Déjà Vu ~ Times II: God’s Economy ~ Is it possible?

Saturday, June 14, 2014

God’s Economy ~ Is it possible?

In a world and culture captivated by the faux-polarity¹ of Capitalism / Communism, what are one’s economic options?

from Office: Microsoft.com
MC900299723

Our better natures seem to prefer giving the gift of self, time, and talent to improve the world. (See Daniel Pink’s, Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us.) Thus, various forms of giving have arisen to satisfy man’s “yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves.”

A few modern-day examples (of our better nature) are:

▪ Open-source software development
▪ Wikipedia contributors
▪ Free Apps by the tens of thousands
▪ YouTube sharing*
▪ Crowdfunding (like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Crowdfunder, RocketHub, Crowdrise, Somolend, etc.)
▪ A plethora of other “sharing” websites*
▪ Voluntary communes such as Mondragón²

And THIS:³

▪ http://sacred-economics.com/sacred-economics-chapter-16-transition-to-gift-economy/
▪ http://sacred-economics.com/sacred-economics-chapter-18-relearning-gift-culture/
▪ http://gift-economy.com/
▪ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_economy
▪ http://tommorkes.com/ (interview with Adrian Hoppel)
▪ http://wiki.gifteconomy.org/Main_Page
▪ http://www.tikkun.org/nextgen/the-gift-economy-a-model-for-collaborative-community
▪ Charles Eisenstein: A New Story of the People; TEDx ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjoxh4c2Dj0 )

A gift economy!! Is that the substance of Jesus’ teachings? Of the Zion way? A means to live in the world, but not of the world? A déjà vu from Enoch’s day?

Maybe there is no need for commune-living, or waiting upon authorities to lead the way, or wondering how to share what we love to do without “laboring for money.” Maybe we can actually begin to live Nephi’s advice:

… , the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish. But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish. (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 26:30-31)

Is this the way? where one by one, we take up the challenge to truly become One.

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Added June 18, 2014: Here is a newsworthy example of “giving” from the CBC News Online of June 18, 2014: “Tesla's Elon Musk proves why patents are passé” as he becomes “the latest hero of the open source movement. ... Last week, Musk gave away all the patents on Tesla's electric car technology, allowing anyone — including competitors — to use them.” The comment was:

Musk's generosity has already offered evidence that sharing patents may be a good idea. Nissan and BMW have told enquiring reporters that they would like to take Musk up on his offer, especially when it comes to Tesla's "Supercharger" method for fast battery recharges.⁴

*NOTE to some YouTubers and other onliners: A gift can be given by the creator or owner of something. If we appropriate or upload a creative work that is not ours without permission, it is NOT a gift; it is theft (whatever the motivation or attempted justification).

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1. What is our present corporate economic system, if not a type of Communism? 1) where HyPEs (Highly Paid Employees) manage the common assets/goods of shareholders for the supposed profit of those shareholders, but who in reality manage the common assets/goods and investments for HyPE profit and agenda; 2) where the elite prosper at the expense of “intended beneficiaries”; 3) where “competing” corporations circumvent supposed “free market” competition in every way imaginable; 4) where shareholders (except IPO shareholders) contribute NADA to the common venture, but who claim equal rights with IPOers to common gains; 5) where command & control is the order of the corporate day (each and every day); 6) where inalienable rights are deemed alienable (via mandatory contract); etc., etc.
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondrag%C3%B3n_Cooperative_Corporation
3. Sites referred to me by my sister. Thank you, BYS.
4. http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/tesla-s-elon-musk-proves-why-patents-are-pass%C3%A9-don-pittis-1.2678359?cmp=rss

Revolving Accounts

"The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us." (Old Testament Ecclesiastes 1:9-10)

"Dwell in the past and you'll lose an eye. Forget the past and you'll lose both eyes." (Old Russian Proverb)

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This Déjà Vu ~ Times II blog is devoted to my religious / spiritual musings (sometimes political), mainly concerning the recycling of our follies since the world began.

Over time, it will contain:
thoughts
observations
poems
quotes

Déjà Vu ~ Times II blog © 2009 - 2020 by SMSmith (unless otherwise noted). Some Rights Reserved. See Creative Commons License at the end of this column/page.

Déjà Vu ~ Times II blog was established August 17, 2009 while the author was living in Canada helping caregive an aged mother.

“No Comments” Rationale

1) Time & more needful priorities;
2) Problems observed with many open-comment blogs as so bluntly expressed at http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/comment-policy/
3) People are free to post divergent or convergent views on their own blogs;
4) Learning from comments here would be preferable, but— (see 1, 2, & 3).

Brief note to the OFFENDED: Just because allowing "comments" is a blogger's option, it does not mean every blogger must conform to the "expectations" of others. Every soul can consult the Spirit and decide what is best and right in their circumstance. And if one has a blanket policy not to read another's work because there is no opportunity to comment, it seems one has closed oneself off to potential guidance of the Spirit. Besides, in this world of "overwhelm," the guidance of the Spirit is the best resource we have to lead us to things of importance in our unique life. So, if you have found your way here, perhaps there are a few things of import for you here. I try to trust the Spirit to lead me likewise to things of import within my purpose and priorities.

My World / TransWorld View

▪ Truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come; (Doctrine and Covenants Section 93:24)
▪ If we have the truth, it cannot be harmed by investigation. If we have not the truth, it ought to be harmed. (J. Reuben Clark)

▪ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (New Testament 1 Thessalonians 5:21)

▪ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.(New Testament Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13; 3 Nephi 13:24)
▪ See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.(New Testament 1 Thessalonians 5:15)
▪ For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; ... (Book of Mormon Alma 41:15)
▪ Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. (Book of Mormon Mosiah 4:9, emphasis added)
▪ ... the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (New Testament 1 Corinthians 1:25)
▪ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Old Testament Isaiah 55:8 - 9)
▪ ... the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true. (Book of Mormon Alma 29:8)
▪ The Bible is true, as far as it is translated correctly. Some things are to be understood literally; others metaphorically or symbolically.
▪ God is neither a Republican nor a Democrat; a Liberal nor a Conservative, just as Christ was neither a Pharisee or Sadducee. [For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.(Doctrine and Covenants Section 3:2)]
▪ Life is an escalating series of tests.
▪ “...we will be asked again and again to release the parts of our lives that mean the most to us.” (Caroline Myss, Sacred Contracts, p. 76; also preview lives of the prophets and saints.)