The regular economy in which our lives are immersed is a “getting” economy. From the “consumer’s” point of view, the economy is where we “get” our means of life. We “get” our supplies from the supermarket, and we “get” our salary from our employer. The purpose of life is to “get” as much money as possible so that we can “get” all the wonderful stuff out there and have fun.
From the “vendor’s” point of view, the focus is also on “getting” — getting as much profit (money) as possible. The vendor/provider “buys” your money by offering goods and services. The money is the object, the goods and services the currency.
“Get two for the price of one”, “get 20% off”, “get it before stocks run out”, “get 15% return on your investment”, “get loyal customers”. Get, get, get. The focus is always on the self-interested, separate individual or business competing against others in the marketplace.
The “giving” economy is where the sentiment is mutual aid: how can I provide what others require? The focus is on connection and the well-being of all. It is a circuit of giving and receiving, of balance and benefit all around.
Through the CES, we can make known our needs to connect with those who can satisfy them. The “reward” is the satisfaction of our needs, the pleasure of helping others and the establishment of a support network of trust and friendship.
Giving and receiving bring us together; buying and selling drive us apart.
Re: CES Articla. Giving & Getting
Well said! Thank you. Community, society and civilization all began with a ‘gifting economy’ (as Wikipedia names it), where responsiveness to individual and collective Needs drives the exchange process. Accounting was in the memory of the participants. Scotland and Ireland had time based ‘Meitheal’ communities until late 1950s.
The NEEDS of community organizations (sports, schools, charities, co-ops, festivals, cultural, churches, youth, social support, clubs, etc) everywhere, currently require a community noticeboard ‘HUB’ where such requirements could be listed and categorized, and where Donors could be acknowledged and thanked.
The CES could offer its exchange facility as a ‘fund-raising’ tool for all such organizations. e.g. If the Buddy function was adapted as a means of contributing 10% upwards of earnings to a favourite local organization(s), then the CES could become – and be perceived as – a community HUB of support for local organizations
If the CES were to include a ‘Create a Voucher’ function, then participating organizations could ‘fundraise’ gift vouchers from their supporters, thereby engaging members, clients, and the general public in the CES exchange process, i.e. Non-account-holders would be introduced to CES in a positive contributory way.
If these local Organizations were given priority status and placed at the centre of CES exchanges, many more people will see the sense in joining. In addition these organizations would be motivated to encourage their members and supporters to join CES thereby acting as CES recruiting agents. The advantage of a 10% commission of all trades than ensue. Any non-account holder (the general public) could offer an organization a Gift Voucher for some good or service, and become familiar with CES this way.
For example, I offer a dog kennel to my local junior school; the school posts the kennel online as a CES Gift Voucher, with an asking price (and a hidden reserve price, and pin code). The buyer receives the Voucher and code by email, and claims the kennel. The beneficiary organization (the school) receives the credits, to spend on its needs. The school automatically thanks and acknowledges the Donor publicly online and privately by email.
The CES makes such indirect support possible by the magic of exchange. The donor learns that he/she may open a personal CES trading account, to offer goods/services directly, giving a percentage on to his/her chosen organization(s). I suggest that a minimum ‘tithe’ would be acceptable?
Rebuilding community with CES.
A better example might be a Language lessons Voucher given in support of a local Event.
i.e. a form of indirect volunteering via the CES exchange. With CES anyone can become a volunteer, directly or indirectly, to support their local community.
CES would offer itself as the exchange HUB of a support network for community organizations, and ordinary traders would be in a supporting role, to ensure that directly or directly, the NEEDS of local community organizations are met.
In this way the CES would make help re-define ‘Volunteering’ to include energy exchange for the benefit of a community Organization. Indeed, the CES would itself be such a beneficiary, entitled to request contributions, and/or to collect or redistribute unassigned credits/contributions.
If the CES were to implement changes in this direction, i.e. to clearly become the HUB of local exchange in the service of community, I personally would be inspired to assist the funding of such an initiative with a stepped donation up to 100,000 ZAR and above.
I recall that CES is written in a now unused programming language, and I wonder if software updates in that code are feasible? What’s the situation please?
There are more features I have not outlined here which would be beneficial, relating to the values and reserve value of Offerings, to variable overdrafts – linked to individual trade record or to the value of current offers. these and related updates would give the business community greater confidence in joining CES and to offering ‘Community Discounts’ on the CES. A fee structure, or a tiered ‘donation’ in fiat currency would ensure the survival and success of the CES over the long term.
🙂
The above is a spotlight on restructuring CES (‘re-presenting’ is perhaps a better term) and infusing a CES with a more focused sense of mission, adapting its operational structure, creating positive public awareness and a clear identity in each locality/instance.
Once CES has achieved positive identity and widespread public recognition and support, we can then get on with the greater mission of fostering and rekindling localized economies. I see the goal as sustainable bio-regional economies. But first? lets start with community.
Possible to Implement?
Yes. Commence with a ‘Community Treasure Chest’ of goods and services, i.e. valuable and attractive voucher donations from CES supporters who wish to see the system succeed.
Inform local organizations how they can access this pool of resources by contributing vouchers for other goods or services.
See Edgar Cahn’s (TimeDollars) book: “No More Throw Away People”, because everybody can volunteer, everyone make a valuable contribution. No money is required.
I wish to help invest/develop series introductory Vids on these and further related topics.
Is the CES adaptable to a schema as outlined above? Is there interest in adopting a fresh approach. Cyclos already provides a mobile app, but that has not prevented a high failure rate. I fear that innumerable CES initiatives have previously come to nothing, and I earnestly wish to see CES succeed. Is anyone there thinking along similar lines?
Michael