Freeconomy Blog
Wed
02 Feb
Moneyless Human #3 - Tomi Astikainen
| 44 comments |
This week it's the third in a series where I speak to moneyless people around the world about their experiences of living without money, and why they do so. We're off to Finland this time to meet 30 year old Tomi Astikainen, who has taken moneyless living to the open road over the last couple of years. In doing so, he offers a completely different perspective on moneyless living than me, and perhaps a more exciting one from the perspective of many of you.
Every week I start the blog with this disclaimer (just so you don't confuse me with Tomi!): I don't necessarily agree with all or any of what any of the moneyless people I talk to have to say about why they do it. In Tomi's piece below there are a few points I would disagree with him on, yet at the same time so much I would agree with. It is the latter I like to focus one, as whilst it is important to examine the beliefs each one of us hold, I think we would all be much happier in life if we focused on what was positive and constructive in us all, instead of bitching and moaning about each other for small weaknesses and issues we all possess to some degree.
Tomi starts releasing his next book, The Sunhitcher, on 14 February 2011. This semi-fictional book is inspired by his moneyless travels. You can view it on his website and you can now subscribe to receive the chapters in your email, for free. Readers' comments would be more than welcome. I've had a sneaky peak of it already and I had to tear myself away from it and get back to writing this blog.
If you have any comments or thoughts, address them to Tomi below (ideally using @ Tomi), unless they are intended for me, and then he can respond to you directly.
Why I live without money by Tomi Astikainen
You have probably heard the Hillel quote "If not you, then who? If not now, then when?" from Mark or somewhere else. That was exactly the thought in my mind when I woke up in the middle of the night on a beach in Agadir, Morocco, urgently needing to pee. Wait. Let's rewind.
My name is Tomi Astikainen. I was born to a geographical area on the World map that is dubbed Finland. Already as a child I was asking crazy questions like "Why couldn't I just waltz into a grocery store, get what I need and walk out?" But adults could not answer questions like that.
The loathing against money continued during my university studies, although a Master's degree in Economics and Business Administration didn't provide me with the needed understanding on the question 'what exactly is wrong with the monetary system?'. That I found out only after graduation, but on a personal level I had started downshifting already: I gave away my car in 2004, most of my stuff during the following years and finally my flat in June 2009. When I finally understood how simple and flawed the fractional reserve banking system is, I faced a moral dilemma: as every penny in my wallet is someone else's debt, and I would like to treat my brothers and sisters as I would like to be treated myself, how can I justify using money? I couldn't and gradually I stopped using money altogether.
So, how did I end up all the way to African continent from that remote Northern corner of Europe? And more importantly, why did I have to pee so urgently? The decision to let go of money allowed, maybe surprisingly, complete freedom to fulfill my dreams. I always wanted to be a writer, I loved cooking, and the World Atlas had always fascinated me. So, I wrote my first proper book, Mind your Elephant (you can download if free), and served as a part-time chef for my friend during the winter. Then, last summer, I started hitchhiking around Europe and beyond. So far I have done some 30,000 km during the past half a year and I have collected evidence of both people's good will and their constant struggle in the pressures posed by the monetary system. No one really seems to genuinely like their job. Some actually despise what they do. Yet they are the few lucky ones who have a "steady" job (before the next cycle of downsizing begins). In other words, they can actually afford to eat and live somewhere else than on the street.
But that, of course, was no secret. What has surprised me much more is how easy it is to get by without using money. In fact, sometimes I am treated like a king, like that night in Agadir. I had just been served a three-course meal, with a few glasses of wine, coffee and cognac. All I needed to do was to ask. Let's face it: there is no shortage of food. We produce twice as much food as is consumed. The rest is simply thrown away.
The same goes for habitat: homelessness is a pressing problem, also in the so-called developed world, yet we have millions of square meters of empty space lying dormant in each bigger city. In fact, you can pretty much apply the same logic to any insane practice of our society. Take trucks as an example. Although we already have, for instance, a vacuum-tube technology that would allow us to transport goods at high speed anywhere in the world, instead we are using the dated rubber-wheel-technology that causes traffic jams, pollution, and way too much bureaucracy. Why? Because so many people's livelihoods depend on that. We can't afford doing the right thing.
I am not saying this is a one-size-fits-all solution. No; everyone has to make their own decisions in life. Individual paths can differ notably. Yet there are a few learning points here to share:
1. Getting rid of stuff, sharing and giving it away, allows for space for mental growth.
2. Resigning from the monetary system doesn't mean that you have to move into the woods and isolate yourself from the rest of the society. We are social beings. Don't deny it.
3. If you decide to be 100% money-free you start seeing
things as they are, and you don't have to worry of having not enough money.
4. On personal level the societal change is fairly simple: let others know what you need and contribute what you can, by doing what you love to do. And for the pundits raising the "free-rider problem" now, let it be said that e.g. in food production we are all free-riders: it's the machines doing the job for us (that was not the case a century ago).
Anyways, people keep asking me how long will I continue this way. I am no fortune teller so I don't have a definite answer for that. As for hitchhiking, I will probably carry on doing it the rest of my life - although maybe a little bit less fervently - just because you get to meet so amazing people on the road. Hitching is actually a great metaphor for life: it's more about the journey than the destination (This will be one of the major themes in my upcoming semi-fictional travel book). Also, I don't see myself getting a paid job any time soon. Granted, sometimes it would be so much easier to handle things the same way with 99.99 per cent of people (the 0.01% include e.g. Buddhist monks; and by the way, no one ever asks why they don't use money). Still, I rather contribute to ongoing alternative currency projects to get people to use decentralized ones and zeroes while we work towards a money-free World.
And mind you, I have had to struggle within the constraints of our current system. If money, as we know it, ceases to exist, it is going to be a very different kind of society - hopefully that of collaboration and giving, that of mental, physical, spiritual and societal development; not just mere survival.
(Kiitos Tomi, and Onnea! for the rest of your moneyless journey, wherever it takes you, both internally and geographically. Mark)
In the next edition, we'll hear from The Moneyless Human #4, Sonja Kruse, a 35 year old South African woman who has been doing a very different experiment - the UBUNTU experiment - in moneyless living over the last year. I hope you find something useful from all these moneyless people's perspectives and experiences, and I've no doubt you'll find Sonja's experiment equally fascinating.
Great to be sharing this incredible experience called Life with you all.
THE FREECONOMY BLOG is written by Mark Boyle, who has been living for over two years without money, and is the founder of the Freeconomy Community. He is the author of The Moneyless Man
Comment on this Post:
David Pritchard comments ...
When he mentions 'vacuum tube technology' is he referring to aeroplanes, or am i missing something?
Tomi Astikainen comments ...
Hi David,
I referred to various proposed vacuum-tube technologies for transporting people and goods. It's already used in logistics on small scale (such as pharmacies) and the idea is by no means new (dates back to 1910). Check these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evacuated_Tube_Transport
http://et3.com/
http://www.zeitnews.org/transportation/around-the-world-in-0083-days-acabions-vision-for-future-transport.html
http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2004-04/trans-atlantic-maglev
Cheers,
Tomi
Paxton comments ...
@Tomi: A late thank you for having published "Elephant". It helped me a lot with letting go of fear and investing the energy bound by it into the creation of a better world. I am looking forward to your new book. Have a life of fulfillment on the raod.
@Mark: Thanks the same, for giving strength by presenting examples and being one yourself. Don't forget to speak of the ongoing efforts with building a community. I find this very inspiring. If I hadn't decided for another place already, I would have offered my help to you. I mean it.
vanyben comments ...
One more inspiring moneyless human! It's so good to know these great people! I had never heard about Tomi before today, I've downloaded 'Mind your elephant' and I'm gonna start reading it tonight. Thank you Mark for introducing him to the ones who didn't know him, and thank you Tomi for being the way you are and sharing your choices.
curbina comments ...
I keep coming to this site and finding more and more compeling evidence that the dawn of a new era is beginning. Thanks @Mark, @Daniel, @Heidemarie and @Tomi.
Mark Boyle comments ...
@ Paxton, vanyben, curbina - thank you for taking the time to read, and for questioning all that you see around you.
YRD comments ...
@ Tomi
I like your free spirit, I've been wondering to do the same thing. Justfortheloveofit!
But what would you do when you got sick/ill? You don't have an home? So getting work again, will be a pain in the ...
@ Mark
Looking at the similarities is indeed better than fighting about differences we have.
How is the community doing?
Tomi Astikainen comments ...
I've tried to answer these commonly repeating questions here:
http://www.tomiastikainen.com/contact/faq/
Hope it helps! If not, please contact again! Glad to be of service.
Bob comments ...
"4. On personal level the societal change is fairly simple: let others know what you need and contribute what you can, by doing what you love to do. And for the pundits raising the "free-rider problem" now, let it be said that e.g. in food production we are all free-riders: it's the machines doing the job for us (that was not the case a century ago)."
@ Tomi.
Thanks for sharing about your lifestyle. Yes I think it is possible to live without money. But just living without money is only the first step in making a moneyless society work. I'm glad you raised the "free-rider problem" because it is a difficult problem. I find it difficult because I would LIKE to think that just taking money out of the world would fix all the problems, BUT I know that it will not. Even in a eutopian society we still have to figure out how to LIVE together and how we will get things done.
I think the reality is that even if we had total control of the earth and tried to create the ultimate egalitarian society, the reality is that some people will do more and work harder and others will not.
Maybe it is something we should not worry about? Or maybe we should just accept that everyone is different and stop comparing what we are doing with what other people are doing? Or do we need to have some kind of measure of how each person is contributing to society? I don't really have any clear answers, but as I think about it more and more I can see that there may be a case for some kind of minimum standards, otherwise you will almost certainly have people who will try to exploit the system.
It sounds terrible, but I am pretty sure that it is going to be MORE difficult to unite people in a complex society without greed than it is to unite people in the current greed driven economic system. Personally I think it is essential to have some kind of external cause, other than survival, to focus the group. When we are all committed to a higher goal we will be less likely to bicker over our selfish little goals and desires.
The other thing to consider is that what do we do about people who WANT to be greedy and wastefull? I'm assuming that moneyless living is voluntary, so what about the people who WANT to use money? How do we relate to them?
Anyway, just a few thoughts. I will be very curious to see how Mark's moneyless village overcomes some of these issues.
Bob comments ...
"4. On personal level the societal change is fairly simple: let others know what you need and contribute what you can, by doing what you love to do. And for the pundits raising the "free-rider problem" now, let it be said that e.g. in food production we are all free-riders: it's the machines doing the job for us (that was not the case a century ago)."
@ Tomi.
Thanks for sharing about your lifestyle. Yes I think it is possible to live without money. But just living without money is only the first step in making a moneyless society work. I'm glad you raised the "free-rider problem" because it is a difficult problem. I find it difficult because I would LIKE to think that just taking money out of the world would fix all the problems, BUT I know that it will not. Even in a eutopian society we still have to figure out how to LIVE together and how we will get things done.
I think the reality is that even if we had total control of the earth and tried to create the ultimate egalitarian society, the reality is that some people will do more and work harder and others will not.
Maybe it is something we should not worry about? Or maybe we should just accept that everyone is different and stop comparing what we are doing with what other people are doing? Or do we need to have some kind of measure of how each person is contributing to society? I don't really have any clear answers, but as I think about it more and more I can see that there may be a case for some kind of minimum standards, otherwise you will almost certainly have people who will try to exploit the system.
It sounds terrible, but I am pretty sure that it is going to be MORE difficult to unite people in a complex society without greed than it is to unite people in the current greed driven economic system. Personally I think it is essential to have some kind of external cause, other than survival, to focus the group. When we are all committed to a higher goal we will be less likely to bicker over our selfish little goals and desires.
The other thing to consider is that what do we do about people who WANT to be greedy and wastefull? I'm assuming that moneyless living is voluntary, so what about the people who WANT to use money? How do we relate to them?
Anyway, just a few thoughts. I will be very curious to see how Mark's moneyless village overcomes some of these issues.
It takes a lot of communication and give and take to make things work on a large scale. If you don't believe me, just think about keeping your family together and happy!
chrissy comments ...
@ Bob, it is not just the money, but the ego we need to lose from society, it is the ego that measures and the level of "deserving" and entitlements for the exchange of "work." I also believe we should not work in the traditional way, work is actually slavery, slaves have no choice about working, end of.
@ Tomi, thanks, but sometimes that shack in the middle of a wood is a very nice thought! LOL
"...every penny in my wallet is someone else's debt" never thought about it like that before, not a very comfortable feeling. We are in the process of doing what now seems to be a trendy thing, "downsizing," in some ways it is quite scarey, but in others it is creating a new freedom. Thanks Tomi, your words are encouraging, may you always be blessed, the wind behind you, and the sun shining on yor face.
chrissy comments ...
PS I do enjoy my work, I just would like to choose when and how much I could do, there seems to be no respect, or acceptance, of the ability of people who cannot, for whatever reason, work full time. Again, I compare this with slavery, as we have little choice in this society except to work to feed and clothe ourselves.
Frederick Dsouza comments ...
I think People who work just for the love of it can produce result much better than who just work for money or barter. Freeconomist is capable of doing two person job. Most jobs are done by machine . If one third of people in the world work just for the love of it , the rest two third can just sit at home and get their needs. However no person can be healthy enough by not moving their body. Eventually the two third people will probably get jealous of genuine freeconomist who are one third and accept the freeconomy concept. If all just concentrate on their needs and not on their greed's , including not getting greedy of having too many kids IE not more then two, and hope third is an accident, i think freeconomy concept will work, specially with the best education in all fields which is usually the root cause of all goodness.
jason palmer comments ...
You can use capitalism against itself.
co-ops seem a good idea
the idler academy is a good idea
kyle comments ...
@ Frederick Dsouza. I agree with what you said here:
"I think People who work just for the love of it can produce result much better than who just work for money or barter."
I read an article recently which really spoke to me. I've pasted the short bit in question below.
WORK VS. PLAY
The struggle for more money does not only hurt the losers - the poor. It also hurts the winners, by making their work life a miserable existence... a rat race!
Musicians, actors, athletes, and kids play. Others work. But what is the difference? The general rule is that "players" do not receive wages for what they freely choose to do, and "workers" do. And with increased leisure, people are learning to make "play" out of many activities.
Prisoners study law; grandmothers take up flying; uni students enter campus politics; businessmen start hobby farms. And they do this with no promise of pay for their efforts. Are they working or are they playing?
They are "plorking" (pronounced plurking). Plorking is a combination of playing and working. It means being creative, productive, or useful without being concerned about receiving money for it.
Some people enjoy their jobs and would not trade them for anything. These lucky plorkers (who just happen to be paid for it) are more reliable, more dedicated, and more contented than their workmates.
If everyone did the things they wanted to do, everyone would be more productive, and society would be richer for it.
But the money myth has convinced people that they must spend their lives making money rather than being happy and productive.
People who cannot find a way to make money (or who aren't interested in making money) are made to feel they are useless. Worse than that, they are told that they have sinned against the world that feeds them until they begin to make money again. No thought at all is given to how creative, useful, or productive the non-wage earners may be.
If players are the best workers, then more effort should be made to encourage people to play, instead of condemning the few who do.
YRD comments ...
@ Kyle
Wow man, that is Exactly, how I feel. The greedy moneymakers have the power, over a baker how loves to makes sandwiches.. and loves to try out new things.
He is condemned because he is not working efficiently. Meandwhile the prices of bread is dropping, because of the Moneymakers productivity.
It's sad for the baker, who loves to make the sandwiches for a very reasonable price.
That's the same with all the big companies (Tesco, wallmart etc.) Their prices are more important than the small company who gives their employers a good pay.
@Tomi
Sorry didn't notice the FAQ. Thanks ;)
Scott comments ...
OK, I'm a 50's kid so when I read "vacuum tubes" I envisioned those glowing tubes that used to be in the back of radios and TV's. Then my next thought was "OK...and he probably tinfoils himself every night." But you made me look it up and that does sound like a good solution. Thanks for the education.
Tomi Astikainen comments ...
Thanks people for keeping the discussion flowing, and answering each other's questions. That makes it much easier for me. :)
Bob, I think you already answered your own question saying "The reality is that some people will do more and work harder and others will not.
Maybe it is something we should not worry about?"
Exactly. As said by Chrissy, it's the ego we need to surpass. It's pointless to compare how many hours people contribute. Sometimes lazing around and taking life as play makes you suddenly come up with superb ideas that might revolutionize the system or a part of it, and makes everyone's lives easier. Can you then say that this lazy bastard only put a couple of hours of work in common good? Would you say that Archimedes in his bathtub or Buddha under his tree were free-riders because they didn't participate in physical work?
As for the voluntary nature of a moneyless world, you are right. Some people might still want to use some sort of currency in the transition to a completely moneyless society. Timebanks, local exchange trading schemes and mutual credit systems are technologies that allow people to issue their own currency and rid themselves of the central banks' control. These currencies are largely harmless because they are issued by the people for the people and used in communities without expectations for servitude, debt and interest.
There are few beautiful thoughts that keep me going. I believe that as the future unfolds we will:
- educate ourselves in areas that are of our interest and contribute to common good
- start measuring the common achievements rather than individual working hours
- outgrow the need for using any currency, and
- concentrate on development rather than survival
I hope you join me 14 Feb onwards when we start releasing The Sunhitcher online. Please, also spread the word for your friends and relatives - especially the more critical, traditionally-minded people who tend to "defend the myth of money" as Kyle put it.
It's high time we engage in this debate in large numbers and rise up as one people because the new rational, balanced system that we envision benefits everyone and eradicates the obsolete class structure. There will be no rich or poor - just "us". Even if it hurts today, tomorrow we will laugh at our own past stupidity.
chrissy comments ...
thanks Tomi, so well put, will certainly keep letting people know about the information. I have found that it is better not to waste energy on those not willing to receive, but to encourage those awake to new, or maybe not new but old ways of living.
ed whymandesign.com comments ...
Another great post:) Love your work and would like to help:)! eg any person/org can run as a Charity and BENEFIT from this http://www.TRAIDmark.org explains how/why:)
Also can we help auto embed video and Inspire everyone with http://www.WEBiversity.org Comment at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=352077702670&ref=ts & Tweet your reply to @whymandesign please
Bob comments ...
@ Tomi and Chrissy.
Thanks Tomi and Chrissy for addressing my questions. I agree that sometimes the best ideas do come to you when you are lazing around. And yes some of those ideas may have the potential to completely revolutionise the way we do things and so could be a huge contribution to society.
Yes, it's true that ego is a big part of the problem, but I would say that love is the real issue. If our goal is to create a loving and egalitarian society we would still need to decide who was going to do the hard or unpleasent tasks.
I'm not sure I really understand what you are saying. Are you saying that as a society we should say "we need to overcome our egos, so we won't compare how much we are doing with how much our neighbour is doing"? Or did I gte that wrong?
Personally I think that expecting that people will just naturally do the right thing is burying our heads in the sand. People almost always compare themselves to others. It's human nature, and I don't think it is going to change just because of wishful thinking. I think the same is true with regard to laziness. Not everyone is an Achimedes or a Budha.
Anyway, I guess what I am saying is that I believe we would need some form of measurement and accountability, even in a Utopian society, unless someone like Jesus came back and somehow transformed everyone's minds or something! But I don't know how you would create such a system, without it being open to some kind of abuse! It's a bit depressing really, but there is some truth in what Chrissy and Tomi were saying about overcoming our egos. In the end, what we need to change is ourselves and then whatever system we choose will probably work ok.
Fredrick Dsouza suggested that if 1/3 of the world started practicing Freeconomy principles and were having a great time doing it then eventually the other 2/3s would start to envy us and come over. I don't think it will work for every one, but it sounds like a great place to start. If we just get busy trying to work together without worrying about money, maybe the rest of the World will follow?
I liked what Kyle said about playing. And I think that it is very true that having the right motivation will make you work twice as hard as someone who is just working for the dollar!
I was just commenting to someone the other day that when you work for "love" then everything you do has meaning, but when you work for money it is like it sucks the meaning out of everything you do. For example, if you were being paid to clean toilets you would probably hate it, but if you chose to clean toilets to help people, then every toilet you clean becomes an exciting new adventure!
kyle comments ...
I've enjoyed reading the latest comments. I wonder whether overcoming our ego is an act of the will which takes love - a choice to sacrifice ourselves, for what we know and believe to be right? I agree with Bob that love and accountability/measurement are not mutually exclusive as well.
Someone mentioned that they believe that capitalism can be used against itself, but I think this may be wishful thinking. If a belief system is beneficial people then fine. But if a belief system, such as capitalism, is proven to be unworkable, even if there are various principles it upholds that can be usefully applied, overall it is like fighting fire with fire to say that the demise holds the key to an uprising. A solution often takes the best bits of various approaches (and perhaps this is what the person who mentioned that capitalism can be used against itself was hinting at). However, I reckon something more revolutionary is needed in terms of approaches if there is going to be any chance of the human population pulling itself out of its rapid decline. I'm not sure there is time for a piecemeal solution, although I don't profess to know what it will take to get things back on track, other than individuals choosing on a mass scale, to start following their consciences rather than their bellies.
chrissy comments ...
It is not easy to explain the ego in a few words, I do understand what you are saying Bob and your concerns are well founded while we live in the system we do.
Eckhart Tolle, "A New Earth," would answer your questions regarding the ego. Our civilisation has forgotten how to live in a way that does not value only visible returns for contribution. We have not always been this way and I do trust and believe that there are great changes coming where we can move onto the next stage.
However, for now we have what we do, and yes I agree doing what you can with love is a great way to do things. But I would also suggest that measuring, if we must measure, with love is also as important. How do we measure the value of a smile, or comforting words, or even the picture I saw today that made me laugh?
Beware of the "pain body," this is the part of the ego that compares and can be similar to martydom. (I am angry because all these people have done wrong to me, therefore I can continue behaving in this negative way.)
Kyle, I think this site is evidence of how many people are already moving into the new way of thinking and being, you are part of it. We need to know there are people who feel the same way and to keep up the momentum.
Bob comments ...
@Chrissy
Thanks for you reply. Yes I cannot agree more. Love Should be the measure of all things. Like you pointed out there are so many things that have great value, but not in a monetary sense, like a smile, as you say. That is what makes capitalism such an unfair system (imo), because it cannot value things that are outside of it's narrow scope. Someone said on the Capitalism thred on the justfortheloveofit forum, that capitalism fails because it assumes that people are 2 dimension beings that just by and sell and have no other needs or concerns. That of course is totally false, because people are very complex and have many intangeble qualities. Their concerns are equally complex and far reaching. The envioronment being the classic example. If you measure the environment in dollars and cents then you are destined to destroy it, but if you measure the environment with love and wisdom you will see that it is infinitely more valuable as a whole complex interconnected system, rather than just the bits and pieces that you can rip out and sell. Love also says that the earth is not something that belongs to anyone, but to everyone (including future generations).
What is really sad is that people actually try to make themselves two dimensional in order to fit into the mold that Capitaism dictated to them, until they too only measure people in terms of their earning power or their credit history! Anyway, nuff about that.
Thanx for the warning about the "pain body", I will look out for that, But I'm still pretty unclear about how we are going to run a complex society without some form of organisation or structure. I suppose we could have Hamlets and autonomous regions that just trade with other regions and hamlets. I guess I could see that working as long as we don't get too cranky with each other and start fighting. The trickiest thing would be (imo) trying to get everyone committed to loving each other and not being greedy, and sticking with it, even when it gets hard (which it will).
I was a bit confused by what you said about martydom, Chrissy. I thought martydom was dying for a cause or for another person. Are you talking about a "martyr complex"? Where someone has an irrational feeling of being victimised? I agree though that we should not be envious of others achievements or good qualities, and/or compare ourselves negatively with them.
Anyway, on a slightly different note, I think the world could use a lot more martyrs.
Maybe we would get more things done if we were more committed? I heard Mark Boyle say almost the exact same thing in an interview once, that "the soldiers of war are often braver and more committed than the soldiers of peace, and that we could be a lot more braver and a lot more committed".
Carpe diem, eh?
kyle comments ...
I have misgivings about things just magically coming together by themselves, without choices, self-discipline and effort on the part of the people involved. However, I also believe that when people are motivated by something higher and choose to be self-disciplined and conscious of the real needs around them, then a form of "magic" can ensue.
I imagine building the freeconomy village will take a huge amount of organisation, discussion and discipline in order for it to get off the ground (and stay off the ground). Utopian communities that just rely on good vibes usually fall apart. On the other hand, a healthy mix of people being led by the spirit, while using human means for "producing" - organisation, team-work, accountability etc. is a lot more likely to work.
I agree with you, Chrissy, that the freeconomy movement seems to be part of a broader shift in consciousness. I also believe that it is going to take serious sacrifice of just about everything we know and hold dear to ourselves, in order to "make it to the next level". I think if we convince ourselves that we are all going to start seemlessly vibrating at another level, we may just be pulling the wool over our eyes.
And what if everyone decides not to jump on board? If our philosophy is dependent on other people thinking, feeling, or doing what we do, then it's more likely we'll give up, if and when we don't see the expected or hoped for results we desire to see. I'm also an advocate for interconnectivity and interdependence. But only to a point.
I believe a schism is already occurring in the global body. There will be those who have counted the cost of what it means to live moneyless and to be free. And there will be those who refuse to do so. The middle ground is in the process of falling away. It will be interesting to see where we all have chosen to stand when the penny finally drops.
chrissy comments ...
Good point Bob, I was mixing my meanings, what I meant by matrydom, was not the true definition as you expressed, but the person that builds up the ego on being self sacraficial with no real good reason other than it gives them an identity as being "hard done by." This then allows a person to behave in a negative way using the "hard done by" reason as an excuse.
I also agree with you Kyle, we cannot move onto new systems without working for it. We need to relearn love and acceptance of other ways and people. We also need to work together at the same time as accepting differences, that way we avoid the warring and agression.
The words monarchy and anarchy have been devalued, mon archy means one ruler, a narchy means without ruler. We do not need monarchy, that is where dictators and supressors can grow. Anarchy would mean no one ruler, the indain tribes have and still do manage very well like this, their leaders take their places as and when required, from the collective. So a problem comes up with failing crops, the main crop wise person would then take the lead, etc.
I do agree we cannot just drift magically into the new ways, although that idea sounds very lovely! LOL
It is takes time and commitment. Ha, am now getting to the stage where am having to "put my money where my mouth is," so to speak! LOL Or more to the point, put my trust in the truth that we do not need loads of money to be happy!
Lygeia comments ...
I am so loving this new word "plorking" which is a combination of the words playing and working.
jean-michel comments ...
always puzzles me how you can travel without a passport and without being outlawed as they make you pay for entrance and exit in a lot of countries ;)
wicked story though
Ruben Hannon comments ...
Dear sir
If you read this, and I hope you do, then I’m sorry for the spelling mistakes and the bad grammar. I’m Ruben Hannon I’m now about 17 years old and I have a problem. I’m kind of questioning our economical system. I think it is a mirror of who humans are and I find people to be treated like ordinary products in this economical system of ours. I don’t see myself working to earn money, mostly because when you buy a product there have been people exploited to make this product and most of the time the environment has been harmed. I want to enjoy life and a life with only our basic needs seems perfect to do so. In the future I’d also like to live a life without money and therefore I hope to hear all about yours. I want to hear how you started, I want to hear if you can start off from scrap or if you have to invest a minimum amount of money. But most of all I want to hear if you have to pay taxes of any sort, even when living without money.
Well if you are willing to share your story with my and most of the details I’d appreciate it. Contact me as soon as possible please. You can contact me on my e-mail: roze_teddybeertje@hotmail.com
Yours faithfully
Ruben
Tomi Astikainen comments ...
Dear Ruben,
The story is being shared in www.tomiastikainen.com
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
tito comments ...
I'd like to create awareness about the Freecycle Network.
The worldwide Freecycle Network is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns.
Freecycle groups match people who have things they want to get rid of with people who can use them. Our goal is to keep usable items out of landfills. By using what we already have on this earth, we reduce consumerism, manufacture fewer goods, and lessen the impact on the earth. Another benefit of using Freecycle is that it encourages us to get rid of junk that we no longer need and promote community involvement in the process.
http://www.uk.freecycle.org/
roobbojohnson @ yahoo.com comments ...
i have lived for the last 20 years with no money and helped as meny as i can along the way 120.000 miles 3 times around the world on a longjohn bike and still going
jermy comments ...
Take trucks as an example. Although we already have, for instance, a vacuum-tube technology that would allow us to transport goods at high speed anywhere in the world, instead we are using the dated rubber-wheel-technology that causes traffic jams, pollution, and way too much bureaucracy.
dafa comments ...
It really a useful idea.I will have a tiral of this idea as soon as possible as have already frustrated by burberry dresses and burberry men for a long time.Thank you very much for your continously post of effective tips.It really do me a great favor.if you have more information about burberry online shop can you tell me and i also like hermes bags,my boyfriend want me to buy wholesale replica Handbags but i can't find a shop that sell replica hermes,as i always want to be a burberry women before and i search burberry outlet online for a long time, but i only get the result of burberry purse,then i Walk into marketing and marketing center, to find hermes sale,and i find a good display of hermes Handbags and hermes birkin bags, my sister want me to buy new burberry but i only find replica burberry it really drive me crazy!you know, next month i will marry with my boyfriend and i want to look some tiffany co jewelry and tiffany engagement rings ,i search tiffany outlet shop for a long time they are all
replica tiffany, so if you find good tiffanys jewelry you can leave a email to me !thank you!
Keceibeexcult comments ...
yqvebrkatacwcphetory burch tote bag
icamwtrauyzwwmhbtory burch sandals
jtpwyiksazukasctory burch outlet
rrddyyumktkgyphqntory burch flats
effbatsnjxobpndccbbm http://www.uggbaileybuttonboots.nl/8.xml
sdzbatamhgoqprzhcybp http://www.canadagoosesolds.fr/15.xml
XRumerTest comments ...
Hello. And Bye.
http://admireyemen.com/test.htm
http://www.garychicagoairport.com/Michael-Kors-bags.asp
http://www.artofdrkara.com/gucci.html
http://www.monroepest.com/LongchampOutletOnline.html
http://prestigeboardingkennel.com/feed.html
XRumerTest comments ...
Hello. And Bye.
http://iphoneappmarketingtips.com/forum/blog/view/575252/twpw-burberry-sale-chic-f0z-ok
http://www.mengxiang145.com/bbs/viewthread.php?tid=7410044&extra=
http://www.footdoctorsnj.com/blog/2010/01/27/are-doctor-home-visits-a-thing-of-the-past/
http://trainersarena.com/index.php/members/home
http://www.energybyte.com/blog/the-almost-complete-guide-to-migrate-b2evolution-to-wordpress/
XRwogannimeieTest comments ...
Surplus revenue from the Sanctuary will be used for capital development within the four villages.
UsesThe American Council on Exercise recommends that every exercise program should include regular aerobic exercise, stretching and strength training.
Spisak zvezda sa kojima je saradjivala je "poduzi" : Gvinet Paltrou, Rojsin Marfi, Tandi Njuton, Kejt Blanset, Kristina Rici,Emili Blant, Kejt Hadson,Ema Stoun, Margareta Misoni i Rosamund Pajk.
Mondo Guerra was a very close second and Andy South came in third.
Des prix comp茅titifs et la qualit茅 fines ont toujours sac agnes b prouv茅 pour ces usines cl茅 du succ猫s et ont 茅volutions 脿 long terme fructueuse et les relations avec leurs clients.
XRwogannimeieTest comments ...
We will bank transfer tibia money to your bank :) .
As they quite simply may expend ones own free involved in active likes and dislikes which involve several fraternizing, along the lines of golf game not to mention tennis games, any preppy wardrobe entails types which will passage without difficulty on the office environment into the group, which happens to be where by office depot for example mens polo shirt are available.
It's work in progress.
Zac Posen, who is a new judge this season, will also be at the show.
Une grande quantit茅 de soci茅t茅s d diff茅rents qui long champs en ligne produisent des sacs 脿 main et sacs 脿 main.
XRwogannimeieTest comments ...
Using cloth for more information on decorate going to be the inside the relating to your to order can be the case done throughout the an all in one multitude regarding different ways.
Red PeonyIn TCM, red peony, or Paeonia lactiflora, has a cold nature and acts on the liver and spleen channels.
Que tristeza que gente tan pobre y con recursos tan limitados este sufriendo tanto por un vestido que nadie les le oblig贸 a comprar.
Liberia.
Le g茅nie antique de quelques-uns passionn茅, le paiement de la rivi猫re 脿 l Paysages Northland, le Nalan revenir en arri猫re, amour inassouvi.
XRwogannimeieTest comments ...
"Jiao Fei arrest to arrest him on the shoulder, deadpan look a stove immortality, frowned:" This is what Dan? "Yu busy Road: a furnace Yanshou Dan, my disciples, often points spread out as a panacea to the surrounding population,Cheap Toms.
Specialized training in therapy equipment or research may be required to graduate with a master's degree, depending on the university..
His print-centric clothes have been worn by fashion icons ranging from Madonna to Michelle Obama.
Finally, the discount is not valid on gift card purchases..
Super warm, breathability and unmatched comfort are its features.
XRwogannimeieTest comments ...
Like a cross between an apple and a pear, they are delicious simply sliced into wedges as a snack.
Hand bags are considered as one of the most frequently used accessories.
Like Kate, Grace was a "commoner" who drew the same fairy tale comparisons and relentless public scrutiny when she married into royalty.
He carries all the latest designs that you see on the 8 foot tall models but they fit your 5 foot tall body.
Outre ses pi猫ces tricot茅es aux volumes sculpt茅s et celles cousues d'茅cailles de soie filoch茅e, on garde en t锚te l'id茅e d'un sportswear luxueux et confortable.
