Posted by member, Correspondence Committee on February 25, 2009 at 18:21:32:
In Reply to: Money as the root of all evil? posted by John on February 21, 2009 at 05:39:14:
John, your critique of 'money as the root' while accurately describing our current ills for the most part, pretty much misses the most important point.
Money, whether paper or metal, based on debt or gold, is only a symbol. But it does represent an economic and value system based on exploitation and profit and its there that we must begin to focus.
Money is only the visable representation of a system that has deception at its core: while we the majority create all the wealth John describes... thru our labor
...most of that value is skimmed off the top by corporate owners, taken away in the form of profit. What we get back is only a fraction of its real worth, in the form of a wage, a paycheck. Its a legal con-game. The underlying, systemic goal of more and more profit for the few- and greater & greater exploitation of the majority- comes before all else: well before social, human or environmental considerations. Money is a SYMBOL of the problem but only that, a symbol. Yet what it represents- a system that works irrationally and leaves no room for a broad vision of caring and concern for the people, our children and the planet- cannot and should not be tolerated any longer. Our current 'crisis' is proof enough.
To John and other Forum participants, look deeper and seriously at the system that causes so much harm. Once analysed and understood, it will become clear it must be replaced by a different paradigm where cooperation
and grassroots participation is the 'coin of the realm' and not some political platitude.
While we seem in agreement that change is needed, it requires not a change in currency but a new vision of society, beginning now, with representatives voted in to transform our institutions and establishing a cooperative,economic and civic democracy.
I would recommend John and others might give a closer reading of our website, and a closer study of our idea of 'time/labor' as the basic measure of remuneration in a fair & equitable new society. From all, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts.