BTW I don't think that gold is perfect money, I understand the concept of community currencies, time dollars etc. which are much more coheseve money systems, and I am sure they will make a comeback. They appeared in germany after the hypeinflation, but were stamped out later by the central bank.
But before launching into a discussion as we've highjacked the thread, if somebody wants to kick a new thread off, lay down the framework of, is it something you would wish for in an ideal world or what do you logically expect to happen and how did we get there and does it apply everywhere around the world, for example what will OPEC sell oil for the next 50 years? they will need food and technology, Ireland in the 18th century supported 8 million people and was exporting food at the same time, in 50 years time Ireland will have a population in the 4 to 4 million range and will still be exporting food, what will we want for payment? maybe a new oil for food program with the arabs
Roger wrote
Stores of value, money, credit are all pretty metaphyiscal
when you think about it, they only exist in the believers minds.
agreed, but it is a consequence of a complex society, if you have do deal with people outside of the "village" or there is any form of government then these mechanisms will develop. and then again it's up there wilth religion & nationality
