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Stop being pedantic. At some point everyone must trade their labor for goods other people produce. This transaction incurs taxes that you must pay in dollars,

Stop being pedantic. At some point everyone must trade their labor for goods other people produce. This transaction incurs taxes that you must pay in dollars, or you go to jail.

jhancock 18y ago
not pedantic at all. I have not made a net income to be taxed in years (yes local governments have profited from transactional taxes; sales taxes). As a consequence, I have not starved to death (obviously) and am not writing this post from jail. However, I have provided much value to my community in terms of goods and services. If you were to come to my community and ask about me, you will find many that value my contributions to our local society. I believe now is a great time to think about alternate economies instead of holding steadfast to rules that govern the current domain.
- Xichekolas 18y ago
  This situation works because you have something that substitutes for cash in your community... trust. Cash is a way to create trust between two parties that don't know each other. Without cash, if I walked into Best Buy for a TV, I'd offer to trade goods or services for it. Since Best Buy doesn't know me from Adam, they have no way to know whether I'll make good on my promise (they can't trust me), and so giving me the TV is a risk. However, Best Buy probably trusts the US Government to continue accepting dollars for tax payments, so dollars are valuable and trustworthy. If I give Best Buy some dollars, they are immediately useful in paying taxes. Likewise if I work for Best Buy, and there was no money, Best Buy would 'pay' me by providing everything I ask for up to a certain standard of living. I'd have to trust Best Buy not to abuse this situation. It's far easier to be paid in dollars, because I can trust that businesses I buy from will value dollars... because they can trust that the government will value dollars (for tax payments). The only way to survive without trust (either the real thing or via cash, which is really trust in a third party), is for everyone to be totally self-sufficient. Specialization is a huge economic boost, so giving it up means a lower standard of living for everyone. However, if everyone were truly self-sufficient, there would be no need to trade goods/services, and hence no need for trust or cash.
anewaccountname 18y ago
>At some point everyone must trade their labor for goods other people produce. This transaction incurs taxes that you must pay in dollars, or you go to jail. If everyone just worked for non-profits focused on providing for people, that statement isn't true =P. Not exactly what you meant...

Stop being pedantic. At some point everyone must trade their labor for goods other people produce. This transaction incurs taxes that you must pay in dollars, or you go to jail.

jhancock 18y ago

not pedantic at all. I have not made a net income to be taxed in years (yes local governments have profited from transactional taxes; sales taxes). As a consequence, I have not starved to death (obviously) and am not writing this post from jail. However, I have provided much value to my community in terms of goods and services. If you were to come to my community and ask about me, you will find many that value my contributions to our local society. I believe now is a great time to think about alternate economies instead of holding steadfast to rules that govern the current domain.

Xichekolas 18y ago
This situation works because you have something that substitutes for cash in your community... trust. Cash is a way to create trust between two parties that don't know each other. Without cash, if I walked into Best Buy for a TV, I'd offer to trade goods or services for it. Since Best Buy doesn't know me from Adam, they have no way to know whether I'll make good on my promise (they can't trust me), and so giving me the TV is a risk. However, Best Buy probably trusts the US Government to continue accepting dollars for tax payments, so dollars are valuable and trustworthy. If I give Best Buy some dollars, they are immediately useful in paying taxes. Likewise if I work for Best Buy, and there was no money, Best Buy would 'pay' me by providing everything I ask for up to a certain standard of living. I'd have to trust Best Buy not to abuse this situation. It's far easier to be paid in dollars, because I can trust that businesses I buy from will value dollars... because they can trust that the government will value dollars (for tax payments). The only way to survive without trust (either the real thing or via cash, which is really trust in a third party), is for everyone to be totally self-sufficient. Specialization is a huge economic boost, so giving it up means a lower standard of living for everyone. However, if everyone were truly self-sufficient, there would be no need to trade goods/services, and hence no need for trust or cash.

anewaccountname 18y ago

>At some point everyone must trade their labor for goods other people produce. This transaction incurs taxes that you must pay in dollars, or you go to jail. If everyone just worked for non-profits focused on providing for people, that statement isn't true =P. Not exactly what you meant...