Anarchism Part 2: Money and Economics

A basic overview of some of the aspects of money and economics in an anarchist society. More specifically this is an elaboration on a few points concerning anarcho-communist economics which responds to many comments on the first video in this series wherein LatumWay, johncwarner, Impmon51 and mojosideburns asked some questions and discussed a few things.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• anarchy
• anarchism
• money
• economics
• economic
• communism
• anarcho
• communist
• choice
• society
• commune
• tool
• greed
• wealth
• power
• organization
• heirarchy
• organizational
• structures
• system

[Impmon51]

@BoundToTell I have a question, what kind of jobs do you see available for "Luxury goods"? Because the way I see it, in the future, anything that can be automated will be. So factory jobs, perhaps mechanical jobs (Such as auto repair), jobs in marketing, etc will be replaced with machines, with very few people running them. In this current system, it's bad because billions would die of hunger, but in yours, they have food given to them. But the way I see it, only a minority would be allowed jobs

[BoundToTell]

@Impmon51 I doubt that everything could be automated to the extent you describe, and even if so, it's a challenge for all ideologies to deal with progress in technology. As physical labor in general becomes more automated, jobs take a turn towards less physical jobs. America isn't as heavily dependent on physical labor, and I also point towards Japan's great example. Just because physical labor largely goes away, there's still much more to do with our minds instead of our bodies.

[BoundToTell]

@Impmon51 I also don't like to refer to the work done in an anarcho-communist society as being the same thing as what we currently consider a job. Work, since it will be no longer necessary for basic survival, would become far more a creative and pleasurable endeavor. Not all work is bad, and many enjoy it. There's also absolutely nothing stopping someone from doing hard labor anyway. This is anarchy. You can do anything you want to do so long as you're not preventing others from doing the same.

[TheChunkyAtheist]

I have questions!

What are your views on libertarians (like Milton Friedman) and their ideas.

If you had to choose, would you prefer a capitalist economy like Hong Kong or a command economy like the Soviet Union.

-To quote another "If you run a society under 'To each according to his needs, from each according to his abilities' you wind up with a bunch needy people with few abilities". Wouldn't the above statement occur, ruining an anarcho-communist society?

[BoundToTell]

@TheChunkyAtheist The methods of this rational assessment are still to be determined, though it shouldn't take too long if enough research was done and a fluid system were set up. Of course, not everything in the economy can be handled like this, but the point is that rational assessment rather than the capability to sell should determine prices, but it's just a matter of heavily favoring one over the other. All of this is basic, though, so I do feel bad about not offering a more full answer.

[BoundToTell]

@TheChunkyAtheist I'll talk about libertarians later, haha. They deserve several videos, at least!

[ObsceneAsylum]

I have a questions, it is often said that far-leftist economic theories believe in a society without social hierarchies, I assume this also means an equal distribution of wealth. If this is so, does that mean that a person whose job is of lower worth (cashier) receives an equal amount of pay as a person whose job is of higher worth (doctor)? Does this also mean that a person who is a much better worker and a person doesn't take his job seriously, but in the same profession get the same amount?

[GodOfTheInternets]

"without money we can't feed ourselves", lol.

Then why aren't animals extinct. Or humans for that matter. For AT LEAST 99.8% of human existence we have lived without money, state, or whatever.

[smashauthoritea]

Why have any money at all? It be better off if we destroy money completely

[BoundToTell]

@TheChunkyAtheist I'd prefer a mixed, to be honest, but with the means of production in the hands of the general population rather than a few wealthy investors and with rices controlled through rational assessment first and foremost but not restricted fully so that we don't entirely ignore the natural forces behind many market variations. Droughts negatively impact supply, but rather than just leaving the market to do as it does, its reaction would be part of the entire rational assessment.

[BoundToTell]

@mojosideburns I do believe I mentioned my pragmatic label is democratic socialist. It's the most obvious middle ground between what I criticize and what I want. It's also possible in this day an age.