Post-money, pre-communism

[Schrödinger's Cat]

An itching concern.

Let's say money can be abolished but communism is not yet achievable. What would ensure that people aren't pillaging off the community? I've read something about time cards. Would anyone care to expound on that idea?

Some related concerns I hope some people may answer [strictly opinionated? Probably]:

1.) What of people who want to be "work-at-home" [dads, moms]? Would one adult in the family working suffice?

2.) What of shortages in certain sectors? I'm guessing the workers and communities would provide these workers with more benefits like shorter hours, right?

3.) How would houses be built/distributed? Trade? First-come? Would there be workers who "demolish" and "recycle" empty houses if the demand was for a 2-story house but there was only a 1-story house?

Thanks, comrades.

[Demogorgon]

Simply I don't think money can be abolished pre-Communism

[rouchambeau]

What would ensure that people aren't pillaging off the community?
I never understood this idea that people are bound to "pillag[e] off the community" if they are not kept in line. Where do you get that idea from anyway?

[Schrödinger's Cat]

Do you believe there wouldn't be people who would not contribute to production/services and just consume? I'm talking of these folks.

[Dr Mindbender]

Funny you should bring this up, Ive been giving it a lot of thought recently. I believe in a system where, rather than be given money at the end of every working week which of course limits the amount you can have (buy), you are simply able to go to a dispensary which stocks every concievable item you could want and take it, but since there is no beourgiouse to hoard the mass stock anymore there is enough to go round, and since every household unit would have equal logistical means there is no need to worry about overindulgence. Or so I thought. What is to stop people from making repeated visits to the dispensary?
Therefore I believe, rather than having no form of 'paper currency' you would recieve a ticket which permits you one visit which upon you can take as much produce as you like. No human labourers or drivers in this place though, purely automation.

[Dr Mindbender]

Originally posted by [email protected] 02, 2007 08:01 pm
Do you believe there wouldn't be people who would not contribute to production/services and just consume? I'm talking of these folks.
Wealth would be superceeded by production. So in this society, bar those with legitimate reason, the same fate that awaits poor people under capitalism would await the lazy and complacent under socialism. ie- destitution.

[Schrödinger's Cat]

That seems quite limiting, though. We would then be challenging the idea of "hobby" and "labor" being a single unit. In which case a mother taking care of 3 kids at home may not be seen as a "proper worker," or artisans. It's also faulty. Unless the card is given to me daily [who would give to people working at home?], I could just not work until that ticket expires. I could also bail out my lazy neighbor by taking what he wants.

I'm starting to be inspired by the voluntary-only crowd of anarcho-communists, but sitting on the fence on where that's practical... ;)