How may I help you? I heard you are part of The Zeitgiest Movement

What is that?

It is the activist arm of The Venus Project

What is that?

It is a social vision unlike any political, economic

or social system

that has been proposed before

it is based on a resource based economy

What is that?

It is a system in which all goods and services are available to everyone without the use

of money

barter

debt or servitude

also known as work

Why do we need the resources based economy?

Our current monetary economic system is not capable of providing a high standard of living

for everyone

nor can it ensure the protection of the environment

since the major motive of industry is profit. What do you mean by a high standard of living?

all members of society would have access to all of the necessities to sustain life

such as medical care

education, food, clothing

housing

entertainment

leisure time and more. Sounds great

But don't we have to have the money? If all money in the world were destroyed

as long as we have sufficient arable land

the factories

the necessary resources and technical personnel

we could build anything and even supply in abundance

But it would take the economic collapse

to get world to stop using the money. What do you mean

“would?”

It’s happening right now

The bank bailouts

record foreclosures, student debt defaults

increasing unemployment

QE1, QE2

global currency debasement

and entire countries going bankrupt.

Looks like economic collapse to me

Unfortunately social change

has always been brought about by economic collapse, corruption in government, and/or

abuse of the population

Won’t the rich people want to stop this kind of system?

Yes they would

But if they keep using automation in their industries in order to compete for market share

while preserving profits

millions of people will be replaced by machines

as unemployed workers lose purchasing power

the very industries

that depend on these consumers can no longer function

this will bring an end to the outdated monetary system

Won’t all the nations have to agree to give up the money?

Yes, our problems today are global in their scope and impact

they cannot be solved by any one nation. What are the benefits of the resources based

economy?

Without money

no one can sell anything and with everything in abundance

it would not be profitable to steal anything from anyone

Without scarcity

ownership

and differential advantage, the basis for unhealthy human aggression will be outgrown

People will no longer be burdened by mortgages

health care costs

insurance, recession

unemployment

depression and taxes

People would be free to pursue whatever constructive endeavour they choose without the economic

pressures, restraints

and taxation from the monetary system

When education and resources are available to all without a price tag

there will be no limit to human potential

With these major alterations

people would eventually live longer

more meaningful and healthier lives

The measure of success would be the fulfillment of one's individual pursuits rather than the

acquisition of wealth

property

and power

How do you plan to make the resources based economy happen?

First, enhance public awareness of the need of a solution through education

like I’m doing with you right now. Second

utilize an experimental research facility to blueprint the initial technologies and designs

that are required

Third, build a theme facility to appeal to the masses and engage them in an immersive experience

that will entertain and inform visitors

the rest of the plan will emerge as interest increases

I see

So what's stopping the project from advancing? Simple

Social and cultural lag

Unfortunately most education today is designed as propaganda

rather than information related to the physical laws

that govern all living and non-living systems. Do we have the technologies to do all this?

We’ve had the technology since 1920.

Do we have the materials to do all this

There are more than the necessary materials available for the construction and maintenance

of such eco cities right now

What will the government look like?

Only during the transition to a resource based economy would it be necessary to utilize the

services of systems analysts

engineers

computer programmers, designers

etc. to govern the implementation

But this will not be political governance. What do you mean

How will the decisions being made?

Decisions would not be based on local politics

but on a holistic problem-solving approach

For example

With electrical sensors extended into the agricultural region

computerized systems would manage and control agriculture

by monitoring the water table, insects

pests

plant diseases

soil nutrients, and so forth

the information processed

will enable us to arrive at more appropriate decision making

based on feedback from the environment

Isn’t it just decent people

that we need in the government? Even with the election of men and women of impeccable character

in the government

without available resources and advanced technology

war, poverty

and corruption will prevail no matter how many new laws are passed or treaties signed

Isn’t this just the communism/socialism?

Communism has armies

police

prisons

social stratification

money, banks

a labour class

and is managed by appointed leaders

Most importantly

communism did not eliminate scarcity

nor do they have a blueprint or the methods for the production of abundance

Don’t we need the laws?

We would need a government to make the laws. Social responsibility would not be a function

of artificial laws or force

Safeguards against abuse and harm

could be designed into the environment

and their systems

But I like the democracy

What happens to the democracy? This would be a democracy

Without vested interests and the use of money

there is little to be gained by squelching opinion

falsifying information or taking advantage of others

There are also no underlying rigid social barriers limiting the participation of anyone

or restraining the introduction of new ideas

Everyone would be able to share their ideas

This would in fact, finally, be a true democracy

I still don't understand

If there is no government who makes the decisions? No one does

What...what do you mean?

Decisions are not made

they are

arrived at

What do you mean?

The process of

arriving at decisions would not be based upon the opinions of politicians

corporate

or national interests

but rather all decisions would be arrived at

based upon the introduction of newer technologies and Earth's carrying capacity

Okay

I think I get it

But what about those that will abuse their power? In a resource based economy

we surpassed the need for money which is the basis for most corruption

the society we envision

makes all goods and services available for everyone without a price tag. There will be

nothing to gain

that they don't already have access to. We have passed the peak oil production

so where are we going to get the energy to eliminate the scarcity and achieve the abundance?

The potential of untapped energy sources is almost limitless

If we utilize geothermal

solar, wind, wave,

and tidal sources.

The potential of geothermal energy, alone, is almost limitless and can easily supply enough

energy for all of the world's needs

If there isn't the money,

what about incentive or motivation? Human beings need challenges

in order to evolve intellectually

and maintain a high level of curiosity and a need to overcome shortages

the incentive

which will propel people

is the end of war

territorial disputes

economic hardship, debt

and the basis for most crimes

as they will all be eliminated

If no one has to work for the money

what will people do with their time?

Are you actually asking me that question?

Yes

Children are curious about everything

and if nurtured could have a much greater range of interests and abilities

this culture does a wonderful job of limiting people's interests, opportunities

and abilities

and it conditions them to be lazy

People are not born that way

any more than they are born with bigotry, hatred, prejudice

or particular values

What about religion?

Religion is a great idea

we need to actually try to transform these lofty ideals into a working reality for the

inhabitants of our planet

This sounds like a Utopia

Isn’t this a bit idealistic? The Venus Project is not a Utopian concept

There is no such thing as a Utopian society

societies are always in a state of transition

the Venus Project only proposes a direction

Our future will emerge from the decisions we all make today. I don't think this Venus

Project is realistic

People did not think going to the moon was realistic

What is your point?

I don't know how we are going to get rid of the money

Just because you don't know where you're next meal will come from

doesn't mean you give up looking for food

Good point

Thank you for your time

I have to go but I still have more questions

Where can I get more information? Try a Google search

Goodbye