[Golden Legacy]

I’ve always wondered about this… Okay, let’s start in the beginning: what is the value of money? It sounds ludicrous, but just think about it: money is just paper and ink or geometrically designed pieces of metal. How is it that money has gained so much worth?

After this, I want to discuss such things as stocks and such… but I guess the basics for now… so, any ideas, comments?

Oh, and the question I want to keep coming back to: is money truly necessary for the advancement of technology or civilization (the answer, I guess, is yes, but… why and how?)

[Nick Presta]

I was always thinking that if there was NO money, everything would work fine.

You wouldn't need to buy things, your employer wouldn'y need to pay you. Companies would give away their product for free and the things they would need to buy to make their product would be free.

I am fully aware of the cons of this idea, but with moderation and a good dictator for this, it would work.

But of course, no one likes dictators.

[Andross]

Absolute power absolutely corrupts, and that's a bona fide rule folks.

It would also NOT require a dictator. The problem would be convincing people that even though they're working for nothing, they're getting something. Problem is, the people who already have their free stuff will get lazy and won't contribute to society.

Basically, a utopia like that would require lots of altering of ideas.

As for money, paper money is technically worth nothing, because it is only a representation of the gold you own in the bank. It's all proportional stuff and crap, that's way too confusing and that I haven't learned enough about.

So what you should really be asking is gold, silver, and bronze really worth anything?

[Primal]

Money is the root of all evil. But if we didn't have it this world would go to the dogs. If we didn't have money there would be chaos everywhere. Money helps hold everything together.

[Mallick]

Really it has no value we just believe it does and I didn't read all the posts so sorry If I'm copying someone (I believe it is ONLY my theory but)

[Primal]

Physically it has none, but it is needed to organise things, otherwise people could say some cars are worth nothing and so on, if you know what I mean. Money is needed though, if not, we would all be stuffed.

[Mallick]

true <_<

[Primal]

I suggest you edit that Piers, It kinda looks like spam (just a suggestion). And yeah, it is true. I wish I could think of an example. Is communism one?

[Golden Legacy]

Well, Communism in theory should work quite well. But as Nick pointed out, giving a person that much control and power (essentially a dictator) would prove quite, err... dangerous, yes.

Okay, do you think (general question) that money is needed for Technological advancements? I personally don't think so... but that's just me.

[Andross]

Communism also has the flaw of lack of motivation. If you're working a tough job but are getting only the same thing as anyone else, then what's the point? If you can't do better when you know your work is harder than others, then the population merely becomes depressed because they feel as if there's no point in working hard for no true reward.

The human psyche is selfish by nature, so it would take generations to alter it to think about the common good of the people instead.

[Primal]

Yes, in theory communism works, everyone getting equal and exactly the same, bu in realiy in does not work (russia, china?)

[Golden Legacy]

Just to repeat/modify my first post...

I've always felt that in a "real life" situation, money doesn't have any value. To physically survive, would you rather have a few thousand dollars with you, or would you rather have actual food and water to live on?

[Aquamarine]

I put no value into money, finding that it is quite unimportant, but to physically survive I would rather have money than food and water, since I wouldn't spend any of the money on something I don't need, but most of it on food and drink anyway, AND I could use it to get other important things, such as clothing and transportation. There ya go!