Positive Money Waterloo Discussion: Hierarchy and the work ethic
Hosted by Positive Money
Details
Tackling inequality is a key motivation behind Positive Money’s work on the monetary system. There is a widespread sense that loose monetary policies and Quantitative Easing have inflated asset prices and the wealth of a small class of individuals, while most people have faced low and stagnant pay for their hard work over the last decade.
The ethics of work, and our deeply felt sense of deserved reward, are at the heart of debates over what money system we should have. However, our opinions on hierarchy and what a “fair” distribution of wealth looks like, are sometimes based on unexamined assumptions.
How can we make sense of a society like ours that praises and moralizes hard work, yet is the outcome of 300 years of job-destroying technological advances? If speculation and "return on capital" remain at the core of our economic system, what will be the outcome?
By examining some historical examples of social hierarchies and how they interacted with money systems, perhaps we can better understand the present.
For this meetup, there will not be a formal presentation, but our volunteer (Ned Molloy) will kickstart the proceedings with a few words to frame the debate. Ned studied philosophy at Leeds, global politics at LSE, and is now an oil market journalist.
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The next meetup for the Positive Money Waterloo Discussion Group will take place on Thursday 22nd June (7:30-9:30pm).
Attendance is FREE, and we remain in our usual room.
Full address details: Godly Play Room (aka Crypt Meeting Room)
St John's Church
73 Waterloo Road
London
SE1 8TY
The Godly Play Room is located downstairs in the Crypt area of the Church. To gain access, do not enter via the Church's main doors, instead look for the door on the left-hand side. If it is closed, please press the buzzer for the Godly Play Room.
There is no requirement to do any background reading before attending.
As always, for those wanting to continue the discussion a group of us will head to the pub afterwards.
Look forward to seeing you there.
Sasha