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Kevin Raney

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Can we create a sustainability model based on compassion and a willingness to help first before we talk about money?

Can we create an economy based on compassionate individuals socializing with other individuals motivated by the desire to better our species rather than generating profit? I understand food, clothing, and shelter are necessary but then after that, how can we capitalize on an inherent desire to socialize and help others and create an economy and social network that demonstrates the best about human beings?

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    Kevin Raney

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    Nov 28 2011: David, competition is key and is one of the foundations upon which our economy is built. So, do you believe more in the survival of the fittest through competition decides the success of any economy? How do you see the economy evolving in the next 100 years? Psychologists B.F. Skinner believed you could create a society that uses credits instead of money. The credits could be earned a variety of ways. Perhaps I am naive but could the credits be earned through good deeds instead of who is the fastest and the strongest?
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      David Hamilton 50+

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      Nov 28 2011: I think it's easy for a psychologist to say things like that because he deals with self report, rather than observable phenomenon. I don't actually think survival of the fittest through competition decides the success of any economy, I actually think a strong working labor force that's paid well enough to buy the products it produces does that. I'm a Henry Ford capitalist if anything...

      I was simply suggesting that at any time throughout history, if you asked people this same question... They would all say "Yeah, sign me up. Let's start from a compassionate place, let's really care about people"... but the history of those same people who would have responded that way, is a history of wars fought over ideals, resources, women, governmental strategies, and religion. Those same people that would say "Yeah, sign me up for compassion", would also just as quickly say "Yeah, sign me up for the army" if they were impoverished.

      I think something you forget too, is that suffering is necessary, in order to define a "good deed". In a world where we no longer compete over resources and people have "enough", you could theoretically start focusing on compassion, but at that point... What's the compassionate thing to do? Live for yourself, everyone else has "enough".

      To get there, we need whips cracking, and we need carrots on the end of a stick... in my humble opinion. Someone has to farm the nerds food while they design robots to pick food... No one's going to volunteer to pick food... So supply and demand starts to come into play, "How much do we have to pay you to keep feeding this 80 pound nerd that will make you obselete in a few years?"... He's damn sure not going to feed himself.
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        Kevin Raney

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        Nov 29 2011: David, what then are the "carrots on the end of a stick"? What is the incentive for people to pick food?

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