...an essential living experiment!
In recent history a famous philosopher/prophet named Kahlil Gibran said: Trading is thieving unless it is barter. Going back to a book that is familiar to most, a similar quotation arises, The worship of money is the root of all evil. Throughout the realm of higher literature allusions are made toward the effects of money on the moral well being of society.
Nearly a year prior to the time of writing, circumstances
found the author in what then appeared to be the throes of an unfortunate financial
disaster. Fortune and misfortune being a matter of personal viewpoint at that time. At any
rate I was in the unique position of no longer "having" what I had long
struggled to acquire, nor was I called upon to begin the quest all over again.
From the conventional standpoint, I stood all but naked before the world. I felt as though I had just landed on our planet earth with virtually nothing more than the knowledge I had thus far accumulated. The planet did not seem hostile and there were ways and means in evidence all around me. The immediate question was, "How do I survive?" A plan began to rapidly unfold, the sensibility of which I leave to the judgement of the reader.
At the outset I was pleasantly amazed by the relief I felt at having allowed the burden of my material responsibilities to drift away. This, in itself, convinced me that I would be foolish to immediately pursue these same trappings all over again. So rather, I adopted a more philosophical attitude and decided to experiment with life.
The plan manifested in the form of a living experiment whereby I would depend entirely upon the barter system for my livelihood. I would exchange whatever I could convince the members of my community was a talent I possessed directly, for whatever goods of theirs I required, thus by-passing the need for currency. In this way I felt that I could still live a constructive life yet without jeopardizing my new found freedom from worry and self-imposed material responsibility.
It was from my new perspective that the Biblical quote: The worship of money is the root of all evil, began to intrigue me. My interpretation of this statement is what is to follow, though the world economic situation at present is shouting this truth so loudly that we refuse to listen.
Needless to say, I required a simple plan of approach which would interest the local goods merchants, so I drafted up a responsible sounding letter of introduction and explanation. Lacking any other sane sounding method, I suddenly became a student of "curiology" in the University of Life. Armed with my letter, a substantial amount of determination and the possibility of a future thesis on the subject of my endeavor, I went to town, so to speak.
After initial suspicions satisfactorily subsided my potential co-experimenters became rather taken with the idea. Of the cross-section of the community I approached about implementing my "system", only one balked completely at the idea. Since that time I have had to turn away opportunities lest I lose my freedom again as a result of "spreading myself too thin".
The whole point of the experiment was to attempt to regain the freedom I enjoyed in my childhood and still be a responsible contributor to the community. To do this, I initially had to examine what my barest needs would be and gradually expand from there.
To begin with I took a job for one day in a local market garden in exchange for produce. I soon found that, value for value, my time spent was rapidly outpacing my produce requirements. In which event I was able to semi-retire and coast for long intervals, though I was benefitting from the gardening knowledge I was acquiring. Previous to this my accommodation needs were met by a bartering arrangement with a friend who owned an old caravan. I then made arrangements to clean the amenities in a local campground for a place to set up a temporary base.
At the same time I managed to work a few hours a week at odd jobs in an orchard in exchange for fruit. A local grocer kindly permitted me a floating account for food staples in return for a bit of maintenance work and sign painting. There never seemed to be a problem in locating the odd repair or maintenance job in exchange for clothing or footwear.
I have been so healthy since I embarked upon this way of life that I have not been pressed to exercise my imagination as to how I would pay my doctor bills, however I shall cross that bridge when I come to it.
People's values differ greatly when dealing outside the realm of finance. For instance, when I am needful of a commodity which a particular person has an abundance of, and since I pose no financial drain for services rendered, more often than not these persons are generous beyond necessity with their goods. Voluntarily offered fringe benefits and "perks" many times double my earning potential. So, as I become braver and expand my endeavors into the area of luxuries my aspirations sometimes allow me the vision of a veritable empire without the tinkle of a coin or the rustle of a note. Perhaps that is a bit ambitious at this stage, but it does appear that at least a relative degree of comfort can be had without money as well as a remarkably rewarding sense of freedom.
I am currently amidst some carpentry repairs in exchange for a two-ton truck and some people on the outskirts of town with an abundant rural section have offered me two acres of land in exchange for baby-sitting their five children for two days a week. This is probably the most adventurous gesture in response to the scheme as yet, but it seems that the more detached and philosophical I become toward life, the more adventurous and generous my co-operants become.
A local seamstress has intrigued me with the proposition of teaching me to make my own clothing in exchange for a bit of work in her garden. If I become adept enough, I may be able to add this to my growing list of capabilities.
One day the butcher offered me a three week supply of meat for my cat if I would do a decorative sign for his shop. I was able to do the lettering well enough but the artwork required was a bit beyond my ability. So, I did what I was able to do and then commissioned an artist friend to complete the job and I assisted him in turn to install a tricky door-frame in his abode. As you begin to see, the system virtually perpetuates itself. As your needs expand, so do your talents.
Realizing and allowing due credit to all the sensible arguments and rationalizations against this approach to life, I am still forced to say, in all honesty, that it works, and it will work for anyone with an imagination to what ever degree they wish to employ it. If a person is doggedly worrying their way through each day with a growing suspicion that the economy is insidiously eroding away from them, they can by a conscious effort of self-discipline, remove that worry and discover a world of freedom and friendship previously undreamed of. One need not go to such drastic extremes as I have done to feel the effects of such an undertaking. It can be tried in any number of little ways. One needn't have a lengthy list of talents to exchange either, though most people have more dormant talent than they themselves are aware of simply because these talents remain hidden when one's energies are only channelled into the acquisition of money. The self-discovery resulting from exploring the potential in barter is quite gratifying in itself.
It is of no avail to say that you have no particular talent or ability. The system will create them for you. I met an old retired (and somewhat bored) gentleman from Southland the other day. He was passed seventy but was so inspired by the idea he said he would go back to school and learn something if need be.
From the very beginning of this experiment I have been impressed by four outstanding lessons: Firstly, the satisfaction I felt by still being able to live by my wits, as it were, simply by putting to good use what inherent abilities I had in exchange for my fundamental needs. Secondly, I was amazed at how much more graciously human relationships seemed to develop when the money barrier was removed. Thirdly, by replacing the false security of the "currency screen" with real goods one loses the fear of being without money, thereby overcoming the dependency factor that it has created. And lastly, what a reward it is to be free enough to do a thing simply for the joy created in doing it rather than struggling doggedly for some dubious compensation.
It might be well to add here also that the problems and worries associated with inflation seem completely alien to this system. As long as the system is kept simple and straight forward one is totally unaffected by economic fluctuations.
Certainly this concept would not appeal to investors, money-lenders and other such speculators. But for those people who are otherwise at the mercy of the above types it can become a comforting cushion.
A voluntary partial reversion to the barter system within the community could soon become an economic necessity. But if a few are willing to experiment sensibly before such an emergency arises, we will find that perhaps we are not degenerating but, in fact, re-pioneering some very sound concepts.
It must be understood that I am not attempting to degrade or disrupt the existing system. I am simply trying to show a possible way in which each of us can create a cushion that will help ease the pressures of approaching economic crisis.
Some plans for the future expansion of the concept as it applies to my own sphere of existence includes: Making the system function in the city, proving the systems worth to a security minded family, acquisition of construction materials for a dwelling and devising an international system for bartering my way around the world.
I feel it is fair to state that I was recently forced to take employment long enough to earn an amount that would satisfy the tax minister for the previous and coming year's taxes.
As to the problem of taxes and my way of life, I am proposing two methods in the hope that the government will agree to one of them. I feel in no way obliged to become a burden to the welfare state nor to withhold my fair share of tax revenue. I maintain an accurate tally of goods, etc., received at retail value and intend to declare this as wages earned at the appropriate time. If this is not found acceptable, I am willing to pay tax on the basis of minimum wage for the potential earnings of my trade. It's a small price to pay to be allowed the freedom to pursue such practical yet philosophical adventures in a country as uniquely pioneering as New Zealand.
Being thrust, momentarily, back into the money scene was at first a bit frustrating, but more and more I became aware that money could serve a very positive and powerful function by effecting conditions which were out of my personal reach or sphere of contact.
With this realization I began to see the esoteric application of money in creating an improved overall environmental situation while keeping one's own personal life untainted by its overpowering influence.
What a relief it is to regain confidence in one's self acquired abilities, something no one or no system can take away, rather than be forced to live at the mercy of a false commodity in times of duress while "real goods" rot in the gardens and warehouses and people go hungry. "What price reality?"
BARTERING
A bartering system already exists in Auckland, known as Traders' Exchange, phone 27-89334, run as a commercially organized co-operative. It was started two and a half years ago by Bill Robertson.
The exchange has two hundred members, trading anything from accountancy services to motel rooms and wedding receptions.
The attraction is that members can increase their business and cut personal and trading expenses at the same time.
Business increases because it makes good sense for exchange members- the bulk of them small to medium sized businesses - to trade with one another rather than going outside and paying cash.
As Bill states "It doesn't add to
inflation because you are trading products for products."
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All Written Materials Copyright, 1997, Robert H. Brevig
All Rights Are Reserved, Without Prejudice.
U.C.C. 1-207.4 U.C.C. 1-103.6,.7