“We’re not fighting capitalism,” says Perry Gruber who founded Copiosis in 2013. Instead, he wants capitalism to "gently retire." Based on the concept of a gift economy, Copiosis ends debt, banks, and even money and government; and guarantees that everyone's basic needs are met. Through a continually evolving net-benefit system, people are rewarded "when they do something that makes people or the planet better off." Instead of promoting competition the system promotes cooperation, and has the potential to shift consciousness. It may sound far-fetched, but it's attracting attention. When Gruber was on KBOO a year and a half ago, there were two demonstration projects and 35 participants. There are now over 200 people involved, 29 projects around the world, and Gruber is just back from a speaking invitation in Greece with The Zeitgist Movement. Perry Gruber will be joined by Stefano Iaboni a Kenton neighborhood project participant here in Portland, Mah Serenity Love a Chico, California, project participant, and Brandon Pelton-Cox who is leading the formation of a demonstration project in Austin, Texas.
- KBOO