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  • FAQ#109 What is TVP's stance on personal possessions?

    It’s not about "owning nothing" and TVP is not anti-ownership. In fact, a global Resource-Based Economy removes the need for laws or police enforcement and no one would have reason or need to stop another person from choosing to own anything.

    Ownership is essentially your decision to keep something forever. Ownership is certainly an option in TVP but we advocate that access is a better alternative for most things, as it is much less of a burden on both people and the environment. Clothes, toothbrushes, arts & crafts, and family heirlooms provide some examples of items that are expected to be "owned" by individuals. However, anyone who has dealt with the time & energy-draining process of moving their owned items to another house or apartment has probably learned this important life lesson: "The more stuff you own, the more stuff owns you."

    Possession refers to things that you hold onto for as long as that item serves your needs. The most dramatic example of possession within a global RBE would likely be the home you live in. With rapid, free travel available to all, the entire world becomes your home and you are free to move around or settle down however your life path leads you. Those who decide to explore the world would have ultra-high-tech apartments awaiting them at each of their destinations (or choose something more intimate like a high-tech bungalow or tent if they prefer to 'rough it'). Homes in a global RBE are fully custom designed to your specifications & needs using the most advanced materials to be easily updated with the latest technologies, and are readily recyclable if/when you choose to relocate. Without a monetary system complicating things, taking "possession" of a home makes much more sense than the current responsibilities and stresses of today's home ownership.

    Accessibility means using the latest model available until it’s no longer needed, including the ability to access things you need 'on-demand'. Access over ownership is especially ideal for things that break down or quickly become obsolete due to more recent design or technical advancements. Instead of owning something that turns out to be a wasted investment, it would simply be returned for a new replacement.

    Goods would be acquired from central distribution centers in the cities and they would be available on-call or near the location of interest. For example, a visit to a ski lodge would provide on-location access to the best snowboards. They would generally be used until it's time to go home, and are simply returned. If someone enjoyed that snowboard so much that they decide to keep them, that’s absolutely fine, too. That new acquisition then becomes their storage & transportation burden. However, if goods can can always be accessed and returned, why would someone want to drag something around with them or horde items that they don't use often at their home? If you simply had access to things you needed, like a camera set or a snowboard, then there’s no point in owning those items. On the other hand, if someone requires a drum kit or cello for frequent practice, paint supplies or other frequently used items, they are always welcome to take possession of it.

    To summarize, it is far more humane & life-supporting to use a system based on universal access, for it dramatically lowers waste and redundancy while increasing space and efficiency.

    Created on 22/07/2012 in TVP FAQ

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