The subject of money has been a hot topic in the past decade. One important controversy evolves around whether money is a commodity or a commons. As a commodity, money is a property that people can buy and sell, give away, or stick under a mattress. As a commons, money is available to all, owned by none, and protected by civic authorities. Money can be used as a commodity and a commons, but it does make a difference which one we see as more fundamental.
I know a good idea is simply that—a good. But it’s not so simple. In fact there’s a lot that’s wrong with a good idea. Consider the following:
- It requires that we change what we are doing.
- It will make us think.
- Not everyone can have them at the same time.
- It makes others jealous.
- It increases people’s defenses.
- It opens the provider to ridicule.
- It makes us inconsistent.
- It opens risky territories to explore.
- It reveals the quality of our friendships.
- It sometimes generates more good ideas, which will increase the intensity of all of the above.
To access 93 resources for understanding OWS, click: p2pfoundation.net/Category:OccupyWallStreet
See the charts by Dave Gilson and Carolyn Perot in Mother Jones: It’s the Inequality, Stupid
The Food Justice conference in Oakland, CA, presented by the Community Food Security Coalition ended Tuesday. Over 1000 people attended. There were lots of themes. Perhaps the Food Sovereignty movement grabbed the most attention, and rightfully so. If you do not know about it, check it out: US Food Sovereignty Alliance.
