So, as discussed yesterday, I watched the documentary Zeitgeist which discusses a modern day utopian plan called The Venus Project. The idea goes a little like this:
The earth could, with current technological advances, be run entirely on free energy if we properly harnessed solar, wind and wave power.
If we then focused efforts on creating long-lasting fully automated machinery, it's plausible that, once this machinery is created, the produce of said machines would be free- providing it used sustainable natural materials.
This would basically mean that us humans get to muck about all day, get a bit bored of playing Call of Duty 37 on multiplayer and, with any luck, decide to contribute something worthwhile.
For example, even today one man can run acres of farmland single handedly. Suppose that man were to work for free- and the energy to power his farm was free -then the farm would be producing entirely free produce, no?
If our wax jacket wearing friend was happy to feed himself and others from the land, and clothe himself courtesy of the guy down the road who runs a fully automated clothing factory, then Bob's your uncle- a world without the need for money.
Would greed not get in the way you ask? No, according to those zany Venus buffs. An education system teaching nippers the value of technology and sharing would eventually lead to a self sufficient world with no fossil fuels or harmful effects to the planet.
The current system of chasing profit, they argue, necessitates inefficient goods and greed in order for people continue spending and consuming. Added to that, the pyramid scheme that is the financial system is fast reaching it's theoretical limits and will implode entirely in the next ten years. Apparently.
Venus go on to argue that, in a world with no money, crime is greatly reduced, so there's no need for government and laws (which is why it's "definitely not Communism" :-) no ruling elite). They would also do away with religion, which, they claim, does nothing but divide people and cause wars.
After first hearing these anarchic ramblings I was naturally shocked. I spat out my Cuban cigar, spraying ash all over my Louis Vuitton suit. My gut reaction was ridicule, I wanted to destroy the ideas- perhaps using a controlled demolition and some planes (wink, wink)- the notion was absurd, surely?
Then, I chilled out, donned some sandals, a hemp shirt and literally nothing else (deal with it squares). I eventually realised my previous thinking was sooo early 21st Century.
Peace, maybe.
