User:JonesE

First use of Wikipedia in the fall of 2003. Registered winter 2003. Made New Years 2004 resolution that I would learn to contribute to the project in a manner that would serve the knowledge enhancement of the human race. Not there yet, but learning...

Wikipedia is the kind of thing that the internet was called into being for. Ooops, I think I just dangled a participle.

Now, if knowledge can be shared and expanded via a Wikipedia, then what is next?

I could foresee the internet serving as a 'paramutual health insurance' forum, whereby a population can share the risk of their fellows. Imagine if one could be a member of a population where a sum of money paid faithfully each month to a mutual bank and transparently administered in real time which would pay the medical expenses of those unfortunates who find themselves in need, and not pay the salary of disinterested profiteering corporate minions. Doctors get paid. Patients get treated. Hospitals have their expenses covered. Most important, the whole of the population would be able to be involved in the outcome of the patient and their family.

WikiHealth

If such a scheme could come to fruition, then maybe a similar scheme could benefit the same population when it comes to credit and investment. You save your money. I spend my money. I carry credit card debt. You carry interest bearing account balances. Currently, my card interest rate borders on the usurious. Your account pays an interest rate that does not cover even a modicum of inflation. Since I will always be a borrower, and you will be a saver, then can we not serve each the other? I would pay a lesser interest rate for my credit card balance, you would receive a greater rate for your savings. Why would we have to get any other entity involved? Once again, the transparency would be real time.

WikiBank

The only enforcement would be natural self interest/naked greed. For if you or I default or act in a manner that is not agreed upon beforehand, the result would be banishment from the population in question. Much like Wikipedia, the cleaning crew would see to it that unworthy, dishonest or deadbeat members could never be reinstated.

WikiWorld