The Meaning Of A Global
Resource Based Economy
If we apply the same level of scientific mobilization toward social betterment as we do during a war or disaster, large-scale results will be achieved in a relatively short time. More time and effort must go into the collection of experimental evidence to support innovative social arrangements.
Our practice of rationing resources through monetary methods is irrelevant and counterproductive to the well-being of people and our survival itself. Modern society now has highly advanced technologies and can easily provide more than enough for a higher standard of living for all. We could efficiently harness the abundance of resources on Earth by implementing a Global Resource Based Economy.
Simply stated, a Global Resource Based Economy utilizes existing resources, rather than money, to provide an equitable distribution of goods and services in a humane and efficient manner for the entire population. It is a system in which all required resources are available without the use of money, credit, barter, or any other form of debt or servitude.
It is not money that people need, but rather access to the necessities of life without having to appeal to a government bureaucracy or any other agency. In a Global Resource Based Economy, money is irrelevant. What is required are the resources, manufacturing and distribution of products.
In a Global Resource Based Economy, the world's resources are viewed as the common heritage of all people, eventually outgrowing the need for artificial boundaries that separate people. This is the unifying imperative. While it may seem to some that this is not attainable, if we think back to the times when a caveman had to protect his family from other families, then they unified and formed villages to protect themselves from other villages. Villages joined to become towns, towns joined to become city states, city states joined to form countries. We now propose that countries become one planet, a planet that works towards a better life for all while taking care of our globally shared environment.
Computerized System
The use of redundant large-scale computer systems will not be for control, but to assist in defining the parameters of the Global Resource Based Economy. All construction projects will conform to rigorous environmental requirements that are determined through scientific studies. Over-exploitation will be unnecessary when the need for profit is surpassed. In such an economy, production is accomplished entirely by automated machines, with the resulting products and services available to all.
A Global Resource Based Economy utilizes the latest technology and fully-renewable sources of energy to overcome scarce resources. A city within that system automates manufacturing, inventory, and recycling, and provides total health care along with a more relevant education for the needs of the future, all while furthering the design of future-safe and highly energy-efficient cities. It will also generate a new incentive system based on human and environmental concern. Intelligently applied, technology conserves energy, reduces waste, and provides more leisure time. With automated inventory on a global scale, we can effortlessly balance mining, refining, production, distribution, and recycling.
Human Betterment
The concepts of jobs and earning a living become irrelevant. The focus is on each person experiencing a full life by pursuing the things they find fulfilling while considering the wellbeing of the Earth and everyone on it. A resource-based society considers us all vital to the system’s continuous success and improvement. We are responsible both for our collective stewardship of the planet and for our relationships with each other. In a Global Resource Based Economy, the human condition is of prime concern, with technology in a subordinate role.
One of our vital shortages today is a lack of creative thought and intelligence, in ourselves and our elected leaders, to solve these problems. The most valuable currently-untapped resource is the potential of human ingenuity. With the elimination of debt while providing access to all of the necessities of life, fear of losing one's job will no longer be a threat. This, combined with practical education on how to relate to people in a considerably more meaningful way, could reduce much mental and physical stress, leaving each of us unimpeded to explore and develop our abilities.
When Money Becomes Irrelevant
If the thought of eliminating money troubles you in some way, consider this: If a group of people with gold, diamonds, and money found themselves stranded on an island that had no resources, their wealth would be irrelevant to their survival. It is only when resources are scarce that money can be used to control their distribution. One could not, for example, sell the air we breathe or the water abundantly flowing down a mountain stream. Although air and water are valuable, in abundance they cannot be sold.
Money is only relevant to society when resources for survival are rationed and people accept money as an exchange medium for the scarce resources. Money is a social convention; an agreement if you will. It is neither a natural resource, nor does it represent one. It is not necessary for survival unless we have been conditioned to accept it as such. In an economy based on resources rather than money, we can produce all of the necessities of life.
Corruption
Corruption is someone getting something they consider valuable out of what is considered an illegitimate act. Without vested interests or the use of money in a Global Resource Based Economy, there is little to be gained by squelching opinion, falsifying information or taking advantage of someone else. There are no underlying, rigid social barriers to limit the participation of someone, or to restrain the introduction of new ideas. The objective is full access to information, goods and services for all - a state of affairs that will enable people to participate in the exciting challenges of this new society.
In contrast to today's national security mania for intruding on everyone's privacy, no one need take from another in a Global Resource Based Economy. It will be socially offensive and counterproductive for machines to monitor the activities of human beings, but more to the point, there will be no reason for it.
Distribution
Distribution of goods and services without the use of money or tokens would be accomplished through the establishment of distribution centers. One can liken this to the public library of today.
An automated inventory system can be connected to the distribution centers and manufacturing facilities, thus coordinating production with demand and providing a constant evaluation of preferences and consumption. In this way, a balanced-load economy can be maintained. Shortages, over-runs and waste could be eliminated.
Conclusion
A principal aim of this new social arrangement is to establish an environment that will encourage the widest range of individuality, creativity, constructive endeavor, and cooperation, without any elitism, technical or otherwise. Significantly, a Global Resource Based Economy would generate a far different incentive system; one based on human and environmental concern. This would not be a uniform culture, but rather one in a constant process of growth and improvement. It also anticipates the stabilizing of the world's population through education, until the population coincides with Earth's carrying capacity. When population exceeds the capacity of its environment, many problems such as greed, crime and violence emerge.
As we enhance the lives of others, protect our environment and achieve abundance, our lives will become much richer and more secure. If these values are put into practice, within a short period of time everyone could achieve a much higher standard of living than the richest people of today; and one that unlike today, would continuously improve.
This proposal is not Utopian nor Orwellian, nor does it reflect the dreams of impractical idealists. Instead, it offers fully attainable goals requiring only the intelligent application of what we already know. The only limitations are those which we impose upon ourselves.
Excerpts are from the book The Best That Money Can’t Buy by Jacque Fresco, who conceived the Global Resource Based Economy.