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In the midst of the Democrat government shutdown and the upcoming debt ceiling debate(for which President Obama still refuses to negotiate), why don't consider what it would be like if the central element that these issues revolve upon - money - did not exist?
Consider the Inca Empire - which consolidated a vast territory in western South America and developed a wealthy and strong civilization that lasted for nearly 100 years(before the evil white man - came across the Atlantic).
They were a society that succeeded without a means of commerce or an artificial trading medium. No Federal reserve, no progressive tax, no markets, no Wall Street, no requirement to "fund" the government with cash.
Quote:
In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the Inca Empire was the largest South America had ever known. Centered in Peru, it stretched across the Andes' mountain tops and down to the shoreline, incorporating lands from today's Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina and Peru - all connected by a vast highway system whose complexity rivaled any in the Old World. Rich in foodstuffs, textiles, gold, and coca, the Inca were masters of city building but nevertheless had no money. In fact, they had no marketplaces at all.
The Inca Empire may be the only advanced civilization in history to have no class of traders, and no commerce of any kind within its boundaries. How did they do it?
The article suggests that they may have been a true socialist society - due to the "tax" being paid in labor for the state - in exchange for which all that was needed was provided.
However, the principles of modern socialism are based upon monetary wealth and control of the means of producing that wealth.
Without money, socialism really can't exist.
So, what are your thoughts?
Could the United States or any developed western nation successfully transform itself into a cashless society and prosper like did the Incas?
The govt elite et al then will not have control or siphoning ability. Don't imagine they would be fans.
Value comes from people. Nothing happens economically without them. Govt has nothing without people. Once the value of people is recognized an outside representation is no longer needed.
Most so-called money these days is simply virtual numbers in a virtual account anyway.
Yes, govt is the machine being used. Elite is not limited to govt.
Politics play little into the corporate central control hierarchy. It does play a large role in distraction however.
In the midst of the Democrat government shutdown and the upcoming debt ceiling debate(for which President Obama still refuses to negotiate), why don't consider what it would be like if the central element that these issues revolve upon - money - did not exist?
Consider the Inca Empire - which consolidated a vast territory in western South America and developed a wealthy and strong civilization that lasted for nearly 100 years(before the evil white man - came across the Atlantic).
They were a society that succeeded without a means of commerce or an artificial trading medium. No Federal reserve, no progressive tax, no markets, no Wall Street, no requirement to "fund" the government with cash.
The article suggests that they may have been a true socialist society - due to the "tax" being paid in labor for the state - in exchange for which all that was needed was provided.
However, the principles of modern socialism are based upon monetary wealth and control of the means of producing that wealth.
Without money, socialism really can't exist.
So, what are your thoughts?
Could the United States or any developed western nation successfully transform itself into a cashless society and prosper like did the Incas?
While the achievements of the Inca Empire are impressive, they were the products of an agrarian society with a totalitarian political structure. They were in no way a true socialist society. And the principles of modern socialism are not based upon monetary wealth at all. They are based on the idea that control of a society's resources should belong to the people as a whole. Monetary wealth in our society is a significant social resource. Monetary wealth was not a social resource of the Inca Empire. But there was also no socialist conception that the resources of that society belonged to the society as a whole. Resources were controlled, completely controlled, by the rulers of the Empire. The vast labor supply was a resource the rulers utilized.
In the midst of the Democrat government shutdown and the upcoming debt ceiling debate(for which President Obama still refuses to negotiate), why don't consider what it would be like if the central element that these issues revolve upon - money - did not exist?
Consider the Inca Empire - which consolidated a vast territory in western South America and developed a wealthy and strong civilization that lasted for nearly 100 years(before the evil white man - came across the Atlantic).
They were a society that succeeded without a means of commerce or an artificial trading medium. No Federal reserve, no progressive tax, no markets, no Wall Street, no requirement to "fund" the government with cash.
The article suggests that they may have been a true socialist society - due to the "tax" being paid in labor for the state - in exchange for which all that was needed was provided.
However, the principles of modern socialism are based upon monetary wealth and control of the means of producing that wealth.
Without money, socialism really can't exist.
So, what are your thoughts?
Could the United States or any developed western nation successfully transform itself into a cashless society and prosper like did the Incas?
Just because they did not use coins does not mean they did not have a system of barter and trade to obtain the items that they needed in exchange for other items or services.
This wonderfully "advanced" civilization had to have some way to compensate the temple priests that performed the human sacrifices, you know. (roll eyes).
20yrsinBranson
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- came across the Atlantic). 
