Yes, There Is an Alternative to Capitalism: Mondragon Shows the Way

[marmar]

Published on Monday, June 25, 2012 by The Guardian/UK

Yes, There Is an Alternative to Capitalism: Mondragon Shows the Way
Why are we told a broken system that creates vast inequality is the only choice? Spain's amazing co-op is living proof otherwise

by Richard Wolff


There is no alternative ("Tina&quot to capitalism?

Really? We are to believe, with Margaret Thatcher, that an economic system with endlessly repeated cycles, costly bailouts for financiers and now austerity for most people is the best human beings can do? Capitalism's recurring tendencies toward extreme and deepening inequalities of income, wealth, and political and cultural power require resignation and acceptance – because there is no alternative?

I understand why such a system's leaders would like us to believe in Tina. But why would others?

Of course, alternatives exist; they always do. Every society chooses – consciously or not, democratically or not – among alternative ways to organize the production and distribution of the goods and services that make individual and social life possible.

Modern societies have mostly chosen a capitalist organization of production. In capitalism, private owners establish enterprises and select their directors who decide what, how and where to produce and what to do with the net revenues from selling the output. This small handful of people makes all those economic decisions for the majority of people – who do most of the actual productive work. The majority must accept and live with the results of all the directorial decisions made by the major shareholders and the boards of directors they select. This latter also select their own replacements. ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/06/25-4

[limpyhobbler]

1. good. nt

[bemildred]

2. Capitalism is just feudalism recast from a religious to an economic context.

Same class system, same unaccountable power, same "Fuck You, Jack, I've got Mine!" attitude.

[Igel]

3. Of course there's an alternative to capitalism.

Several, probably.

Co-ops and communes have one problem, though: As long as those who belong believe in the ideals and put the ideals above their own self-interest (or, rather, take the collective's self-interest and make it their own) things work.

That might last a generation. Then, without either really hefty indoctrination, a bashing success that makes any outside temptations seem paltry and less desirable, or a closed system that forces dissenters to voluntarily be good communists, then, well, it starts to collapse. Best way: Let the dissenters leave and new believers join up. Worst way: Enforce the right attitude through indoctrination and compulsion.

Many Mennonites sect tied religion into it. That I'd put under "indoctrination"==and some allowed the young, prior to committing, to do a kind of walkabout to see what they'd be giving up so they'd make an informed, or at least a less uninformed, choice.

[yurbud]

4. one way to catapult co-ops: take a high profile corporation co-op or...

convince some entrepreneur to go co-op instead of corporate if they want the original vision for their company or product to survive instead of being thrown into the wood chipper of Wall Street.

I don't think Bill Gates would have ever done this, but I bet Steve Jobs would have if he knew he was going to get booted by his own board.