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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7941 Posts |
I wonder what the tax authorities think  Actually, it wasn't so long ago that where I live (central Ohio) was a barter economy. When this was the frontier (1795-1820), you paid in wheat, corn, whiskey or pork more often than cash (which was in very short supply). Not quite sure how and when it evolved to a cash economy. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1502 Posts |
A model for society that I hope is revived on a larger scale. Far too much instant gratification needed nowadays, brought on by none other ... the Internet. Don't the Amish still have a bartering-type community? Quote:
I wonder what the tax authorities think You should do a quick Google search on the Greek Tax System and evasion. It is eye-opening and one of the reasons for the massive IMF bailout years ago. I swing a metal detector and have a knack for finding dirty old coins. Dirt coin restoration projects - https://www.prodetecting.com/restorationsDirt coin restoration blog - https://www.prodetecting.com/blog/ccawDirt coin dig videos - https://www.youtube.com/@prodetecting |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19155 Posts |
The 'instant gratification' condition predates the internet. I recall a middle school teacher grumbling about instant gratification back in the 1960s. Some family members who experienced the Great Depression first-hand had similar observations.
Just imagine what things will be like in 2100...
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Moderator
  United States
188513 Posts |
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That is a place I could visit in a heartbeat. It sure sounds like a great formula for inner peace. Something this world could use more of.  |
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Moderator
United States
188513 Posts |
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I was intrigued by the mention that it was an enclave for former Greek communists...The idea of a town where you would value the production of others, and trade with them fairly, sounds like a truly extraordinary place. The problem with communism is scale—it usually works for smaller communities with adequate resources and a diverse labour pool. But trying to apply this formula to larger populations you get, well, we read the same history books.  Quote:
A model for society that I hope is revived on a larger scale. In my opinion, we will need to be post-scarcity for it to work, with virtually unlimited power and resources available to all. Think Star Trek and the UFP. When that happens, and money becomes meaningless, we will have to adapt/evolve. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
I could be a bitcoin miner and barter bitcoin on the island!!!  Suffering from bust half fever. Want to learn how to attribute early half dollars by die variety? Click Here: http://goccf.com/t/434955Shoot me a PM if you are looking to sell bust halves. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6505 Posts |
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The problem with communism is scale—it usually works for smaller communities with adequate resources and a diverse labour pool. Well, it's worth pointing out that almost all archaic communities bartered between individuals. That's just trade, pre-coinage. It's probably not communism unless you are putting a majority of your output into the communal pot and letting it get distributed as the community sees fit. As a voluntary philosophy, I think it has merits. As you pointed out, at scale it's a bureaucratic disaster that inevitably results in oppression. |
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Moderator
United States
188513 Posts |
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As a voluntary philosophy, I think it has merits. As you pointed out, at scale it's a bureaucratic disaster that inevitably results in oppression.  The key word here is voluntary.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7941 Posts |
Quote:
You should do a quick Google search on the Greek Tax System and evasion. It is eye-opening and one of the reasons for the massive IMF bailout years ago. Yep. I remember it well. But that probem mostly has to do with higer income types. Just like here. Still, I expect barter transactions are legally liable to taxation there, just as they are here. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7941 Posts |
I don't see any whiff of communism in what is described in the article.
I see a capitalist system (individual producers) using barter as a means of exchange when they don't really need to.
Not too hard to connect the dots.
Edited by tdziemia
08/14/2025 8:42 pm
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Moderator
United States
188513 Posts |
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I don't see any whiff of communism in what is described in the article. "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs." Smells like a whiff to me, but I do not want this topic to become a discussion of what is or is not communism (or Marxism or socialism) or communism-adjacent. We are allowed to hold different opinions.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6505 Posts |
The only reason that I even mentioned it is because the article mentioned it.
The idea of a bartering economy that is enthusiastically embraced by locals is really quite interesting.
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Moderator
United States
188513 Posts |
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The only reason that I even mentioned it is because the article mentioned it. Correct. And it was worth mentioning.  Quote:
The idea of a bartering economy that is enthusiastically embraced by locals is really quite interesting. It gives me some hope for if or when it really does hit. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6505 Posts |
Jbuck, I don't believe that anything will ever hit, per se. Humanity's next challenge won't be apocalypse or war, it will be hyper-productivity and over-abundance. The producers of desired goods need fewer and fewer people to make their products via offshoring, automation, and technology. Consumers are already over-saturated with offerings. How will people get what they want when the world doesn't really need their labor anymore?
I think micro-production and barter are one answer to that question.
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Moderator
United States
188513 Posts |
I do not believe it will hit, either. I am not that pessimistic. I just take in every variable and I like seeing hope at the end of the less than ideal scenarios. Nothing is certain, so prepare for every outcome.
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Replies: 21 / Views: 1,788 |
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Posted 08/14/2025 07:34 am
