FourHourDay published its utopian novel in 2000 as a flirtatious invitation to consider the implications of modern technology and to dream large. What would happen if every human were endowed with the proper tools, education, and free time for grand creativity? The mere whiff of imagined possibilities would then lead to the obvious conclusion that capitalism can’t get us there and isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. The spirit of FourHourDay has been one of calm and infinite patience. Sooner or later, humankind would come to its senses.
Unfortunately, capitalism now repeats its routine death spiral, and our equanimity yields to exasperation. The true threat to life and property will come from both the blatant insolvency of financial institutions and from the insane policies implemented as cure. As socialists of a kind, it’s our responsibility to rescue capitalism much in the manner of its salvation in the 1940’s.
Every economist knows that the Second World War – and not the pathetic New Deal – ended the Great Depression. But the omitted detail is that the war cost the modern equivalent of $49 trillion, and we had neither the cash nor any wealthy lender at hand. We now know that the “miracle” involved a command economy, printed money, a national bank, and moral consensus, but the air of shrouded mystery still clings to the whole affair. So, I now ask for your assistance. A great deal of research and contemplation remains to be done, and your contributions will be valued.
But this is not a detached intellectual game. FourHourDay now proposes that the United States invest $49 trillion over the next seven years in a variety of development projects aiding the poorest of the world’s poor. Every human being possesses a natural right to water, nutrition, housing, education, and health, and it’s high time we put ourselves to work performing only those labors that are worthwhile and magnificent. This is the moral and financial equivalent of war, and we owe it to ourselves.
Despite any remaining questions concerning war finance, the open secret is that the money was pulled, not from thin air, but from a profound committment to a better world. It's not at all clear that the United States can find a new moral and intellectual compass, and the provisional opinion of FourHourDay is that the world will be dragged, kicking and screaming, into economic sanity. Yet, the more people who comprehend the fictional nature of money and the bright promise of true credit, the smoother the transition will be.
The best entry into this version of Alice’s rabbit hole is the "Nutshell" piece found on the Essays page. From there, explore other efforts on the page, and then submit your own contributions. Download the novel, and take the necessary time to let your imagination run with both wild abandon and gritty determination.
______________________________
In addition to revolutionizing the moribund world of economics, FourHourday also aspires to create model communities of cooperative production. Think Shakers and Oneida. To this end, I now operate a machine shop catering to the needs of medical and biological researchers. Guitar production is another embryonic initiative. These twinkles in the eye and bees in the bonnet need only the right number of jolly and steadfast collaborators. Please know that positions are available, and these are generally side by side, cheek to jowl, and shoulder to the wheel.
Gabe Sinclair
Unfortunately, capitalism now repeats its routine death spiral, and our equanimity yields to exasperation. The true threat to life and property will come from both the blatant insolvency of financial institutions and from the insane policies implemented as cure. As socialists of a kind, it’s our responsibility to rescue capitalism much in the manner of its salvation in the 1940’s.
Every economist knows that the Second World War – and not the pathetic New Deal – ended the Great Depression. But the omitted detail is that the war cost the modern equivalent of $49 trillion, and we had neither the cash nor any wealthy lender at hand. We now know that the “miracle” involved a command economy, printed money, a national bank, and moral consensus, but the air of shrouded mystery still clings to the whole affair. So, I now ask for your assistance. A great deal of research and contemplation remains to be done, and your contributions will be valued.
But this is not a detached intellectual game. FourHourDay now proposes that the United States invest $49 trillion over the next seven years in a variety of development projects aiding the poorest of the world’s poor. Every human being possesses a natural right to water, nutrition, housing, education, and health, and it’s high time we put ourselves to work performing only those labors that are worthwhile and magnificent. This is the moral and financial equivalent of war, and we owe it to ourselves.
Despite any remaining questions concerning war finance, the open secret is that the money was pulled, not from thin air, but from a profound committment to a better world. It's not at all clear that the United States can find a new moral and intellectual compass, and the provisional opinion of FourHourDay is that the world will be dragged, kicking and screaming, into economic sanity. Yet, the more people who comprehend the fictional nature of money and the bright promise of true credit, the smoother the transition will be.
The best entry into this version of Alice’s rabbit hole is the "Nutshell" piece found on the Essays page. From there, explore other efforts on the page, and then submit your own contributions. Download the novel, and take the necessary time to let your imagination run with both wild abandon and gritty determination.
______________________________
In addition to revolutionizing the moribund world of economics, FourHourday also aspires to create model communities of cooperative production. Think Shakers and Oneida. To this end, I now operate a machine shop catering to the needs of medical and biological researchers. Guitar production is another embryonic initiative. These twinkles in the eye and bees in the bonnet need only the right number of jolly and steadfast collaborators. Please know that positions are available, and these are generally side by side, cheek to jowl, and shoulder to the wheel.
Gabe Sinclair
For further information, please email gabe@fourhourday.org.