For years followers of Ayn Rand and other conservatives have been telling us greed and selfishness are good things -- and should be celebrated and encouraged. For those of us who find this philosophy revolting the Natives of the Pacific Northwest provide an alternative.
For centuries the prestige of members of Pacific Northwest tribes was determined not by what the individual possessed but by what he gave away. This ingenious economic system redistributed wealth while maintaining the incentive to produce. Hunters hunted, fishermen fished, artists strived ... just as they do in a capitalist system. However, the fruits of their labor were enjoyed by all. The workers' reward was social status (a far greater incentive than a few more deer skins or fish).
The system worked so well the Colonial Canadian and American governments had to outlaw it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potlatch
For centuries the prestige of members of Pacific Northwest tribes was determined not by what the individual possessed but by what he gave away. This ingenious economic system redistributed wealth while maintaining the incentive to produce. Hunters hunted, fishermen fished, artists strived ... just as they do in a capitalist system. However, the fruits of their labor were enjoyed by all. The workers' reward was social status (a far greater incentive than a few more deer skins or fish).
The system worked so well the Colonial Canadian and American governments had to outlaw it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potlatch
