In this offering, We put forth the notion that the worth of a man should not be determined by how much he can consume or accumulate but by servitude and the gifting of a legacy of empowerment to these he has encountered in his life’s journey.
We argue that there is a life beyond capitalism and the greed that accompanies it. There is a life beyond the depletion of non renewable resources if we strive to live harmoniously with nature’s abundance. There is a better life for the workers of the world if employers put people first above profit.
We present this story of an alternate program that has been designed and implemented to value man’s contribution to the healthy and sustainable growth of society.
Time Banking-Strengthening communities through reciprocity
Time Dollars were developed in 1980 by law professor Edgar Cahn, who lamented that crucial work to improve people’s lives—such as child and elder care—is much needed but little valued. He saw that many who could do these tasks were idle and felt useless. To get people economically engaged, Cahn proposed a system where people earn credit according to the number of hours they work. These Time Dollars can then be “cashed in” for services, like yard work, tutoring, etc.
The necessity for a Time Bank
The monetary economy only pays for the specialized skills that produce the goods and services it requires.
Result: Certain kinds of work—rearing healthy children, preserving families, making neighborhoods safe and vibrant, caring for the frail and vulnerable, redressing injustice, enriching our culture, saving the environment—are not recognized, valued and rewarded as “real” work. People who invest their time in these areas, people who do not have money, and people who are perceived as lacking marketable skills are often rejected or discarded.
What is Time Banking all about?
At its most basic level, Time banking is simply about spending an hour doing something for somebody in your community. That hour goes into the Time Bank as a Time Dollar. Then you have a Time dollar to spend on having someone doing something for you. It's a simple idea, but it has powerful ripple effects in building community connections and promoting social justice by connecting people through reciprocity.
Time Banking is about local individuals helping each other out, one-on-one or with group projects. They help rebuild neighborhood networks and strengthen communities. It connects you to the best in people because it creates a system that connects unmet needs with untapped resources.
The Five Core Values of Time Banking
Assets -We are all assets.
Every human being has something to contribute. No more throw away people. We cannot overlook the unique skills and talents that each of has to offer others. Every member of society has talents that may not be immediately marketable or lead to employment but may be used to enrich the social fabric of a community.
Redefining Work -Some work is beyond price.
Work has to be redefined to value whatever it takes to raise healthy children, build strong families, revitalize neighborhoods, make democracy work, advance social justice and make the planet sustainable. That kind of work needs to be honored, recorded and rewarded.
Reciprocity -Helping works better as a two-way street.
The question: “How can I help you?” needs to change so we ask: “How can we help each other build the world we both will live in?”
Social Networks-We need each other.
Networks are stronger than individuals- People helping each other reweave communities of support, strength & trust. Community is built upon sinking roots, building trust, creating networks. The trust, sharing and mutual support of our social networks are essential elements of healthy communities and healthy individuals.
Respect-Every human being matters.
Respect underlies freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and everything we value. Respect supplies the heart and soul of democracy. We must respect where people are in the moment, not where we hope they will be at some future point.
Pertinent points
How would a Time Bank work in a rural setting?
The time bank would be set up on a website and on paper at the local community center and it would be run by volunteers. Local residents would sign up with their known talents and they would also list their wants if they have them at the time. As the list grows, residents would log into the website and see if there are people who require their particular expertise. If there is, they would be put in touch with the person in need. They would perform the task and earn a credit equal to about an hour of work. We will call this credit a ‘Time shilling’; we will come up with a catchier name later.
Some possible scenarios:
• A retired school teacher helps some high school students with tutoring. He earns credit in the time bank to use later. The students then log in the hours as owed to the community and they list areas they would be of use to the community.
• A farmer needs help with putting up a fence or other task on his farm. He previously donated some poultry products to a committee that was having a fund raising dinner to raise funds to renovate the local primary school and earned time shillings. He redeems his credits by requesting the high schools to help him put up the fence.
What kinds of services would be exchanged in a Time Bank?
Help at Home
• Child Care
• Cooking & Sewing
• Hair & Beauty
• Housekeeping
Community Activities
• Clean Up/Recycling
• Community Service
• Fundraising
Home Repair
• Car Care
• Carpentry/Construction
• Electrical
• Garden & Yard Work
• Painting
• Plumbing
Education
• Classes/Workshops
• Computers/Technology
• Personal Finances
• Tutoring/Mentoring
Conclusion
As we have said before, the rural areas are the life blood of our nation. We need to make them as habitable and sustainable as possible and reverse the rural to urban migration.
Our local governments are not the beacons of hope to hinge our future on.
Politicians are lacking in any development ideas and it would be the height of folly to expect progress from a bunch of fraudsters only out to enrich themselves through the pillaging of public resources.
Progress will only come through local community organizations tackling local issues. Local leaders aspiring to elected offices will have to pay their dues through the implementation of local projects.
We are in the process of finalizing a manifesto of our socially, politically and economically inclusive organization to be known as The African Economic Democracy Party.
Economic revolutionaries wanted, apply within.
Reader responses welcome.
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