Currencies of the Future

I see a future where the basics are provided for free. Others see that future as well, but some go as far as to say that the basics would be free without any strings at all, and that's too far for me to envision. I do hope that Nerds Clusters candy will be considered a basic need by then.

Before that happens, there are still ways that people will get their basics because they contribute in ways other than money. These ways are just as valuable, if not more.

The first way is simply through family.

• Kids: They're the ultimate investments, and parents have them with the expectation they'll have to care for them. I mean, there's no expectation at the VERY beginning, but that's a long tangent. It's weird: more than an expectation, it's a calling, where they feel the rewards of helping a little person grow. When Theresa does her first flip on the trampoline, you can't help but be excited with her for whatever small part of her skill you've encouraged, and you're going to keep giving her space to grow, without conditions. (Halloween tax being the rare exception.)
• Parents: They raised you, which is typically enough to warrant care later in life.

There are limits to this giving. For example, there are behaviors at some ages where parents must force them out because the kids become intolerable – or, put more politely, they aren't able to keep progressing in their parents' home and they must leave. Thankfully they usually choose to leave before that point. And children may not support parents if the parents were not respectable people. But the exceptions prove the rule: families will do these things for one another merely because they're family, sometimes including siblings, aunts and uncles, etc. Enough said.

So, besides family, what are other "currencies" that will be payments that keep basic food in people's mouths?

• Performance: Creativity is admired. This is especially true when someone has invested time and discipline honing their skills... the more years of practice, the better the result – and we appreciate both the result and all the time spent to achieve it. Even when someone does not have their years of practice yet, when they offer something reveals a tender part of themselves or a part that touches us, that vulnerability is also something we appreciate. So everyone has something to offer.
• Uncompensated Service: When people are seen contributing to those school events or park maintenance chores, they gain credibility with their peers. This is the most common contribution: everyone has unique character and skills and interests, so when they spend more time in those areas then others will see. It may be that those skills are only used for oneself, and that would keep a person poor in neighborly goodwill; more often, people share their skills. They like to show off. Seriously: they will continue to perform if you show them some appreciation. I only make my Sunday afternoon nachos as often as I do because I have salivating people who throw out a "thanks" before they disappear to let me do the dishes as well. Imagine the appreciation people earn when they create meaningful contributions like roads.
• Time: This is similar to actual service, but there may be nothing concrete accomplished. Obviously, the term "concrete" in that sentence was written by a man. People – and especially women – constantly hang out without any particular "actionable agenda". Those shared stories and recipes and TikTok life hacks contribute to society even more than city ordinances, and they provide the foundation for the next concrete action.
• Shared purpose: Even if the effort is meager, it is rewarding to work with people who value the same goals or even activities. Their participation provides encouragement to us and advertising to others, so we may appreciate their support despite the fact that their results may be significant.
• Simple friendliness: When you go to a local grocery store or school event and see a friendly, smiling face, you can't help but smile back. If you had any influence in food distribution, you'd add a notch in their favor.

These examples show that there is a large range of effort that we all appreciate.

Those deep into the world where money provides all things will laugh at the suggestion that these will somehow earn them food. But when there is a community that is united by values and not just trade, these are exactly the commodities that are of most worth. As we redistribute the surplus of basics in our parts of the world, they're the ones most respected by those of us who want to grow a human-oriented society, and they're the currencies with the most weight as we choose where to put our giving.

MONEY, n. A blessing that is of no advantage to us excepting when we part with it.
-- Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

Activities:

• Contribute to the Basic Meals project.
• Work with Olio to share food.