see url: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40561807
Every states dream. Sounds great, doesn't it. Wouldn't it be just
lovely for the state to be able to tax everything? No more cash in
hand, wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more, every transaction
registered, no more private jobs, no more (I hate to use these
politically incorrect words in this forum) black or grey economy. A
Chancellor of the Exchequers' Dream. If only...
Why, we could bring down taxes as we spread the load amongst the people,
especially of those who earn the most, and spread the taxation costs
evenly across the economy and amongst the citizenry. And then, we could
increase the size of the bureaucracy, and increase their wages, and cut
back their hours, and cut back the employees, who needs employees in a
cashless economy? And, we could get better educated and more reliable
politicians through paying them extra benefits, merit payments and
perks, and encouraging international travel and trade with the likes of
Russia, such as 1st Class holidays abroad and international Business
Flights on British Airways, and free golf at Trump Charitable Gold
Clubs, and have meetings to discuss the import of Russian Orphans to
the USA, free of charge.
Life would be so wonderful, don't you think; if only we could get rid
of payments by cash. The distribution and control of the scarcity of
money; would no longer be the great equaliser, or the main means of
controlling the distribution of resources, against the accumulation of
capital in fewer and fewer hands. And the exercise of vivid
imaginations which always manages to overpower the ability of society to
supply their whims. Lower interest rates too, greater credit
worthiness. No more quantitative easing. I can see it all now, an
abundance of goods and services, for the first time ever in Capitalist
Society.... a free for all, no more queues for bread or tins of spam.
There wouldn't be any mention of paying women for looking after their
children, of course, either in cash or by tax credits. That kind of
paid for work is taboo, and isn't even valued. And all that voluntary
work which people do, to help one another, and help subsidise the
capitalist system, so that it can make a profit; that wouldn't be
included. How would we reward all of them...without money? Where would
they lie, in the capital or current account of each and every state?
Maybe, we should get rid of money altogether, and the only incentive
that which people should work for...is the love of it. Love lasts longer
than money. Then we could get rid of the state, and stuff the capitalist
parasites in museums; provide an abundance of more efficient services,
materials, energy, manufactured goods, they wouldn't cost anything at
all to produce. We could even get rid of the International Stock
Exchanges...the banks and other financial institutions...now that would
be really efficient. We would be much better off then....:-). But to
achieve that...Oh! What a culture change we would need. Would it be by
social revolution or social evolution, one wonders... armed or peaceful,
funny or painful...who knows...
Annie...get my gun...and get my war materiel ready, lets get rid of
those game birds in our society...;-)
Food for thought....
ATB
Dougie.