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  • Okay, this is one question I've been asking myself lately, and I'd like to ask you.

  • And I'm not just addressing this to the Occupy Movements all over the world, but everybody

  • all over the world. At what point in the future will we, our society, our world, get rid of

  • money? Yeah, the whole monetary system. We won't need it anymore.

  • Now, is somebody saying... Never? Huh uh. We know we'll get rid of money at some point

  • because the Captain has told us about future economics.

  • The economics of the future are somewhat different. Yeah. And not just somewhat different? A lot

  • different, because... You see, money doesn't exist.

  • Ah ha! Money doesn't exist in the future. See, there's your proof right there. Alright,

  • I understand some of you might be saying, "Future? What future?" I know. If we stick

  • with this system that keeps us fighting each other, gives us these endless wars, then we're

  • headed down apocalypse road. And that's a possibility. But let's remain hopeful for

  • the moment and imagine that we can create a different kind of system which doesn't require

  • the fighting. Because we've realized that it really is a global village and we have

  • to work together to take care of it. And that being driven by selfish motives -- the acquisition

  • of money and power -- is not the way to go about it.

  • The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force in our lives. We work to better

  • ourselves and the rest of humanity. Gee, what a concept, huh? Now, back to the

  • question. When? And I'll give you three choices. A hundred years? In geological time, it's

  • not that long. But from our perspective, it's an eternity. Think about how our world changed

  • in that last century. We were just beginning to make cars -- and no airplanes -- to where

  • we are now? Or do you think it could happen in fifty years?

  • Now think about this exponential growth of our scientific knowledge and technology. We

  • can't imagine what it'll look like in fifty years. Okay, maybe ten years?

  • Now, before you answer, don't just toss out an opinion based on the way you feel about

  • it at the moment. If we want to make an educated guess, there are a few things we should consider...

  • and I'll just mention three or four, and then I'll move along as quickly as I can here.

  • Number One... Think about why we have money in the first place. Why did we invent it?

  • Well, because we needed something to represent the value of stuff. And that value was based

  • on how much time and effort -- labor -- went into making this stuff, along with how much

  • of it was available, and how badly people wanted it. Supply and demand. Now think about

  • how hard it was in the past to produce food. You had to get out the horse and hook up the

  • plow, and build irrigation systems, then harvest it by hand and get it to the market. A lot

  • of work there, and you should be compensated for that. Now think about, in years to come,

  • when we've created automated systems that could do all this with practically no labor...

  • that could produce as much food as everyone needs. In that case, do we need to put a monetary

  • value on it? There's no need to sell it, exchange it for money. Right?

  • Okay, another example. Think about building a house, getting the materials, and the people,

  • builders, to do the work. What if, in the future, we've made systems that can produce

  • these prefabricated components and assemble homes, where no one would have to be homeless.

  • No price tag needed. And with energy, using clean renewable systems, which we can do now

  • on a local scale... we wouldn't need the drilling and blasting, the fracking... which is good

  • for jobs in our current system, right? Good for business. Not so good for people or the

  • environment in many cases. But a system that continually produces energy -- for free -- without

  • human labor, that would be good for people, good for the environment. But bad for business.

  • Do you see how backwards our current system will seem to people in the future?

  • Anyway, if we're thinking about creating a world without money, that means a world where

  • everyone would have access to everything they need, and most everything they want. This

  • is what we're talking about. So we should re-phrase the question. At what point in the

  • future do you think our technology will make these automated systems possible and allow

  • us to move out of a monetary system? Alright, that explains the labor part. But you might

  • be saying, "What about the supply and demand? Will there be enough resources... if EVERYBODY

  • wants EVERYTHING?" Well, remember, we wouldn't be in this current system anymore that

  • requires constant consumption, and instills those values. The goal in this future system

  • is to use our resources conservatively, make as much as we NEED, not as much as we possibly can.

  • I was talking to someone who said, "In a system

  • like this, everyone would want their own jet-ski". But do you really want your own jet-ski, where

  • you have to store it at home, have a trailer and a vehicle to pull it, then use it for

  • a few hours, and haul it back home and store it again, and do maintenance? No, it would

  • be better to have ACCESS to a jet-ski when you want to use it, and leave it there when

  • you're done. And there could be enough for everyone... unless you want your own JET to

  • ski behind. In which case, that's asking a little too much, don't you think?

  • These days, more and more, I've been hearing people talk about this type of system. An

  • access-economy, or access-abundance. Because it makes so much more sense. Instead of making

  • 100,000 jet-skis, we could make 20,000, or 30. And with this example, how else could

  • we be saving resources? Think about accessories, like all the trailers. We could use all these

  • materials for solar collectors or housing components. Something relevant. And this access-economy

  • concept would apply to almost everything. Maybe you'd like to learn how to play the

  • guitar. Well, now you have to shop around and try to find a good deal. And you buy one,

  • play it for a few weeks or months. Lose interest. How many guitars or other instruments are

  • sitting in closets or garages right now? So, instead, you'd go to the Music Center, or whatever

  • we'd call it, and check one out. Like a library, basically. You lose interest, you return it,

  • somebody else checks it out. Do you see how we could use so much less of

  • our resources if everyone had access to the things they want? If the goal was not to make

  • and sell as many as possible, like this outdated "growth economy" requires, but make as many

  • as we need, as people want. I know it's hard to get a handle on that concept. Counter-intuitive.

  • It's like the opposite of what our traditional thinking would have us believe. And this is

  • number three to consider, the traditional values that are drilled into us by our culture.

  • And it's something that could work against us, that hinders our growth, makes it harder

  • to transition into an updated system. Because people tend to hold onto what's familiar.

  • We're fearful of something different or unknown. And the small group of people who are in power...

  • they don't want to see any change in these values. No, these established institutions

  • are working great for that one-percent... who control the mainstream media, where you'll

  • hear them saying, "Don't listen to people who are proposing any kind of change or rational

  • alternatives. They just want to control you, even more than we're controlling you!

  • And don't trust common sense and logic, or you'll be screwed, even worse than we're screwing you

  • right now with this system, keeping you in debt slavery, in lifelong servitude to us."

  • Yeah, it's kinda sad that we're limited in many ways by our traditional thinking. Some

  • of us can't imagine not having this monetary system. And they think people will always

  • be fighting each other for domination, that it's our nature, when it's not. It's the system

  • we're trapped in which requires that kind of behavior, see? It's not our nature. Human

  • beings would rather cooperate and help each other. And this has been proven by people

  • who study the human brain, can actually look into it and see how it functions. When we

  • finally grow up and get out of this system, we won't be fighting each other anymore,

  • trying to crush the competition and accumulate more possessions and power...

  • People are no longer obsessed with the accumulation of things. We've eliminated hunger, want,

  • the need for possessions. We've grown out of our infancy. Here's something to think about. Not long

  • ago, in the 1950's, there were millions of people who were saying, "We'll never walk

  • on the moon." And in the next decade, there we were. Hey, do you want to know why so many

  • people were saying that? It's because the idea of a man walking on the moon was so far

  • outside their reality, their every-day experience, so outside of their familiar, traditional

  • thinking. That's one reason, and here's another. These people were not up-to-date with the

  • advancements in technology. They didn't know what was possible at that point in time, with

  • the latest scientific discoveries and breakthroughs. But this kind of limited, traditional thinking

  • is a problem. You wish you could hop in a time machine and go back there and grab these

  • people by the shoulders and shake 'em, and say, "Wake up! Of course we'll be walking

  • on the moon, in the next decade, you know, our astronauts will be up there bouncing around

  • in their go-carts, and hitting golf balls on the moon. Come on, open up your mind!

  • Your limited thinking is holding us back! I mean, if it's a collective consciousness, then we

  • need everyone to wake up and be conscious!

  • Well, what do you guys do? I mean, you don't drink, and you ain't got no TV. Must be kind of boring, ain't it?

  • Okay, here's one last thing to consider. We see how these cultural values and our "traditional thinking" could slow down this transition.

  • But here's something that could counter that and work in our favor. And that is...

  • the "rational thinking" that people are doing now... when looking at the reality of our predicament...

  • and then at what is actually possible ...when they get up-to-date with

  • the latest technology, looking at how things could be so different. Seeing the possibilities,

  • the benefits, to the health of our planet and our environment, and our OWN health. And

  • once again, what's the main reason things would be so different?

  • Money doesn't exist. Right. Without the restrictions of a monetary

  • system, everything changes. When automated systems are doing their work, then money becomes

  • obsolete... along with everything else related to it. And it's mind-boggling when you start

  • to think of all the ramifications. So let's run through it here. Come on, full-ramification ahead!

  • Alright, we started with simple money to represent real things, then some banks.

  • And more banks, with bigger branches. And Central Banks with their "criminal Reserves".

  • Investment banks, lending institutions, savings and loans, commercial banks, private banks,

  • offshore banks, credit unions, Equal Opportunity Lenders, stock markets and brokers and

  • commodityexchanges and traders, gold dealers, financial advisers.

  • Oh my God, look at all these things. And what's everybody doing in these occupations?

  • Counting numbers. Yeah, that's right. People need real things. Food and housing and energy. But we're

  • just moving numbers around. So many numbers that we need new occupations. Accountants,

  • to keep track of 'em. Yeah, and some Internal Auditors and Accounting Clerks, Budget Analysts

  • and Tax Accountants. And if the numbers don't add up, we'll need lawyers. Trial lawyers,

  • business attorneys, and a court system where they can fight it out. "Your Honor, these

  • are the correct numbers. If you just add the Net Assets with the Gross Profits, and subtract

  • the Income Credits of the Mortgage-Backed Securities from the losses on the Credit Swaps

  • and Deferred Annuities..." And the game plays on.

  • And, you know, there's a lot that can go wrong with all these things. So we'll need Insurance.

  • For our business and our workers. And our homes, and cars, our health. And what else?

  • Oh my God, just look at all the things we can make up. How about... Kidnap Insurance? Yeah,

  • you bet. Terrorism Insurance? Why not? Insurance against Alien Abduction? Sure,

  • somebody tried that. We'll try anything to keep the pyramid growing. Lots of forms to

  • fill out, and endless paperwork where we can write more numbers, and then move those numbers around.

  • But remember, this is what we're getting rid of. We're letting go of this... for our

  • next generation. So let's feel good for them. This is Happy Time! Come on, smile, dammit!

  • Plaster on a big smile for me. It gets better. Yeah, there you go.

  • Alright, no need to have representatives in Washington making decisions for us.

  • These decisions are made right there in your town, by your community, for your community.

  • No need to debate budgets. No money! We'd be discussing resource-allocation maybe, and

  • the best ways to keep our automated production systems running efficiently, improving them,

  • in your own community. Bureaucrats, politicians a thousand miles away will not be required.

  • Not working for them anymore. Don't need to give them a portion of your work. Hey, everybody!

  • No taxes! Does that give you a tingle in your jingle? Come on, let's celebrate...

  • For our next generation, I guess. I'm jealous, envious. I mean, wouldn't you like to be a part of

  • that generation, when we've... We've grown out of our infancy.

  • Hey, don't feel bad if you're working at any of these occupations that are irrelevant to

  • what people need. You're in the majority! Yeah, that's right. The majority of us are

  • working at things people don't need. It's... it's funny. No... no, it's not. It's not funny.

  • And, you know, these aren't the only problems that disappear with money. Think about crime.

  • Is anybody robbing anybody else? No. People can have what they need, so there's no incentive

  • to take advantage of others. No motivation for that, see? And most crime is about money

  • and property, so that's all gone. And these, too. Yeah, and this. And that. You begin to

  • see how money just might be "the root of all evil". But don't think this is going to be

  • some kind of utopia, because there will still be problems. And I bet you can think of a few.

  • Breakdowns... with the systems now and then, huh?... which can be fixed. But they're

  • problems. And shortages of certain supplies or resources. Again, these can be corrected,

  • hopefully without much inconvenience. And people might argue about which approach works

  • the best, but these can be tested because we're dealing with technical issues. Now,

  • tell me, what kind of problems are these? They're REAL problems, that people need to

  • be dealing with, that can be solved. And wouldn't you rather be spending some of your time working

  • with -- and solving -- problems that are relevant, and related to projects in your community,

  • instead of the kinds of problems that we have to deal with now?

  • Yeah, there's a lot of sickness generated by this system. And we all suffer from it to some degree.

  • Think about the values we profess to strive for.... "Do unto others...",

  • treat your fellow human beings with respect, empathy, love. But we have a system that rewards

  • just the opposite. The people at the top are the best takers, the best at gaining advantage

  • over others. They'll step all over people and use them to climb higher up the pyramid,

  • which could be described as a form of psychopathic behavior, by definition. The people who are

  • at the top of the money game... they're just the sickest. Yeah, they're the most ruthless,

  • business-savvy psychopaths that we can produce. I mean, look at some of these guys.

  • Would they even know what to do with themselves in a world without money?

  • Then what will happen to us? There's no trace of my money. My office is gone. What will I do?

  • Oh, man... listen to that. What a pussy! "What will I do without my money? Who am I?"

  • What will I do? How will I live?

  • Material needs no longer exist. Then what's the challenge?

  • The challenge, Mr. Offenhouse, is to improve yourself. To enrich yourself. Enjoy.

  • But you know, we can't really blame them, in one sense. It's the game we've created.

  • And at its highest level, it's about cutthroat competition, domination, crush your competitors.

  • And they're just doing what people do in this system. And you wish we could change them somehow,

  • make them care more about people than possessions and power. Might not be possible, though...

  • when we're in this game. We have to change the game.

  • Money is something we've needed in the past... a necessary evil? And we've created this huge,

  • artificial structure to support it. A big 'ol wall, and we keep building it up, piling

  • on the bullshit. But it's crumbling now, you know? Foundational flaws. And it's a wall

  • that just divides us. It's time to dismantle it. The wall must come down... this iron curtain

  • made of paper. Hey, here's my new battle cry: "Mr. Moneybags, tear down this wall!"

  • What do you think, huh? Alright, so after considering these things...

  • the facts about Labor and Automation, and Demand and the Access Economy, the Traditional

  • Thinking that holds us back, and the Rational Thinking that reveals the reality and all

  • the possibilities. Well? A hundred years? Or fifty? Maybe ten? Let's add one more.

  • Maybe now? Yeah, we could do this now. We could begin this transition if we could all just

  • come together... and with one giant, collective PULL...! Get our heads out of our asses.

  • And I'll leave you with that pleasant thought, and the realistic possibilities... when we've grown...

  • We've grown out of our infancy.

  • We may have to stop a few times and pick up some of these stragglers along the way, but

  • we'll get there.

Okay, this is one question I've been asking myself lately, and I'd like to ask you.

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