Re: The Economy Of Plenty (Was: Free-Markets)

Eliezer S. Yudkowsky (sentience@pobox.com)
Fri, 12 Sep 1997 00:26:35 -0500

Anton Sherwood wrote:
>
> Eliezer replies:
> : ... I suppose I could tear down the
> : entire sociopolitical structure of the world if I really had to, but it
> : just seems easier to redesign the economy along more efficient lines -
> : design an economy that is to capitalism what capitalism is to communism.
>
> You reckon that abolishing money is easier than abolishing trade barriers?

Absolutely. Trade barriers are powered by xenophobia, fear, misunderstanding,
and have powerful lobbyists who receive the focused benefits. Abolishing
trade barriers, on a global basis, in a frontal attack, would require
political forces of apocalyptic improbability.

Everybody takes money for granted, but nobody has any real emotional
investment in money as opposed to barter. Social inertia isn't exactly easy,
but it can still be overcome, especially when the old way is obsoleted rather
than attacked. Find and promote a few political/memetic riders on complex
barter, make sure it has an understandable interface, and barter would be more
than politically feasible.

-- 
         sentience@pobox.com      Eliezer S. Yudkowsky
          http://tezcat.com/~eliezer/singularity.html
           http://tezcat.com/~eliezer/algernon.html
Disclaimer:  Unless otherwise specified, I'm not telling you
everything I think I know.