Money is not the answer, its the problem! What do you think?

[michaelpush]

I think money is the problem, and, in order to fix our world money will have to be eliminated. What it will take is mutual cooperation, sharing of resources, helping each other to fix up our planet. I know its not going to happen, but, consider the idea itself. Another system has to be used that is fair and just to all. We need to "just do it"....

[Warpy]

1. Money, by itself, is neither good nor evil

It's just a way of assigning value to effort so it can be exchanged for goods and services provided by other people. In that, it's a good thing. Barter can work, but it gets awfully complicated.

The problem is distribution. Societies like ours where the distribution of wealth has become concentrated and lopsided are extremely stressed. Jim Wallis has pointed out that times of economic equality were peaceful in ancient Judea, but times where wealth was concentrated among the few saw prophets, competing kings, and warfare. The religious lunacy we're seeing now is the result of the larger population being stressed by falling purchasing power as the rich are fattened.

In any system, fair distribution of the wealth of that society has got to be the goal. That doesn't mean that hard workers are relatively unrewarded while the lazy sit back and collect. That's what we have now, with the leisure class clipping coupons and siphoning off billions by playing hedge funds and derivatives. Clearly, extreme wealth has to be siphoned off the top and recirculated at the bottom to keep money moving and working for all.

The New Deal saw this country enter a period of prosperity unmatched in history throughout the world. Perhaps it's time to consider reconstructing it.

Remember, money isn't the evil. Greed is the evil, and greed is what keeps men grasping for more and more while hardening their hearts to the suffering of their fellow citizens. Put mechanisms in place to provide a disincentive to greed, and money just becomes another tool, as good or evil as a hammer or saw.

[Nederland]

2. Money is not the problem

Money is merely a means for people to express how they value different things they want/need. The real problem is that what people want/need is not always good for society or even the people themselves. The problem is us, not money. Blaming "money" for our problems is like blaming "radio" for Rush Limbaugh.

[stopbush]

3. The LACK of money is the root of all evil.

Think about it.

[Sinti]

9. Agreed! A handful of people demand and take so much

that millions must starve, while they have more than they could use in several lifetimes. The problem is, people like that will always find a way to take advantage of those who just want enough to survive comfortably. It strikes me as almost a spiritual-level problem (not meaning religious). I think someday people will realize and recognize these thugs and their abhorrent behavior, and refuse to allow it anymore - at least I tell myself this so I don't get depressed :P

[eppur_se_muova]

10. There was an old-time gospel preacher who used to say that ... nt

[RB TexLa]

4. economics is a science with laws just like physics

people will have some sort of currency, if not printed by a government or bank then shinny rocks or whatever or a valuation system for bartering. You can't suspend laws of science.

[CrispyQ]

5. "Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can." --nt

[michaelpush]

7. Definitely, John Lennon had it right..

One of my favorite songs to perform ( I am a musician/songwriter). If I had a Trillion dollars to spend, I wouldn't make a dent in solving the problems our planet faces...thats why I say money will not fix things, humankind has to go beyond that and just say to each other " lets fix it" and "do it". Take an organization like the UN, get all nationalities and races represented, get rid of money, remove all borders, start organizing projects worldwide to address the most pressing needs first, and, work from there. I know its a futuristic idealistic vision, but, thats what we need to plant the seed of uniting all of humankind. It must be done or we shall not survive ourselves.

[moondust]

6. The pursuit of grotesque excess

is the problem.

[sweetheart]

8. Its just a medium of exchange, no more

However, i think you're right that it all comes down to economics, and that people
behave based on the price and the tradeoffs in a rational attempt to navigate the
market to one's sustainable advantage. In that sense, were the prices actually
paying for the costs (public costs and goods included), then the medium of exchange
allows for justice without violence.

Property rights are human rights as well. The only real issue, is that our modern
society can afford easily, given its excesses to feed and house its poor, to have
every person on earth with current medical care. That the deal is unfair to the
poorest makes the property rights toxic, that there is no democratic government
enabling the people's voice over the free for all flea market of public goods,
is not the fault of money or the economic system, but of that failed sort
of government, the plutocratic timocracy.

When you buy gas at the pump, you should be paying for ALL the costs that gas
really costs society, and that will get you to think twice, as the *real* cost
of gas will embed the wars, the subsidies to refining, transport and all that.
Then *money* can do some good by getting people to choose a more sustainable
option. But this precludes an economic central bank that can actuall apply
taxes for the public good, something that is not happening due to failed
government, not failed medium of exchange.