It surely is a good idea, yet for some reason I think the human will never agree on anything regardless of what system or belief system is created. A Utopia I think some call it seems to be impossible in reality yet possible in our imaginations.

I have a friend who is over 90 that has been preaching a perfect Utopia for over 50 years. Unfortunately only few follow it...well what is few...a few million but not enough to make a world impact. If you get a chance go to google and type in the Venus Project. It surely is a interesting idea and I believe it would be worth a try. Unfortunately I don't think it will ever happen and if so then much has to go wrong before people would even consider this idea.

In a few words you have the answer! Amazing. lol

Well it does bring food for thought. That is for sure. :)

I can't view his website. It's simply beyond the capabilities of my dial-up connection and browser.

But I did look him up on Wiki. Based on what I've read there it sounds like he wants to do away with the concept of money and economy altogether and basically form a type of socialism where resources are shared based on who needs them rather than by who can pay for them.

I have far more practical ideas of how an economy-based society can actually be made to work without having to be over-run by monopolies that are in fierce competition. It's not money that is killing us, it the competition to make the money that is killing us.

Manufactures today are purposefully designing "Throw-way" products that are designed to become obsolete almost overnight. They are also designed to be unfriendly in terms of repair, etc. And automobile manufacturers are no exception to this.

So as long as manufactures are focused on "making money" instead of focusing on what's best for humanity and the environment things are never going to change.

But money itself is not the culprit. It's the way we view manufacturing solely as a means of "making money" that has become our nemesis.

As long as money is involved in society there will never be a moment where greed doesn't come in play. In medieval times churches would determine the decisions of the people and bring in big profits at the same time to bribe or even control kings. Today banks that overtower the churches in cities now stimulate decisions that we follow like sheep in turn of huge corporations that influence our government and partially work for the government also. You may have heard of the term "Plutonomy" in which 1% of the wealthiest outweighs 99% of the peoples entire wealth move our economy to their desires.

It is true that Jacque wants to eliminate the monetary system and find a sort of bartering system for everyone. He doesn't want a monopoly or control of anything. He will not be considered the leader or a president for his idea. He seeks no power either. He actually thinks government is also not a solution either and would get rid of it feeling it is not worth having one. People then ask how will there be order? How will a society work? He mentions that the people will vote on it. In other words he is looking for a Direct Democracy as opposed to a Republic run by represenatives run by the government who in reality do not represent the people as soon as they are elected. Direct Democracy as partial like Switzerland is using is a far better approach that allows us to know exactly what the people want instead of what corporate interests need to ensure their profits remain high regardless if the population suffers or not. . Another great video to watch on why the monetary system will eventually collapse is "Zeitgeist". There you will have a better explanation on why the monetary system cannot sustain us forever.

I must admit that the idea is far fetch to most people when they hear about it, yet if you look into the possiblity of running a society that is truly run by the people without a monetary system but instead of a cooperative agreement to ensure everyone has the most sophisticated technology, best homes available to them, and a equal education throughout the world fighting some of the hardest concerns we might accomplish more in the end.

But don't worry....99% of the people cannot adjust to such a new lifestyle and the ultimate rich would never allow it to happen.

So if you get a chance to download on youtube the following you might find it compelling to watch and read. Of course one would have to have a open mind to it or otherwise one just denies the idea from the get go.

Check out Bilderberg Group
Check out Zeitgeist Videos
Check out the main website of the Venus Project


Now again to remind you this is not Socialism or Communism that most scream out as soon as they see a different concept of their own. It is a new way of seeing how to live amongst each other bringing out the most of our minds to innovative ideas to modernize our world in a cleaner safer environment that could eliminate poverty and crime. I guess it is an experiment that Jacque has been working on for over 60 years. I am sure there are many before him that dreamed of a Utopia and attempted it, but all have fallen short somehow or somewhere, so I don't think the Venus Project will ever find its glory in reality, but it is good to imagine at times.

In the end, competition will remain, power thrives will continue, inequality and modern day slave trade will continue, crime will continue, corporations will influence governments, and debts will remain high for the majority of the population throughout the world. It is fascinating to see that we as a people accept this lifestyle as soon as we enter the world as adults thriving to find ends meet. Of course not all are in this situation but the majority in the world are.

Also you might wonder about the motivation to invent if no reward will be given for it?

The reward is that the people live better because of the invention and one is recognized for it.

In otherwords, when a inventor discovers something he is not looking to patent it for himself and to figure out how to make billions of dollars in it, but instead distribute his idea to everyone so the people can live better for it. This of course is unheard off to most people's minds because of the greed and need for money, but there are few inventors that did such acts. When they are asked why they didn't patent their idea, they simply say that the patent goes to the people. At the moment I can only think of Jonas Salk who didn't patent the polio vaccine. There are more though!

I guess it is a kind of mind set that would have to work universally in order to make such a project work. Alot of communication and ideas would have to add to the Venus Project discussing on how we as a people (world people) not just the United States can improve our environments as a whole.

Anyway it is just food for thought and I am very aware that 99% of the people will look at the Venus Project skeptically for they are closing their minds at the possibilities of how we might have to make a major overhaul altogether to ensure a future in our world. If we do nothing then we will only see more and more hardships in the future. Also if you ever travel to the Venus Project near Okeechobbee lake in Florida you can visit his facility and actually discuss about his ideas and suggest better ones. He is really great to talk to and has alot to say.

I am sure there are many great ideas out there and that is why we have these discussions. Your idea sounds great also but I can already see alot of laws have to be created to ensure for them to work.

actually to make the idea work you'd have to toss out the most perfect document outlining the most perfect government ever to exist on the planet and starting over; the u.s. constitutional concept that 'all men are created equal' suggests that the individual is as great as any group including humanity as a whole. greed was around long before money existed. greed is evident in every species. territorialism, males fighting for females, or some other 'what's in it for me' mindset exists ian all life forms. survival itself is a form of greed. hiv is only trying to survive when it attacks the human body. too bad for the human but hey.

I don't think the Constitution has to be thrown out if the Venus Project would actually exist. Actually the system would imply that all men are created equal since a Direct Democracy would be installed, which means the people actually vote for what they want instead of a represenative for a republic who usually change towards greed doing duties in interest for the large corporations instead of what they suppose to do and represent the peoples interest. That is why they were voted in the first place. You should check out the term "Plutonomy" and see that the only thing that is preventing the rich from having complete control of the world is the "vote" from the people.

I think the thought of not having a monetary system seems to scare the majority of the people in the world and that such a concept is probably unimaginable to happen. I am also sure that certain interest groups would never let something like a Venus Project or anykind of Utopian society happen.

I mean think about it for a second. What would happen if there wasn't a stock exchange suddenly? Would that be the end of the world? Would it destroy prospects for everyone or would we still be able to sustain as a world society?

What if we found a different alternative to accomplish trading successfully then having to use the monetary system? Would it be the end of the world as we know it just because we don't use currencies?

In the end the Venus Project will probably only remain a imaginative idea for Jacque and his few followers, yet one should give credit that he used his imagination in trying to find a solution to our world epidemic growing problems we are enduring now and in the future.

Such things would include as you said

diseases
world population increase
pollution
tyranny and dictatorship possiblities due to greed
greed in general for more power
drinking water shortage
correct government establishments that work for the people
taxes
deficits
economic problems when representing countries

I must also add that Jacque of the Venus Project also wanted to get rid of boundaries and nationalities as a idea. I know it sounds absurd, but are we not just a people with the same needs in many ways. I am aware the majority wouldn't even like the idea to represent as a universal world people and are very proud of their nationalities that we represent across the world. I have yet to see an American that is not proud of his country for example or a French man not proud of his country, but don't we at times get the better ego out of ourselves if we think in this manner?

I am not suggesting that the Venus Project is the ultimate solution, I was just indicating that there are people out there that are contemplating on a bigger scope on how to resolve some of our current problems in the world and perhaps....just perhaps a radical change would improve our conditions.

And maybe not...maybe we need no changes and they occur anyway.

What we do know is it is good that people around the world discuss them and one can see in each country how they go about it. I personally enjoy how Switzerland is running its country. If you google Switzerland's governmental rules on how they run a country you would see it is a interesting aspect of how they do it. If America can do something in this manner? Probably would be difficult since it is such a large country with 50 individual states each with additional laws added to them.

It would also interest me and probably this would belong in the political forum or something. I am not sure for I am a newbie here and yet to see how these forum threads work, but if the US required every citizen to vote like they do in Norway. It is like a law for them to vote over there. I know that only around 80 million vote over here in the states (give or take a few million each year). The point is that if we had all 360 million vote we would probably come closer to what the majority of the people think about the topics we find important. Such topics would include abortion laws, medicare, foreign policies, military spending, civil rights laws, voting procedures, religion, etc. etc.

Anyway I just add more food to thought of course. I am no politician or economic advisor that is for sure, but it surely doesn't prevent me to voice my thoughts and concerns about it. I am always willing to hear anyone out on it though.

ooooooh yes. the constitution would have to go. you yourself said a real democracy would need be installed where people vote for what they want instead of the representative republic that the constitution establishes. to do away with our representative republic would require tossing the constitution and starting over. if the majority vote ruled in this country segregation would still be legal. women would not be able to vote. madison said that our system of government protects the individual and minority from the tyranny of the majority.

Yes you are right. The Constitution would have to go away if a Direct Democracy would be installed. Actually now that I think about it the forefathers probably have thought long and hard at the time about the possibility of a Direct Democracy and done away with it. I don't think a Direct Democracy wouldn't allow women to vote however. It did in Ancient Greece at the time, but a modern Direct Democracy reinstalled to be created equal for everyone...hmmmm maybe possible or not???

I think a Direct Democracy could be created to be equal for everyone 18 or above to vote on topics. Segregation may occur due to the fact that there are more whites living in the US then any other ethic, but one thing I do realize is that whites are divided on many subjects..hence the reason for the two overall political party affiliations Democrats and Republicans. I do think a Direct Democracy will actually give us a better idea on what the people really want in this country as opposed to a represenative that can easily be persuaded to vote for something else if bribed..although they claim they are not.

So yes a perfect governmental system or even without one seems far fetched if we think about it. Like I said the Venus Project is nothing more then a experiment. I do like some of its ideas and the dream of a Utopia but in reality I don't think we will ever achieve such a world....only in a imaginative state. Perhaps what we can hope for is to somehow find common ground on many of the topics ahead of us to promote as much world peace as possible with the ability to have countries experience prosperity as much as possible.

It is probably good that I was nothing more then a soldier and not a politician or a economic advisor. :)