Return to the Village

Once you detach yourself from the fear that money might disappear and view it as a positive development, all sorts of interesting possibilities open up. I love to start with the idea that all of a sudden everyone wakes up one morning to find that the entire financial system has collapsed.  All the money is gone.  Say some supersonic computer virus swept through the world's banking network and blew away every bit of financial data.  All the backup files, too. All too easy, but don't even think about it, okay?

What if someone had the presence of mind and the media power to put out the following idea:

"Folks, let's start with the basics.  If you have a roof over your head, that's now your house.  All debts are wiped free.  If you had a job, you probably should show up for work, even though there's no money to pay you.  The new currency is now Your Own Reputation, fueled by your willingness to contribute your time and energy to the community.  What you gain for your Reputation is that your family, friends, and acquaintances are going to take care of you because you are taking care of them.

"Jerry Potsdam, manager of the Super Mega Grocery Mart branch down the street, has a whole store full of food that she can't sell, because no one has money to pay for it, so rather than have it all just sit there or go bad, she gives whatever is needed to anyone whom she or any store employee recognizes or to anyone THOSE people will vouch for.  Instant foodstuffs network!  The employees keep right on stocking the shelves and unloading the trucks, which keep showing up with more food because the food providers keep loading the trucks, and that's because they keep growing it, and that's because they're still being provided with the wherewithal to grow the food.

"And the people who provide the wherewithal do so because they know they can come in to their local grocery store and get the food they need.  Can you see that this only works if everybody understands that their effort is needed?  That applies to everyone who was unemployed when the bottom fell out.  You don't need a "job"!  Just contribute to the well-being of your family, friends and neighbors.  Your reputation and willingness will ensure that folks will make sure you have what you need.

"Now notice that reputation can be gained by any useful activity, so what if you hate your job and would rather be home taking care of the kids?  Stay home and take care of the kids!  That's providing value to the community.  Even more value if you take care of the neighbors' kids (and they take care of yours) as needed.

"Old Granny Parker can't pay for Meals on Wheels any more, but they keep showing up anyway.  She makes sweaters and gives them to the Meals on Wheels people and the neighbors on the block.  Pretty soon the neighbors find out that she can't get to the yarn store any more, so they take her there or just go get her some yarn.  Then when everybody on the block has a Granny Parker sweater, the folks in the next block find out about her.  Somebody over there fixes her dishwasher (that's what his company does).  A local nurse from over at the hospital hears about her because her neighbor has a new Granny Parker sweater."

I'll be here all week....