The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: Out & About

With the economy so closely mirroring a period which history ominously titled "The Great Depression," the capitalists' theory of "too big to fail" has, and the idea of "free trade for all," ironically, has not.



Yet in response to Adam Smith's failing capitalist utopia, grassroots' organizers have created a new economic system - a gift economy.

Known as "Really Really Free Markets," they have been spontaneously popping up throughout the United States, and have inevitably made their way to Athens.

"A gift economy is one in which participants give without the expectation of reward or remuneration," said Matthew Pulver, a local organizer. "The Really Really Free Market is one way people in Athens can explore alternatives to the cold, coercive, hierarchical and unforgiving logic of our type of economy."

But one inherent principle is the idea of building social trust.

"One of the most hopeful things about events like this is that there is an underlying tone of understanding, collectivity and helpfulness ­- everyone chips in, everyone helps out," said Liz Kinnamon, a senior from St. Simons Island.

At Athens' Really Really Free Market one can expect to find everything from toasters to tank tops to hand massages to food.

"The last RRFM was really successful … People showed up on bikes or by foot, maybe sat down to eat free food from Food Not Bombs, got a free haircut or bike-fixing tips, and went home with old records, CDs and clothes," Kinnamon said. "The funniest thing I can remember being taken home by someone was a washing machine."

Pulver said a good example of the gift economy was the life and history of Jesus Christ. His message can be concisely summarized: give freely and generously, regardless of potential reward, he said.

Continued...

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