Mulling around ideas....

[FormerOstrich]

It seems we all know what the consequences of the pro-business policies. The analysis on DU has been excellent. Some people have posted the steps they are taking, individually, to protect themselves in the future. What I haven't seen is a lot of discussion on how to counter some of the trends short of a complete overhaul of some really entrenched institutions.

I started thinking of the philosophical approach to business. Today's corporations are profit motivated at the expense of all else. Their objectives are not to offer citizens a service or product for enhancement or survival of the citizen's life. Their products or services, may in fact accomplish such, but that is not their objective.

From there I started thinking of history, communions, and other closed communities such as the Mennonites and polygamous clans.

Given that I am not optimistic that we will be able to turn things around to stave off some of the more negative ramifications of current trends, I've been wondering how we can work around it.

So I wanted to throw out some thoughts and receive some feedback, even if you think I'm completely over the edge.

I think we need to start our own network of goods/products. I suspect that we have a little bit of every sort of talent and knowledge represented throughout DU. If the landowners started growing our food, the truck owners started distributing it, the doctors open practices for us, and those with some dollars start banks. In short, why can't we be a nationwide network of a self contained communion?

How crazy is that?

[Ragnar]

1. Anyone on DU own an oil refinery?

If not, we'll need to give up our cars, and in some cases our electricity.

[FormerOstrich]

2. Well....yes there would be some transition where we still had to

purchase some things outside of the coop. However, there may be some that can switch us over to solar or fuels made of corn. I don't know, but I bet there are some here that do.

[Ragnar]

3. There are still problems.

Corn requires the use of tractors, which require the use of fuel. In fact, I've read estimates that 1.8 acres worth of bio-fuel are needed to cultivate one acre of land. That could be a problem.

I think it's more sensible to trust in democracy and make the case for progressive politics in the public sphere. Our society is too completely interdependent to make largescale changes through utopian means like those you have suggested.

But if you succeed, my hat is off to you.

[Outrider]

4. Can't really disconnect completely

What needs to be done is that we need to create an alternative business model that can out compete the current corporate business model.

My idea has been to create a clan based business model. Basically, it would be a group of families that all hold shares in the business and for the most part are the core of its work force. The problem with my idea is that current labor laws would make it impossible. For it to work the family members employed by the company need to be able to work without a salary. Instead of receiving a paycheck they would use the company to purchase all of the things that they need, and live in housing that at least on paper the company owns. If all of the companies revenue is then used to purchase things for the families involved or to grow the company it should be able to grow faster than a company that needs to run at a profit. Unfortunately, this will probably never be workable given the abuses that could be seen in it.

[Ragnar]

6. Privatized utopian Communism for profit.

It has something to offend everybody. I like it.

[Outrider]

7. Better than non-utopian corporate communism for profit

That's really offensive and we get to deal with it.

[Outrider]

5. self delete n/t

[Barad Simith]

8. A progressives-only eBay-type commerce site

HEY! DU's infrastructure is already in place. Not only could we buy and sell without leaving the site, it could draw millions of progressives to DU, who are not already members.

I could email Skinner with the idea, if I have some feedback first about the pros and cons.

[Barad Simith]

9. kick (nt)