resource based economy has the problem that most developed nations (that's in the name) already developed all their resources and depleted them mostly and thus all people there work not with their own resources. Also the venus project says this grand line
By supplying an efficiently designed economy, everyone can enjoy a very high standard of living with all of the amenities of a high technological society.
Notice that
1) Not everyone (as in, the developed nations) could actually maintain the standard of living they already have.
2) Very high living standard is very relative, and very subjective.
There is also that those who own resources would be gods, and those who don't less worth than slaves. A resource based economy would only be the old monarchy system all over again, except kings are now those who sit on mines or farms, or those corporations who run those farms and mines. With a resource based economy 99% of the worlds population also could no longer pay for anything. Most people do not have access to any resource of their own. Actually, one thing I definitely do not want coming is resource based economy ;P
Because, if you try to adapt everyones standard of living to the same level, a lot of very powerful western people would be downgrading quite drastically. Is a computer very high standard of living? If you ask a sudanese? What about making video games, music? Who would feed those who do that?
The first thing I want to say is that I think you're making a lot of assumptions about a resource-based economy without knowing much about it.
The vast amount of resources we have on the Earth (still) is enough to feed, shelter, and clothe the entire Earth population many times over, the main problem is how it's being misused and the cost of transportation.
Geothermal energy utilizes, what is called “heat mining”, which, through a simple process using water, is able to generate massive amounts of clean energy. In 2006 an MIT report on geothermal energy found that 13.000 zettajoule of power are currently available in the earth with the possibility of 2.000 ZJ being easily tapable with improved technology. The total energy consumption of all the countries on the planet is about half of a zettajoule a Year. This means about 4000 years of planetary power could be harnessed in this medium alone. And when we understand that the earth’s heat generation is constantly renewed, this energy is really limitless. It could be used forever!
These energy sources are only a few of the clean renewable mediums available. And as time goes on we will find more. The grand realization is that we have total energy abundance without the need for pollution, traditional conservation, or in fact a price tag!
And what about transportation?
The prevailing means of transportation in our societies is by automobile and aircraft. Both of which predominantly need fossil fuels to run.
In the case of the automobile, the battery technology needed to power an electric car that can go over a hundred miles an hour for over two hundred miles on one charge exists, and has existed for many years. However, due to battery patents controlled by the oil industry, which limits their ability to maintain market share coupled with political pressure from the energy industry; the accessibility and affordability of this technology is limited.
There is absolutely no reason, other than pure corrupt profit interest, that every single vehicle in the world cannot be electric and utterly clean with zero need for gasoline.
As far as airplanes, it is time we realized that this means of travel is inefficient, cumbersome, slow, and causes far too much pollution.
This is a mag-lev train. It uses magnets for propulsion. It is fully suspended by a magnetic field and requires less than 2% of the energy used for plane travel. The train has no wheels, so nothing can wear out. The current maximum speed, of versions of this technology as used in Japan, is 361 miles per hour. However, this version of the technology is very dated.
An organization called ET3, which has connections with The Venus Project, has established a two base mag-lev that can travel up to 4,000 miles per hour in a motionless, frictionless tube, which can go over land or under water. Imagine going from L.A. to New York for an extended lunch break, or from Washington D.C. to Beijing China in 2 hours. This is the future of continental and intercontinental travel. Fast, clean, with only a fraction of the energy useage we use today for the same means.
In fact, between mag-lev technology, advanced battery storage, and geothermal energy; there would be no reason to ever burn fossil fuels again. And we could do this now, if we were not held back by the paralyzing profit structure.
This technology is already a reality, but Capitalism keeps us from pursuing it.
When you say people that "own" the resources would be rich, you are stuck in the Capitalistic mindset. "Rich" wouldn't be a concept, because money wouldn't exist anymore. Nobody would own the resources, the resources would belong to everybody.
There would be no ruling hierarchy or democracy, most of the major decisions will be made using algorithms and technology:
When computers eventually have sensors extended into all areas of the physical and social complex, we will be able to achieve centralization of decision-making. In a global resource-based economy, decisions would not be based on local politics but on a holistic problem solving approach.
This centralized system could be connected to research labs and universities, with all data monitored and updated constantly. Most of the technology needed for such infrastructure management is currently available. The major difference between today's computer technology and the system we recommend is that our system extends its autonomic nervous system (environmental sensors) into all areas relevant to the social complex. It coordinates a balance between production and distribution, and operates to maintain a balanced-load economy. This technology of industrial electronic feedback can be applied to the entire global economy.
For example, with electrical sensors extended into the agricultural region, computerized systems would manage and control agriculture by monitoring the water table, insects, pests, plant diseases, soil nutrients, and so forth. The information processed will enable us to arrive at more appropriate decision-making based on feedback from the environment.
Computers and artificial intelligence will serve as catalysts for change. They will establish scientific scales of performance. It is doubtful that in the latter part of the twenty-first century people will play any significant role in decision-making. Eventually, the installation of AI and machine decision-making will manage all resources serving the common good.
This will result in a more humane and meaningful approach for shaping tomorrow's civilization that is not based on the opinions or desires of a particular sect or individual. All decisions would be made on the basis of a comprehensive survey of resources, energy, and existing technology without allowing any advantage to a particular nation or select group of people.
This may be accomplished with large-scale, computer-based processors that can assist us in defining the most humane and appropriate ways to manage environmental and human affairs. This is essentially the function of government. With computers processing trillions of bits of information per second, existing technologies far exceed the human capacity for processing information and they can arrive at equitable and sustainable decisions about the development and distribution of physical resources. With this potential, we would evolve beyond political decisions made on the basis of power and advantage.
It's appropriate that I'm posting this on the AI forum
, but in all seriousness, can we please just skip the "AI taking over humanity discussion", you've watched too many Sci-Fi movies.
Computers are reliable, honest, and unbiased. On any aspect which requires human decision making (such as say moral issues like crime and punishment) only the experts will vote, not the common citizens. Why would a common citizen vote for something they haven't been trained in and know nothing about? This is the major problem with Democracy. Studies have shown that Democracies create only mediocre governments because the people voting aren't intelligent enough to make good choices.
http://news.yahoo.com/people-arent-smart-enough-democracy-flourish-scientists-185601411.htmlAlso yes, some people's standard of living may have to drop to make it fair for everybody. I don't think that's too much to ask.
What about making video games, music? Who would feed those who do that?
It's estimated that if technology took over most of the jobs that would be needed with a Resource-Based Economy (and plenty of things like business and fast food could disappear), only about 10-20% of the population would have to work at any given time. On the contrary, people would have much MORE time to do things they loved, like making music or video games.