monetary-banking system first off to do this; eliminating restrictions on field-of-membership and lending requirements for Credit Unions would be a first step to remove profit-motive from monetary policy. I would also suggest raising the reserve ratio to slow endogenous money creation. Eliminate debt-issuance for money creation, as well- we create money in Fed deposits whenever we borrow, so this is a core illusion to value-exchange. Toping it all off, we should pay off intragovernmental debt and forgive public loans to reduce both public and private debt levels.
- The second step would be to improve infrastructure. Creating a high-speed rail system in the US, preferably MagLev and VacTrains, would reduce energy requirements for transportation and cost as it exists. I believe it's 60% of our fuel being used by trucking, whereas current rail allows ~100 tonnes to be shipped ~100 miles on a gallon of gas, and MagLev is much more effecient. Simultaneously, we need to improve energy availability. Building a smartgrid will allow greater flow of energy across the US and Canada, and a new "TVA" type program that expands wind, solar-thermal, and LFTR reactors will provide cheap, (mostly) renewable energy moving away from fossil fuels. The third leg would be to build up zero-energy housing; using HUD grants alongside homesteading to develop vacant and condemned properties w/ passive heating/cooling and microgeneration before providing them to residents.
- The third proposal would deal with consumerism and leisure time. Again, three programs. The first two are lesiure- reducing the workweek to 32 hours (a modest reduction for post-scarcity, I know, but a start), and reduce the retirement age to 55. The third is to create a system of vouchers for new technologies- a 3D printer in every house, internet and smartphones for every adult.
This isn't to ignore other necessities, such as geoengineering or funding scientific research, but those aren't directly applicable to instituting a post-scarce system. Hopefully such a program as I've outlined would radically change the economy, exposing the illusions of scarcity; as a result, neither personal goods, nor energy, nor even currency, would be held in short supply. As secondary and tertiary sectors condense, this shifts labor to a ZMP scenerio, the programs instuted would be necessary and continue to drive public opinion to post-scarcity.
Once such a stimulus has been accomplished, akin to a five or ten year plan, we'll need to keep moving. At this point, we'll have a flexible monetary policy and not-for-profit fiscal sector, as well as universal zero-energy homes and 3D printing. The economy at this time would likely be mostly ZMP work, with CAD designs, IT systems, and the materials still needing to be purchased. However, we'd still be using montary transactions rather than energy accounting, and scarcity would still present itself. A second stage would be needed to breech further into post-scarcity.
- Transitioning the elimination of money, we'd have to transform Credit Unions into clearing centers for mutual credit. Unfortunately, I'm not to well-versed on it's operations, so I'd have to read up more on a clear proposal.
- Much of the scarcity left will exist because of patents; medicines, apparati, appliances, 3D printed goods, and even foodstuffs will have patents on them, allowing them to charge for the use of their ideas and allowing them to limit access to such goods. Eliminating patents outright would raise objections, and likely very loud ones from small and large businesses alike. A transitory approach would be to offer investment capital rather than patents for new ideas at that point, and purchase back existing patents where possible.
- Create a "Call to National Service". This would be larger than the military alone, incorporating Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, geoengineering projects, roadworks, etc. for both full-time and reserve options. Those who volunteer and their family would be provided vouchers for housing, education, healthcare, public transportation services, food supply, entertainment (military provides some free theater already), etc.- essentially creating a post-scarcity bubble.
As a result of the second stage implementation, the result would be a two-tiered economy that mixes mutual credit and post-scarcity. Fiat would occur nominally, with the government creating/destroying currency in a single loop for many households (such as paying a geoengineer's property taxes), while peer-to-peer exchanges that continue to exist would largely be performed by mutual credit with no patent-based or capital restrictions, so that what value-exchange continues occurs with no lack of currency, information, or resource restriction.
"We learn to shield ourselves from sleights and veiled abuse with our massive balls. Hope you all have them."- Igor