Quote Originally Posted by Thorne View Post
"Enthusiasm" based systems don't work if there's no reward for the enthusiastic worker. In the CCCP (USSR) the only "enthusiastic" ones were the political leaders, who were able to get anything they wanted for themselves and their families. The average citizen could look forward to little but more work for no gain, while those who did no work still got fed, clothed and housed.
their leaders were mostly terminally ill old men who were incapable even to steal stuff anymore.
When we talk about rewards it should be something else than money. It can be satisfaction with your work and fame.

So you're better off being lazy? You get fed, and you don't have to work! Sounds great to me.
you still have to work something or you will be bored to death. it is just that if you want something more than basic living conditions you need to work and feed those who are satisfied by that.
in other words it is taxing of greed. better living standards you require more taxes you pay.
we don't need to promote consumption we need to force people to lower their living requirements. Don't buy all crap and there will be no need to make it. So you can be lazy if someone wants lots of crap like IPad or plasma TV or big new car then he can donate something for others.

Which means everyone but the guy with the resources starves. Sounds like the USSR, all right.
and what he is going to do with these raw resources? just dont let him to sell them and problem solved.
also resources should be taxed, so if you hog something you pay.

I am not suggesting to turn US into USSR
USSR had lots of problems but it also had lots of good stuff. unfortunately communism was too early at that time.
today efficiency is improved in may orders of magnitude and everything is different.
You have no choice. Capitalism is going to fail soon, or everything will turn into living hell.