It can seem like you cant win when debating followers of Jaque Fresco. The answer you get when you try to use standard socialist calculation arguments is to deny the basic premise of economics; the assumption of scarcity. They claim that in their utopia there big brother super computer will do everything for them and super quick(utilising a series of tubes for delivery, you just have to enter your needs if I remember correctly). So far so Star Trek. Now I am not going to argue with the idea that such a future is possible. That is not the dodgy part. It starts getting dodgy when you ask them how this world is to be achieved. The answer usually given is that we have to stop using money. For them the ‘money system’ is the problem.
The core of there economic beliefs is the need in a capitalist system for so called ‘Cyclical Consumption’
the idea that we cannot stop the circulation of money from producers to consumers and back because the system will collapse.
What Fresco draws from this is
“Nothing physically produced can ever maintain an operational lifespan longer than what can
be endured in order to maintain economic integrity through ‘cyclical consumption’.”
He is saying in essence that capitalism in its very form prevents the design things that can last (virtually)forever. And actually tries to use the water diamond paradox to prove that capitalist actors will CREATE scarcity where there is none because scarcity is profitable! Once we are freed from this then we can escape scarcity by designing things that will never break down.
This is how he will create his Utopia. In effect he pulls a slight of hand. Hiding scarcity behind the curtain. He actually thinks that removing money will usher in a utopia and not destroy civilisation. Venus fans don’t seem to get the simple logical progression of: remove money > regress to barter> breakdown in the division of labour > productivity drops off a cliff > millions die. Fresco relies on a variation of Marxist false consciousness for why a post money world will work. ‘Vanity, Ego, Jealousy and Greed’ are all results of ‘the system’ remove it and humanity can be perfected. LOL and he says he’s not utopian.
There is a whole load more stuff like this in the Activist Orientation guide and all you need to debunk it is in the first chapter.
http://thezeitgeistmovement.com/The%20Zeitgeist%20Movement.pdf
here are some bloopers for you amusement
“There is also the Investor who gives fiscal support to an Employer/Owner/Producer, or trades in the Financial markets for
gain. This isn’t relevant to the context for an investor is not required to exist in order for the market system to operate.”
“ monetary system’s foremost motivating principle is Profit
, or the acquisition of money through
the exploitation of others.”
"through the “advent of Technology and the elimination of Scarcity, 99% of all economic theory is now an outdated
and irrelevant practice”
“On yet another level, it should be pointed out
that the central banks of nearly all countries also create scarcity within the money supply itself in
order to keep pressure on the market system.”
The "money supply is expanded, typically creating “economic
growth” (That’s right boys and girls just crank up the money supply and grow, grow, grow!!! Inflation? whats that?)