4 ms·

I don't think there is anything wrong with the economy per se, just that there are things wrong with people and the things people do for it. The economy is most

I don't think there is anything wrong with the economy per se, just that there are things wrong with people and the things people do for it. The economy is mostly imaginary... So many jobs and companies basically doing useless tasks in order to try to make more money but their products and contributions a negative to equality and a balanced society. If we could somehow actually shift the focus to making sure basic needs are met first, like all basic needs, then I don't think the economy would be seen as something to discuss.

2MuchMoney 4y ago
lumost 4y ago
These are coupled. Historically, it's been impossible to differentiate "productive" and "un-productive" labor over prolonged periods. The artist makes people happy, those people are then more motivated to work, innovate, or both. The banker helps ensure that prices are roughly accurate throughout the economy. The grant writer at a non-profit helps avoid externalities. Are these things out of whack right now? probably, but that doesn't mean the economy is imaginary.
- mikewarot 4y ago
  >Historically, it's been impossible to differentiate "productive" and "un-productive" labor over prolonged periods. Not true, either you helped in the production of sufficient food to allow a surplus, and thus enabled specialization of labor, or you didn't. It is only the addition of billions of "virtual laborers" fuel by underpriced energy in the form of stored ancient sunlight that the labor market became so distorted. The past 200 years have been the anomaly, not the norm. The pulse of underpriced energy is coming to an end.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
StanislavPetrov 4y ago
>The economy is mostly imaginary... Unfortunately this is also true about the "assets" that reflect retirement accounts, pension funds, bonds and savings of all kinds. These are basically promissory notes to be paid by the future productivity of the "economy". If the economy doesn't grow, or if contracts, these promissory notes cannot be repaid which either means defaulting or printing money (hyperinflation). Either way, all kinds of people with "savings" and paper assets (which many depend on to survive and/or hope to use to retire some day) will be wiped out. >If we could somehow actually shift the focus to making sure basic needs are met first, like all basic needs, then I don't think the economy would be seen as something to discuss. The above is why it isn't as simple as just figuring out what people need today and shifting production around to take care of basic needs, unless you plan on zeroing out all debts, savings and paper assets (which won't be popular with people who have savings and paper assets). If the system is teetering on the edge of total collapse, however, this might be unavoidable (some might even call it "the great reset").
imtringued 4y ago
Introduce negative interest rates on cash.

2MuchMoney 4y ago

lumost 4y ago

These are coupled. Historically, it's been impossible to differentiate "productive" and "un-productive" labor over prolonged periods. The artist makes people happy, those people are then more motivated to work, innovate, or both. The banker helps ensure that prices are roughly accurate throughout the economy. The grant writer at a non-profit helps avoid externalities. Are these things out of whack right now? probably, but that doesn't mean the economy is imaginary.

mikewarot 4y ago
>Historically, it's been impossible to differentiate "productive" and "un-productive" labor over prolonged periods. Not true, either you helped in the production of sufficient food to allow a surplus, and thus enabled specialization of labor, or you didn't. It is only the addition of billions of "virtual laborers" fuel by underpriced energy in the form of stored ancient sunlight that the labor market became so distorted. The past 200 years have been the anomaly, not the norm. The pulse of underpriced energy is coming to an end.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]

StanislavPetrov 4y ago

>The economy is mostly imaginary... Unfortunately this is also true about the "assets" that reflect retirement accounts, pension funds, bonds and savings of all kinds. These are basically promissory notes to be paid by the future productivity of the "economy". If the economy doesn't grow, or if contracts, these promissory notes cannot be repaid which either means defaulting or printing money (hyperinflation). Either way, all kinds of people with "savings" and paper assets (which many depend on to survive and/or hope to use to retire some day) will be wiped out. >If we could somehow actually shift the focus to making sure basic needs are met first, like all basic needs, then I don't think the economy would be seen as something to discuss. The above is why it isn't as simple as just figuring out what people need today and shifting production around to take care of basic needs, unless you plan on zeroing out all debts, savings and paper assets (which won't be popular with people who have savings and paper assets). If the system is teetering on the edge of total collapse, however, this might be unavoidable (some might even call it "the great reset").

imtringued 4y ago

Introduce negative interest rates on cash.