Probuncus Monkey
kiwifarms.net
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2025
Alright, hear me out. We already know that monkeys can learn to use currency. Experiments have shown that capuchins, for example, can trade tokens for food and even understand concepts like saving and theft. If they can grasp these basic economic principles, doesn’t it stand to reason that they should be allowed to participate in the economy?
Some will say, "But they’re just animals!" But if you think about it, aren’t some people functionally less capable than trained monkeys? We allow humans with no financial literacy and extremely low IQs to make economic decisions all the time, people who waste their paychecks on lottery tickets, get scammed by obvious phishing emails, or invest in NFTs. A monkey trained in basic trade might actually make better financial choices than some people.
And before anyone says, "Monkeys can’t be part of a human economy because they don’t work!", think again. Dogs work as service animals. Cows work in agriculture. Even pigeons have been used for military communications. Why should monkeys be excluded just because we find the idea uncomfortable? Excluding them is speciesist, plain and simple.
Let’s also talk about the issue of taxation. If a monkey earns money, should they pay taxes? If not, isn’t that unfair to human workers? Or do we create a tax-exempt status for non-human primates? And if they pay taxes, should they also have voting rights? Because taxation without representation is the dictionary definition of tyranny.
I get it, some of you will dismiss this as a stupid idea, but the biggest innovations always start with a "crazy" idea. If monkeys can engage in commerce just as effectively as some people, then maybe we need to start questioning our outdated views on economics.
So, where do we draw the line? If monkeys are intellectually capable of integrating and participating into our financial systems, should we allow this to happen, or is the real issue that humans are just afraid of competition this would create?
Yes, I realise the question is a little bit silly, but if monkeys are truly capable of contributing, and they are happy to do it, why shouldn't they be allowed to?
Some will say, "But they’re just animals!" But if you think about it, aren’t some people functionally less capable than trained monkeys? We allow humans with no financial literacy and extremely low IQs to make economic decisions all the time, people who waste their paychecks on lottery tickets, get scammed by obvious phishing emails, or invest in NFTs. A monkey trained in basic trade might actually make better financial choices than some people.
And before anyone says, "Monkeys can’t be part of a human economy because they don’t work!", think again. Dogs work as service animals. Cows work in agriculture. Even pigeons have been used for military communications. Why should monkeys be excluded just because we find the idea uncomfortable? Excluding them is speciesist, plain and simple.
Let’s also talk about the issue of taxation. If a monkey earns money, should they pay taxes? If not, isn’t that unfair to human workers? Or do we create a tax-exempt status for non-human primates? And if they pay taxes, should they also have voting rights? Because taxation without representation is the dictionary definition of tyranny.
I get it, some of you will dismiss this as a stupid idea, but the biggest innovations always start with a "crazy" idea. If monkeys can engage in commerce just as effectively as some people, then maybe we need to start questioning our outdated views on economics.
So, where do we draw the line? If monkeys are intellectually capable of integrating and participating into our financial systems, should we allow this to happen, or is the real issue that humans are just afraid of competition this would create?
Yes, I realise the question is a little bit silly, but if monkeys are truly capable of contributing, and they are happy to do it, why shouldn't they be allowed to?
