- 29 Jul 2014 15:05
#14444918
I don't pretend to know much about Anarchism, but it's always held a kind of distant appeal to me. Of all the varieties Anarcho-Communism is the one I am most drawn to in spirit, but it also happens to be the one I have the most problem with. One of those problems is the barter system. Hopefully there will be some people on here who can help me get through my reservations.
1. As someone who has lived a long time in Asia barter is quite a common experience, although you are bartering money. When one needs something the price naturally increases, hence both sides are required to be somewhat deceitful. How would this work in an Anarchistic system? If say I am in dire need of some smaller item, would it be permissible to extract some larger item in return? In short, need is exploitable.
2. What occurs when you barter well or barter poorly? Is there a system in place to prevent a monopoly of goods, or to prevent a new disparity of wealth?
3. How is barter practical? Today I carry a wallet, it's quick; convenient. If I need to barter would I need to do my 'shopping' with a sack or a cart? What happens if the 'seller' is asking for goods I don't possess?
4. For sake of ease wouldn't people simply offer the promise of goods? And what distinguishes that from money?
As much as I can see Anarchism compatible with the modern world from a technological point of view, from a functional point of view it feels like regression.
1. As someone who has lived a long time in Asia barter is quite a common experience, although you are bartering money. When one needs something the price naturally increases, hence both sides are required to be somewhat deceitful. How would this work in an Anarchistic system? If say I am in dire need of some smaller item, would it be permissible to extract some larger item in return? In short, need is exploitable.
2. What occurs when you barter well or barter poorly? Is there a system in place to prevent a monopoly of goods, or to prevent a new disparity of wealth?
3. How is barter practical? Today I carry a wallet, it's quick; convenient. If I need to barter would I need to do my 'shopping' with a sack or a cart? What happens if the 'seller' is asking for goods I don't possess?
4. For sake of ease wouldn't people simply offer the promise of goods? And what distinguishes that from money?
As much as I can see Anarchism compatible with the modern world from a technological point of view, from a functional point of view it feels like regression.