by David Harp
Chapter 57
Resource-Based Economy
Matt and Brian shared an office on the third level of module twenty-three, section four of the ORION Institute. Dan brought lunch and joined them at a table set up to take advantage of the panoramic view. Brian apologized to Dan for a tattered Man of La Mancha poster Matt had hanging on the wall.
“Why do you still keep that ugly thing?” Brian asked Matt.
“For motivation,” Matt replied. “The so-called experts say the Resource-Based Economy (RBE) will never work. They call it ‘the impossible dream.’”
Brian nodded in agreement, but then asked Matt “Why is it so difficult?”
“It’s more than an economic system,” Matt answered. “It’s a quantum leap in social evolution. An RBE is a philosophy which considers all goods and services to be common property.”
“That sounds like Communism,” Dan said with a roll of his eyes. Matt nodded.
“You’ve identified the problem. We Americans have an inherent distrust of anything resembling Communism. The United States was founded on a classic free market economy. It’s been the most successful economic model in history.”
“If the free market works so well, what’s the problem?” Dan asked.
“We can do better; it’s time for the next step in social evolution. Our current system is based on scarcity which paradoxically creates shortages. Today’s technology has advanced to a level where production makes it possible for everyone on Earth to enjoy a high standard of living.
“It still sounds like Communism to me,” Dan replied.
“Definitely not!” Matt countered. “First off, pure Communism exists only in textbooks. The economies of nations like Russia and China are hybrids, and until recently maintained political control through hierarchies more like dictatorships than Communism.”
“What makes you think a resource-based economy will be different in the end? How can everyone be well-off?”
Matt smiled. “Because we have seen it work here!” Then he asked, “How do you like living at the Institute?”
Dan knew why he asked. ORION operated under the RBE system. Computers linked everything: buildings, machinery, and equipment. They coordinated every detail of the daily routine a thousand times more efficiently than humanly possible. All necessary resources were provided. Residents were free to pursue the tasks they enjoyed. As a result, worker productivity and job satisfaction were extraordinarily high.
“I love working here,” Dan answered. “I get to concentrate on my work rather than worrying about scheduling, supplies, payroll, and other extraneous stuff.”
“So wouldn’t it be great if the whole world was like this?” Matt asked.
Dan shook his head unconvinced, “Mr. Weston’s billions helped pay for this place. Who’s going to pay for a global transition?”
“It pays for itself,” Matt answered. “The system will more than compensate for the cost by allowing people to engage in activities which add to the common good. Millions of bankers, insurance agents, lawyers, stockbrokers, marketing/advertising, and sales people are required to maintain the current inefficient system. Under the RBE, most of those jobs won’t be needed which releases enormous potential productivity.”
“That’s the problem,” Dan replied. “What happens to those people when you take away their jobs?”
“They will assist with the transition while being retrained. Preliminary surveys indicate that over 98% of those being reorganized have a positive outlook toward a career change of their choice.”
“But if everything is free, how do we prevent people from hoarding?” Dan asked.
“By giving them everything they need,” Matt answered.
“It seems like this system would be an easy target for criminals,” Dan said.
“There will always be some crime, but the vast majority of criminal activity starts when people don’t have basic necessities. If a person can’t feed their family, they’ll do whatever is necessary including committing crimes,” Matt answered.
“I still say a free market like the one in the U.S. is the best way to give the greatest number of people a chance to succeed.” Dan contended.
“It was, but not anymore. The U.S. is a world leader in providing for its citizens, but per capita we have more people in prison than any other developed country. Since most prisoners felt crime was their best or only option, you could argue they are no different than political prisoners. We spend a ridiculous amount of money locking them up rather than giving them the tools they need to be contributing members of society. The result is enormous expense, loss of potential human productivity, and the unnecessary destruction of lives.”
Matt truly believed in the Resource-Based Economy, but a world where resources are communal was too much for Dan to accept. It’s against human nature, he thought.
Dan walked through one of the family housing areas after lunch. A few pre-teenage children were playing near an area where a variety of toys were neatly stowed. He asked, “Who owns these toys?”
One of the boys answered, “Nobody, anyone can use them.”
“Wouldn’t you like to have your own toys?” Dan asked.
The oldest boy answered, “That’s silly! When we share, there is more for everyone.”
Dan realized the children had grown up at the Institute. They had been taught how property ownership worked on the outside, but preferred the RBE system where everything is shared.
The boy’s answer made him think, maybe Matt’s brave new world is possible if taught at an early age. Collective ownership does appear to be more efficient.
Dan still couldn’t escape his discomfort with a system which traditionally discouraged or even prohibited belief in God.
Brian’s sister Jamie had married Matt a few years after graduation from ORION. Dan wondered how she could reconcile the RBE with Christianity. He remembered asking her at the couple’s rehearsal dinner, “Doesn’t it bother you that Matt is promoting a secular humanist movement?”
She replied, “I asked myself WWJD? What would Jesus do?”
“I don’t remember seeing any mention of Jesus in the RBE.” Dan replied.
“The question is which system would Jesus prefer? Would he approve of our free market system which charges higher interest rates to people least able to pay and makes some wealthy while others suffer in poverty?”
“Probably not,” Dan mumbled.
“Or,” she continued, “Would Jesus prefer a method that allows everyone to share in the abundant resources God has provided?”
Her answer made Dan realize Matt was marrying the right woman. He and Jamie were a perfect mix of logic, heart, and faith.
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Dan and Jamie traveled together to promote the new philosophy, but failed to realize how difficult it would be to get countries to participate. They mistakenly assumed small socialized countries would be eager to join the program.
When it didn’t happen, they decided to suggest an incremental approach. Rather than implementing the program all at once, one free resource would be offered at a time. Since the Institute had developed efficient solar cells and a method to tap into the worldwide electromagnetic energy grid, energy was the logical choice. Who could argue with free energy?
The problem with the incremental approach was governments would still be using money for other parts of their economy, but would receive no money for the energy they provided. (The energy was free, but there were still significant costs distributing it.)
Even with the Institute’s help, most countries couldn’t afford it and the program put them at a disadvantage in dealing with other nations.
A few businesses and schools like the Institute had implemented the RBE, but they were on a small scale. Nations weren’t willing to put their entire economies at risk for such a radical concept.
From the beginning of civilization, various forms of barter had been used to allocate resources. It was dif
ficult to envision how the world could function without it. Some of the most powerful people on Earth made their fortunes from energy, so they had a lot to lose if fossil fuel companies and private utilities were shut down.
Years passed with no takers. Claude’s support for the RBE was starting to slip when the tiny country of Iceland volunteered. They had a strong Socialist tradition and surprised the world when they nationalized most of their energy sector and transformed from one of Europe’s poorest countries into one with a high standard of living.
In 2027, Iceland began a test program providing free energy. New industries sprang up to take advantage of the program. Instead of economic collapse, their economy became far more efficient. Two years later they became the first country to fully implement the Resource-Based Economy.
Their homogenous society enabled them to establish voluntary standards for resource distribution. Instead of the bleak unimaginative results many in the U.S. expected, creativity and prosperity flourished. The results were irrefutable.
Iceland’s economy was the most efficient in the world, and their Gross National Happiness was so high it made the proverbial “Great American Dream” sound like a bad joke.
Denmark was the next to implement the RBE, followed by other Scandinavian countries. Greece, Italy and Spain weren’t far behind. By 2040, most of the world, including the United States, had either converted or were in the process. As each country joined, the system became more successful.
The ORION Institute was becoming a major gathering place for world events. Chris, Steve, and Brian were also making progress and it seemed like their view of a utopian world was in sight.
In spite of their progress, the Qabalah was preparing to unleash a diabolical plan which would enslave humanity.