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[Originally published
in The Gargoyle, November-December 1976 under the title "For
Lands Sake"]
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If we accept the concept, the entire universe, excepting human beings
and the things made by human beings, are natural resources - we have no
difficulty in distinguishing land, oil, minerals, fish hatched of
themselves in the sea; man and an automobile. These are illustrations
and thing's made by man can be separated from those of nature.
The relationship of the operation of human exertion upon natural
resources in the making of material things might be considered "economics".
The study of economics, or perhaps we might say the basic or fundamental
principles of economics, might be narrowed to "the principles of
making material things by human beings."
It is evident that humans must have access to natural resources in
order to make things. Agreement among individuals is conceivable whereby
the process might take place, and in the interest of more and better
things for all, individuals would make those things which they can best
make, and exchange what they make with others who likewise make what
they can make best.
To crouch these concepts into the common economic terms, we could say
the factors of production are LAND --Natural Resources; LABOR -- human
energy; and some of this energy may be devoted to making tools and
machinery which enable easier and greater production, and for which the
economic term may be CAPITAL. The things man makes or produces we may
term WEALTH.
Strictly speaking, that may be all there is to "economics".
Simply the making and exchanging of material things. However, we may, if
we wish, go a step further and include SERVICES. However, we must keep
in mind that those who render services must have food, shelter and
clothing, and no doubt want other things, so basically there must be
production of material things.
Some "medium of exchange" would seem to be desirable and
could be provided by the "workers", but there conceivably
might be no need for any Government to interfere with the production or
servicing or exchanging. Limited government for other purposes might be
needed.
The use of location both for residence and production would be paid for
at full annual rental value and the severance value of natural resources
paid into a central fund. After deduction of cost of administration, a
portion of this fund might be used for necessary government expenses and
the balance distributed to citizens.
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