no money

[Lord Zombiac]

No money in TC... why?

[Orlion]

Because it's a purely socialist society... possibly even communist... essentially, everyone knows they have a part in the community and work it. There's no need for money because wealth is not the motivator to live in the Land, it's to serve and heal the Land. So, people do the jobs they can do best, and I imagine some of those jobs is provide and prepare food for the rest of the community. Knowledge seems to be free to whoever wants it, and entertainment is simple. In short, there's no money because money isn't needed.

[Lord Zombiac]

This appeals to me-- a non-materialistic culture.

[hyarmion]

No money, yes tricky, I have wondered about the implications of that myself. Even in a "non-materialistic society" people need to eat, and if you dont grow your own food, you have to trade for food with other people. Barter works OK over short distances (people in the same community can agree on the value of bartered goods), but for trade over longer distances there needs to be some universally accepted means of exchange (i.e. money).

Without money, I have wondered how the Lords maintained the population of Revelstone, where did they get the food, clothing, uniforms, etc. from? They do not appear to have levied taxes on the Land (without money how could they?), yet they maintained a standing army (a very expensive thing to do).

[peter]

'From each according to his abilities to each according to his needs'. Hmmm.... yes; I'd never thought of this aspect of the Chrons before. It would be a bit like Plato's(?) utopian society (or dystopian if you feel that way) if it weren't for Foul and his bad boys!

[Cambo]

One of the main reasons this works in the Land- and why it could never work in our world- is they had an ideal that everyone (or nearly everyone) agreed was worht serving. From there, it's really just everyone working out how each individual or group can best serve a common goal.

No ideological conflict. That's the key.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

I concur--the society is nonmaterialistic. Light and heat are available via Earthpower (or, if you are unlucky, the Sunbane), as is healing. Trade will accomplish to obtain that which you cannot attain for yourself.

As far as maintaining a standing army in Revelstone...these people think of it as a wonderful duty to serve and do it out of love and loyalty, not just for a paycheck.

Even tools aren't really needed in the Land, not when wood and stone can be shaped via lore into whatever form might be needed. This reminds me of another point: although we know that people have access to, and knowledge of, metalsmithing (they have steel weapons), it doesn't appear that metal is "alive" in the sense that wood and stone are "alive" with Earthpower. Why not?

I don't recall the Brathair having money, either. The only "precious metal" ever encountered, outside of white gold, is regular yellow gold and even then only Kasreyn had access to it because of its magical properties. There is no mention of silver anywhere, even though--technically--"white gold" is an alloy of gold and silver.

[Lord Zombiac]

electrum is gold and silver.
white gold is nickel and gold.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

electrum is gold and silver.
white gold is nickel and gold.

hrm...you might be correct on this. I would need to double-check my chemistry/metallurgy sources. It wouldn't be the first time I am incorrect on something and it certainly won't be the last.

[thewormoftheworld'send]

electrum is gold and silver.
white gold is nickel and gold.

hrm...you might be correct on this. I would need to double-check my chemistry/metallurgy sources.

Yes. Wikipedia.

[thewormoftheworld'send]

No money in TC... why?

This entire line of questioning about dogs and money and the like is based on nothing more than a string of assumptions. Just because they weren't mentioned in the books that doesn't mean they don't exist in the Land. Come to think of it, I didn't see any mention of tomato soup.

[High Lord Tolkien]

Healthsense and Earthpower changes everything.

Why was there a need for wealth creation?
For what purpose?
It's tough sometimes to remember that the Land for the most part was paradise.

[thewormoftheworld'send]

Healthsense and Earthpower changes everything.

Why was there a need for wealth creation?
For what purpose?
It's tough sometimes to remember that the Land for the most part was paradise.

By "wealth creation" I take it you mean minting coins. Because wealth creation is a purely capitalist phenomenon, whereas on the other hand all kinds of places in history have used coins for facilitating trade. But self-sustaining communal existence doesn't normally make use of money. There aren't any inns in the Land, are there? Or any blacksmiths? Diamonddraught just seems to come from nowhere, and there is no need for horseshoes. I would have to infer that it's a money-less existence. As for the other question about dogs, we don't know one way or another about that. But they do herd sheep in the Land, that is mentioned in Gilden Fire.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

electrum is gold and silver.
white gold is nickel and gold.

hrm...you might be correct on this. I would need to double-check my chemistry/metallurgy sources.

Yes. Wikipedia.

I never, never, NEVER use that travesty of a website. I have real sources of information at home.

[thewormoftheworld'send]

hrm...you might be correct on this. I would need to double-check my chemistry/metallurgy sources.

Yes. Wikipedia.

I never, never, NEVER use that travesty of a website. I have real sources of information at home.

I have specific, serious issues with Wikipedia itself, but not any kind of absolute issues that would drive me away from using it.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

I have specific, serious issues with Wikipedia itself, but not any kind of absolute issues that would drive me away from using it.

For me, it is a matter of personal pride. Besides, I have reliable reference books at home.

[thewormoftheworld'send]

I have specific, serious issues with Wikipedia itself, but not any kind of absolute issues that would drive me away from using it.

For me, it is a matter of personal pride. Besides, I have reliable reference books at home.

As opposed to unreliable reference books?

[Hashi Lebwohl]

Precisely.

[DrPaul]

Without money, I have wondered how the Lords maintained the population of Revelstone, where did they get the food, clothing, uniforms, etc. from? They do not appear to have levied taxes on the Land (without money how could they?), yet they maintained a standing army (a very expensive thing to do).

We read more than once that there are extensive fields immediately to the east of Revelstone where abundant crops could have been grown, and also that the uplands behind Revelstone were fertile and could grow enough food to feed Revelstone's population (unless something like the unnatural winter in TPTP prevented this).

[SoulBiter]

But outside the Land there was money needed. In the One Tree, the people of Bhrathairain Harbor wanted payment of some kind and they were a trading society.