Isn’t this supposed to be rebranding socialism to appeal to libertarians?
Doesn’t this imply that the means of production are owned by the workers?
Cooperative ownership of firms, while still maintaining Capitalism, means that workers will now be able to Democratically vote on who to fire during recessions, and will be able to collectively decide to reduce wages to maintains their firms competitiveness. It’s arguably more democratic and less cruel, but it’s not socialism.
Here’s a decent article on Mondragon Co-Op , and why it’s experience shows that worker ownership cannot succeed on Capitalism’s terms.
The only thing that it implies is that managers are voted for, which doesn’t make it socialism.
I think the idea is something along the lines of:
- Point out the obvious flaws in capitalism
- Label your alternative “real” capitalism, because Americans are so brainpoisoned by a century of anticommunism that calling them insufficiently capitalist can be wielded against them
“for all those who work” gotta love that eugenics vibe. Work will set you free indeed.
And there is a legitimate conversation to be had about how to best motivate people to do difficult/crucial jobs under socialism. For example, being a doctor is extremely difficult and also extremely crucial. If no one ever had to worry about themselves or their children being hungry or homeless, many people would still become doctors because they want to help others, but some folks who would choose to become doctors under capitalism might choose to do something else.
For example, being a doctor is extremely difficult and also extremely crucial. If no one ever had to worry about themselves or their children being hungry or homeless, many people would still become doctors because they want to help others, but some folks who would choose to become doctors under capitalism might choose to do something else.
Education and training that’s not commodified seems to more than cancel that out, going off how the doctors-per-capita ratio is much higher in socialist states. Attempts at complete wage flattening in the USSR were counter-productive in general, but their primary effect seems to have been indirectly encouraging corruption and semi-legal capitalist activity, not discouraging participation in education or difficult fields like medicine.
Even in Cuba, where the highest income comes from jobs related to the tourist industry, they have the highest number of doctors per capita out of any country.
i feel that this issue resolves itself. i will never take seriously the concern that a significant group of humans will just neglect things which need to be done. that has never been true of any society in the history of this world, it simply is not how our species operates. if we need food, we will acquire food. if we need more medical experts, people will become medical experts. if we need to build a dam, we will build a dam. someone will do it.
just because capitalism has disrupted this process does not mean it won’t be true once we dismantle capitalism
Lenin obviously made exceptions for the old and young. I think we can make more and dream bigger.
Guess I disagree with him there. No one should go hungry just because I don’t find them useful.
“I WILL GO BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF COMPREHENSIBLE IDEOLOGIES TO NOT HAVE TO CONSIDER COMMUNISM “
this is hurting my brain
as icky as i feel market socialism is and as easy as it would be for the capitalists to be reborn phoenix style in such a system it may be the best way to ease the chuds and other americans into socialist thinking.
