Who said?

[whosinpower]

That the love of money was the root of evil?

Whoever it was - I agree with him/her. As we watch and listen to the Katrina events - rising bankruptcies, erosion of the middle class and an eye opening to stark poverty via Katrina and the tsunami.....I recall a tv program years ago - it was a Star Trek (hehehe - trekie here!) and the captain was explaining that the Earth/humans had evolved to the point where money was no longer relevant.

Would be nice.....wouldn't it? Get off the rat race of materialism and the love of money and things. What would it take to evolve there? A new abundant energy source? One of those nifty replicators where you state - "computer - coffee, black" And it miraculously appears......

That is the kind of society I dream of - one where money does not exist - because it is unnecessary - obsolete.

Thoughts anyone? Tell me I am nuts......

[BringEmOn]

1. 1 Timothy 6:10

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

[StellaBlue]

7. Love that!

Going to add that to my T-shirt wish list.

[Rowdyboy]

2. This says St Paul

http://www.bartleby.com/59/3/loveofmoneyi.html

[Seansky]

3. my friends and I talk about this all the time, yet

seems no-one is willing to give up any of the luxuries (as you pointed out with the computer serving the coffee-Materialistic view by any chance? Anyway, if giving up money (which represents giving up the illusion of material value) would equate to giving up everything that possesses a material value, would you do it?

Just asking (I am a trekie too)

[whosinpower]

14. Hard to say

Because so much is driven by value of money....and we live in a materialistic world. How do you seperate fundamental life needs such as shelter, food and water from luxuries, when they all have a pricepoint?

I would envision getting past that pricepoint somehow. And so, how can I give up money when it is money that puts a roof over my head, food on the table and transportation to get me where I should be?

Imagine for a moment what the world would look like if everyone was guarenteed a minimum life credit...and those credits would be traded in for shelter and food. Additional credits would be earned by work. Some work would give a higher rate of credit, but all work would give credit.(this would include volunteer work) No welfare. Guarenteed medicare. Education for all....in fact - students would be given credit for attending right up to and including the university level. No taxes. No inflation. No money market. No stock market. No need for a social safety net, because it would be enshrined in the minimum life credit guarentee. Doctors around the world would get the same credits regardless of where they worked - as would every single job. All commodities would be guarenteed the same credit value regardless of where they are mined, grown, produced or manufactured.....around the world.

I suppose there would be those that would suggest that competition is what drives excellence and we would see an erosion of quality under my model. But, my model allows for competition - but it levels the playing field, accomodates the most basic human needs and allows for self actualization. I would like to think this model would greatly decrease the urge to make war, terrorize neighbors.

Ah well - I am just a simple minded fool with no formal education in the matter...........

[Seansky]

20. actually, I heard a renown economist

present a concept almost identical to yours...I think it was in NPR or Democracy now, very recently (last month or so) and although his economic explanations were complex, one could see it possible. I'll try to find out who he is...

[Chevy]

4. Unfortunately

Star Trek lore fails to mention The Haliburton wars now and yet to come.:hide:

[Tace]

5. I Share That Dream

That, and an end to institutionalized warfare.

Unfortunately, I think the Star Trek chronology is a bit optimistic. I think it will take us another thousand years -- including a Dark Age -- before we get there.

[Journeyman]

6. Mark Twain corrected that. . .

It's the lack of money that's the root of evil, said Mr. Twain.

[StellaBlue]

9. I get Twain's point, but...

I think the whole money system is the root... private property and all that...

That's why the 'Homeland Security' graphic really makes me smile - there is ANOTHER WAY.

[BringEmOn]

10. Mark Twain never met Dick Cheney, Kenny Lay, Pat Robertson,

Tom DeLay, et al. No lack there...but, it's never enough.

[Journeyman]

11. You don't read much history, do you?. . .

Mark Twain wrote The Gilded Age, and gave title to an era of rampant corporate corruption and crime, government malfeasance and adventurism, that was in every measure the equal of what we endure today.

[BringEmOn]

13. Screw you if you can't take a joke

[knowbody0]

8. long ago and far away

there was a planet whose God was love. they had too much love and needed to find a new planet to share it with.
there was a planet whose God was gold. they ran out of gold and needed to find a new planet to plunder.
these planets both settled on earth, where the clash still persists. the God of gold needed drones to mine the gold. the God of love needed beings to fill with love. with time the gold drones mated with the loving. soon the gold will be gone but the loving will always love.
my grandmother told this story a gabillion times, and i tell it to all of mine.
peace and love

[HysteryDiagnosis]

12. Money can be used for selfish and selfless reasons. The love of

money is driven by feelings of insecurity and fear. Fear that you don't have enough to be "OK". This mindset is beaten into us by the television and all the psyops that the merchants pay to have put on it.

If materialism didn't dictate that no matter what you have, you need more, or different, or several of, then things surely could be better. I don't see how having a feeling of emptiness that needs to be filled with "things" is "healthy" for the economy. Seems to me, less of that, and more satisfaction with oneself would do just as well if not better.

[hopeisaplace]

15. This is my 1st POST!

don't think you're nuts...cause if you are..so am I...I remember at a business meetings of about 5 years ago or more I stated to someone.."I hate money"...this woman looked at me like I was from another planet..I elaborated of course...but it didn't matter to her..
tried to explain that money is such a pathetic way to measure a person...there are so many greedy people with
"self inflated versions of self-worth" that it truly disgusts me.

When we're dead..are there auditors counting our bank balance..
$2000 balance you line up here
$20 balance you line up there
0 balance..head down those stairs.

[whosinpower]

16. Welcome to DU!

I hear ya!

Somewhere, somehow we have to evolve to fix it. Just not sure how, when or under what circumstances would allow the transformation.

[hopeisaplace]

17. Thanks for the welcome :)

I'm Canadian...
been reading this board since * "won" hahahahahaha *yah right*
the election last year...I was so pissed I needed somewhere to vent..somehow found my way to this board...been lurking since last November...I've learned TOO MUCH. I'm stressed out now. lol.

[whosinpower]

18. Me too

Canuck that is!!!!!! Hehehe - Oh yeah - I was pretty pi$$ed about the election - still am. I was sure Kerry had it in the bag with the early exit polling....sigh.

DU is a great place. Take what you want from it and give what you can. Disregard what does not appeal. That is the best part of any online community. This one, however, has allot of heart......ALLOT. It reminds me that all americans are not like George. So, there is hope for our southern Big Brother yet! :)

[hopeisaplace]

19. Thanks again :)

learned a lot..for sure...have been guided to some terrific articles as well...am a little "addicted" to politics now..find myself blurting out comments and starting political conversations and I NEVER use to be that way..I feel compelled to inform others now..
I know one thing..I'de NEVER vote Conservative here that's for sure!
(Conservatives can't control themselves or their base!..and they're hypocrites most of the time)..Liberal and proud of it...like the policies of the NDP..but wouldn't want to split the vote, so I don't vote for them for that reason..:))