Alternative Economy

[troutsky]

Many who hear the critiques of capitalism say sure, I know what I don't like, but there is no alternative. I want to be FOR something , not just against.

I think it wise to be suspicious of those who draw up exact blueprints for a utopian society because any successful plan will require a great deal of mixed input but I do admire those, Like Michael Albert, who have at least tackled this daunting issue. Albert does so with humility and the understanding it is just an outline to be built upon, but the thought he and others have already put into their system is impressive and inspiring and I want to share it with others.

Called Participatory Economics or Parecon for short, it is built on familiar and widely shared values of solidarity, equity, diversity and self-management. It's central institutional and organizational components include:

social rather than private ownership
nested worker and consumer councils and balanced job complexes rather than corporate
workplace organization
remuneration for effort and sacrifice rather than for property , power or output
participatory democratic planning rather than markets or central planning
participatory self-management rather than class rule

This of course challenges a lot of our basic assumptions about the nature of work and the relationship between productive property and personal freedom. Albert posits that much of today's unequal distribution of wealth and power is that a class between the workers and owners, one he calls the professional-managerial class, reinforces hierarchy. I think his case is solid.

Anyway, there is a great deal of information at www.znet.org and Alberts book Parecon has much to think about. If there are enough folks interested this would make a great study group. Reply here or feel free to contact me.

Dave [e-mail]

[bedouina]

Good morning, all. I am interested in this model and would like to participate in a study group on this. I have not read the book and will look for it at the library. I have also posted in the general forum about pooling resources and included a link to a website which offers suggestion on doing this. I have heard that it has been done here in Missoula, but I think that this movement offers a perfect vehicle for implementing a barter system on a big level and in an organized way.

I very much agree that we need to focus on some positive steps that we can take to disassociate ourselves from this system and create our own ways of managing our lives. Engaging in cashless exchanges does not require that one agrees with any particular philosophy, just a practical way to live if you cannot quite get off the grid, or are off it and want to engage with others. Thanks for the post, and count me in.

[kim]

We are meeting on Thursday at 5:30 pm to discuss one alternative, transition towns. As a part of that, the discussion has naturally touched on parecon and will likely explore several alternative economic and lifestyle models over the course of the coming months. See more about the discussion group under the "Development/Teach-in Workgroup" section of the forum, called Study Group Meet-up 10/27.
We meet at the first floor of the UC center on campus on Thursday, everyone is welcome!

[missie80]

Oct 28, 2011 15:04:43 GMT -7 troutsky said:

Many who hear the critiques of capitalism say sure, I know what I don't like, but there is no alternative. I want to be FOR something , not just against.

I think it wise to be suspicious of those who draw up exact blueprints for a utopian society because any successful plan will require a great deal of mixed input but I do admire those, Like Michael Albert, who have at least tackled this daunting issue. Albert does so with humility and the understanding it is just an outline to be built upon, but the thought he and others have already put into their system is impressive and inspiring and I want to share it with others.

Called Participatory Economics or Parecon for short, it is built on familiar and widely shared values of solidarity, equity, diversity and self-management. It's central institutional and organizational components include:

social rather than private ownership
nested worker and consumer councils and balanced job complexes rather than corporate
workplace organization
remuneration for effort and sacrifice rather than for property , power or output
participatory democratic planning rather than markets or central planning
participatory self-management rather than class rule

This of course challenges a lot of our basic assumptions about the nature of work and the relationship between productive property and personal freedom. Albert posits that much of today's unequal distribution of wealth and power is that a class between the workers and owners, one he calls the professional-managerial class, reinforces hierarchy. I think his case is solid.

Anyway, there is a great deal of information at www.znet.org and Alberts book Parecon has much to think about. If there are enough folks interested this would make a great study group. Reply here or feel free to contact me.

Dave [e-mail]

[missie80]

I am interested in pursuing these ideas. Is the study group still meeting at the UC?

[kim]

Hi Missie80:
The group is meeting Thursday nights, 5:30pm and is still studying Transition Towns. You are welcome to join! UC Center. We may start a second Free School class to study Parecon if there are enough people interested. Let me know what you think!
-Kim

[nicole]

Hi All, I am thoroughly enjoying the Free School group that is currently studying Transition Towns. It is still unclear how we will proceed when we finish the book and I am open to a number of possibilities including moving on to studying something else entirely or moving into a more "action-oriented" Transition Town group (whatever that might mean). Regardless of what the current Thursday night group decides to do, I am very interested in learning more about Parecon with some other interested folks. I have started reading some of Michael Albert and Murray Bookchin's writings, and so far I have found them quite inspiring.

[hedgehog]

some i've heard/read expressing frustration that 'free school' has become stuck on one topic: transition towns. well, the book is done this week so it will be seen what happens next. is it safe to assume the most important ideas for those present is what will next take place? be it TT or Parecon or what ever else, it's a democratic group, a group decision. what's there to complain about?