Worker Co-Operatives - Businesses owned by workers

[Moskitto]

Worker Co-Operatives are businesses that are owned by those that work for them instead of by shareholders or individuals. Often instead of recieving a wage, workers are paid in shares and recieve a percentage of the companies profits.

I think If all businesses were worker co-operatives and there were still regulations controlling what businesses can do it would make communism work because.

1. It allows competition between businesses which negates one of the arguements against communism.

2. Businesses do not become too large and dominant because worker co-operatives are generally not suited to being large global conglomerates.

3. People could go into jobs that they want to do because often worker co-operatives are started by people who have a particular interest such as building canal boats.

4. Government Beaurocracy could be reduced because the government would not have to manage absolutly everything produced or sold.

What does anyone else think?

[honest intellectual]

I beleive that competition is inherently incompatible with communism. The system you propose allows copmpetition and private enterprise.

[Moskitto]

Private enterprise, but controlled by the workers who are rewarded based on their efforts.

[LeonardoDaVinci]

I personally think that it is a good idea as I have entertained that very thought for quite a while now. There are several reasons for that.

1. Although many of us will be willing to work for the betterment of our society while receiving equal pay. The reality is that most people are inherently self-centred and will not be willing to do so for the government.

2. One of the significant factors of the collapse of the Soviet Union is the simple fact that government could not sufficiently maintain control of all major industries and invest more into these industries. Eventually, the burden will become too heavy on the government and will consequently lead to an economic collapse.

3. By introducing worker co-operatives, we can ensure that our society can flourish in a wide array of industries that otherwise would be seen as luxurious by a communist government. Little pleasures such as CDs, books, computers, trainers can ensure that people in our society do not feel as if they are living in shared poverty, the little things do count. Furthermore, as comrade moskitto already pointed out, the existence of such companies would create a healthy competition that would inevitably ensure that our society would be economically strong and self-sufficient.

4. By providing the right corporate regulations, we could ensure that no company will grow to the size of Microsoft or Coca-Cola, and that no single worker will be earning $10,000,000 a year while another one is on $10,000.

5. By offering such material incentives we will pave the way for more creative thinking and ingenuity and thus better our society as a whole.

6. You can rely on the good will and social consciousness of maybe 1000, 2000 or even 10,000 people. But you cannot rely on the goodwill of the whole society.

[kingbee]

arent john lewis (in uk) an example? thats what my business teacher said anyway

[Moskitto]

John Lewis is a worker co-operative but they're not one of the more moderate than others. In the ultimate form of worker co-operative everyone gets paid the same, but they are quite rare.

John Lewis is more like Social Democracy.