Sam,
I don't see how you could possibly derive this from my stated position. In addition
to being an admitted neo-Malthusian, I am also a socialist.
My most recent post here complained bitterly of those who reduce the choice before us
to capitalism or State socialism, so how could you think that I endorse this two-value
logic (unless that is a projection of some sort!!). Indeed, I said nothing about the
problem of the commons, nooor whould I suggest for a moment that the entire "social
problem" can be reduced to that.
I strongly disagree that market socialism falls in the first (i.e., capitalist) camp.
You apparently have concluded that any approach that does not completely collectivize
(i.e., put under public ownership and state control) the means of production, and that
capitalize themselves independently, by default must be lumped with capitalism. But
the Cooperative approach is a genuine socialization of the means of production. It is
not public sector, true, but it is not "private sector" either, in the way that we now
understand it. This third way has given itself the name "social sector:" its aims are
not maximum profitability, its productive purpose must be soically useful (hence,
adhering to the classic socialist maxim: "production for use, not for profit").
Unlike capitlism, it has no use for a reserve army of the unemployed, since it is
inherently committed to a policy of employment for all. How can any of these values
(and there are others) be equated with capitalism? !
Cooperation is a beating of the capitalists at their own game, by employing the very
social values in the here and now that capitalism abrogates.
peace,
Ken
"[EMAIL PROTECTED]" wrote:
>
In fact, this is just the
> essence of the "Third Way" approach, or what is sometimes termed "free market
> socialism." Producer cooperatives like Mondragon have been demonstrating for
> many years that commodities can be produced by associations of producers
Ken, you are a neo-malthusian so you see everything in terms of the
problem of the commons. There are only two solutions: either privatize
the commons (capitalism) or abolish private plunder of the commons
(planned socialism). Market socialism falls into the first category
since "socialist" firms will have to continue as their capitalist
predicessors did i.e. follow the dictates necessary for cap
accumulation. What is the third solution (besides extinction)?
Sam Pawlett
------------------------------------------------------------
((( GREAT DEAL: Home Depot: Home Improvement 1-2-3 on CD-ROM )))
Get it FREE! at: http://nettaxi.free-irewards.com ( plus S&H )
_______________________________________________
Crashlist resources: http://website.lineone.net/~resource_base
To change your options or unsubscribe go to:
http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/crashlist
