RedFive said:

DuracellEnergizer said:
I'm going to bitch about money. Yeah, goddamn motherfuckin' money. The world would be better off tossing the shit in the recycling bin and adopting a gift economy.

I concur. Trade-based economy. Or even better, no possession. Native American style. Life would be so much better.

Would we really though? Hippies say this shit all the time, hell, even I spent way more time lamenting the ills of materialism than I care to recollect without feeling embarrassed for myself. But if you really stop and think of the implications of that, do you really like that idea that much?

As Rob pointed out, big screen TVs are kind of fun when you can afford them. And I am pretty fond of my car, my music collection, my personal library of books, and my computer. "It is all just baggage" is the usual retort, but so what? What is wrong with baggage? What is wrong with working forty hours a week and being able to eat whatever the hell you want and buy/collect whatever kind of worthless things you are into? Would the alternative of growing crops, hunting, and gathering really be preferable? I think most people who say things like this are talking out of their ass.

And a trade-based economy would be sooooo much better than the current BS we have going (which is BS), there'd be no poverty and everything would be so much better, fair, and more equal... because... well... you know... everyone always has something valuable to trade, and it isn't like one person would ever grow a particular crop (or produce a product or service) that comes out more plentiful and more appealing looking than his neighbor's making him... you know... more wealthy than them...