Any thoughts about a resource based economy (RBE)? [View all]

[dfgrbac]

Since I noticed this group is for discussion of economic issues, I wonder if any discussion on a resource based economy has taken place here? It seems to me we are having serious problems controlling the monetary based capitalistic system. From the beginnings of our nation there has been a constant stress between the needs of the average citizen and those who are wealthy enough to control major businesses. Wealth has a huge advantage when it comes to influencing politicians unfortunately. Any gains politically for average Americans are always being attacked by those want to channel more money in their direction. I see this as a major flaw in capitalism.

In my lifetime the excesses of "The Gilded Age" produced the crash of 1929, massive unemployment, and poverty resulting in equally massive protests often violent. Franklin Roosevelt's Administration responded on behalf of the people with strong governmental regulations to bring all this under control. And for the most part, these regulations worked well for decades - until Reagan's Administration began their total destruction - "Get the government out of our way!". Alas, we have a new gilded age with super-rich and massive unemployment or underemployment, the underemployment being people working beneath their capabilities. This resulting in the dismantling of the middle class.

Economies are meant to serve the needs of the people in general and not function just for those who have wealth and consequently power. But if one pays any attention to the daily news, it is obvious that most of the bad news we read about has direct connections with money in one form or another. Of course making laws to regulate businesses and industries can again bring this cycle under control, but business should actually be functioning to provide for the common good anyway in a properly functioning economy. And the wealthy who own these businesses will always be working to increase their profits rather than the common good.

Comments?