Post Scarcity?

"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-scarcity

This is an underlying part of many of the Iain M Banks books I've read lately. Essentially civilisation has the means of production to be able to sustain all life without the need for any kind of currency. Essentially the concept of money is completely removed from society.

Do you think we can ever get to a point of not relying on a barter system of any kind, and if so, what do you think we need to do to achieve this? If you do not think this is possible, what are the roadblocks?"

"Just put a limit on how much people can have. It's not unreasonable, just to prevent excessive compulsions some people seem to have with biting off more than they can chew. I personally see what is called the "American Dream" in it's current definition as an excuse for greedy, inconsiderate people to work themselves and their buddies or kin into a state of indulgence and laziness. It also results in a society that puts fun on the top of the priority list above that which is needed to sustain a prosperous civilization and ensure that people aren't being treated like crap.

Sure, we don't want to infringe on our inherent freedoms, but it's a matter of common sense and consideration, things that the majority of people seem to lack.

I think the biggest problem is the way corporations are personified in laws. It wouldn't be hard to change laws so that these corporations weren't a black hole to the economy. We've built a machine that will only result in creating a privatized, 3rd world nation. Government needs some modifying. Apparently people are going to have to stand up to it because politicians aren't going to do anything about it if they themselves are permitted to profit off it."

- posted on fusion-tec.net