The first time that I encountered our world’s economic system was when I was about six or seven (or maybe a bit older). We were visiting a department store in Canberra, and I saw a lovely lit display with lots of wrapped chocolates under lights, moving around in a circle. I thought this was fabulous and reached out my hand to take one. Until someone (perhaps my mother, perhaps someone else) said to me ‘You have to pay.’ And it always stood out in my mind as the first time the concept of money seemed so strange and unusual to me.
Since that time I have been fascinated by economics as a organisational structural system for human beings. Between those moments in a shop or cafe when you know that someone is only being friendly and nice to you because they want your money, and the satisfaction of having the means to acquire something I really want, has been a gentle curiosity about how this system works, and questions about whether it serves humans, or if we are slaves to it!?
Non-voluntary participation
I hope that this blog will explore some of these issues and more. I have learned about misalignment where commerce is concerned (this is also an issue with the development of AI), and the history of human civilisation that has led to a situation where we are pretty much obliged to use this system, even if it destroys us. I hope to discuss both of these concepts in more details later.
The fact of the matter that no one person can put their hand up and say that they don’t want to play this game any more. Every other single person on planet Earth is subscribed to this system. And the ship has sailed, according to Noah Harari. As crappy as it might be, we can’t take it back. The Industrial Revolution changed us irrevocably. As did the Agricultural Revolution. But neither of these developments in our history were able to be clawed back once they had taken hold. It is the same for commerce. It might not achieve a peaceful, ethical, environmentally conscious society, but we can’t go back now.
The dream of post-capitalism
And so, perhaps, if you are interested in alternative modes of resource distribution, the only real chance is something called ‘post-capitalism’, in which resources are shared, and we move beyond capitalism. It is a nice dream!
One thing that makes me think that this might be possible, is my own attitude to work and to how I want to live my life. My ultimate goal is to make enough money to pay all my bills so that I can then go out into the world and volunteer for organisations that I care for.
It is true. If I didn’t have to worry about food, water, shelter, clothing, culture, entertainment and all the things we need to survive, I would likely be spending my time learning how to be a really good carer of small children. I would learn and learn about this discipline, because I have always found it fascinating, and then (or at the same time) I would go and care for other people’s children, while they are at work or otherwise occupied.
I would do lots of other pro-social things besides. I think I would go and pick up rubbish along our creeks and rivers, I would hang out with people cooking and gardening so that we could feed ourselves. I sure as hell wouldn’t be at home alone at a desk in front of a computer for most of my working week!
I actually feel more than happy to work for free. But like us all, I do need my basic needs to be covered. If you think about this, what would you love to contribute to the world if you could?
Complex and simple relationships of exchange
Sometimes the processes of ecommerce are complex. I work and this provides me with money, which then goes to people who kindly provide me with things I want or things I need. And this exchange in turn provides them with the abstract capacity to get what they need from the world.
Other times the exchange is more direct. And I feel like these kinds of direct exchanges can be more socially productive in many ways.
For example, today I went into a not for profit community cafe and bulk food store. I went there because I wanted to connect with the people who work there. And I also needed to plan some sustenance (and potential economic activity) for myself. When I walked through the door, one of the people who work there said they had been thinking of me, because she was hoping I could write some paragraphs for their Annual Report.
Working for free
My first reaction was to groan inside. ‘Ohh the work!’ I thought to myself. But this thought was rapidly countered with questions about what kind of things they wanted to say in this piece of writing and the nuts and bolts of what was involved.
I grabbed some mandarins and some tamari and went to the counter to pay for these and a coffee that I planned to drink while I did some meal planning. The lovely staff member gave me my volunteer discount AND a free coffee. And then after I had been sitting there for a while offered a lunch bowl as well! I felt embarrassed to accept it. But it was so delicious and so incredibly nourishing. And it is the perfect payment for the writing that I will do later today and tomorrow for their report.
How lovely! I thought. Not only is this community cafe a refuge in the world, that we volunteers can go to share social time with workers, the community and each other, but it has the capacity to feed people in thanks for helping them out!
It is the perfect FEEL GOOD reason to do something good for them. And I had wonderful chats with all the people who worked there too. They also fed a lot of people delicious, healthy, ethical food while I was there. Bless!
Conclusion
I guess I feel like this is an example of how systems of exchange can bring goodness to both parties in both a pro-social and ethical way.
Indeed, the whole development of our economic system gave us so much power as a species, because in its essence, economics allows us to cooperate as larger groups across the world. It is this factor alone that has allowed us to dominate the planet Earth. The question of whether it will also cause us to destroy it, or our own civilisation is also incredibly potent right now.
What are your thoughts about the benefits and pitfalls of our economic system?