using Capitalism against itself

[DarrenV]

I believe there is still room for using what is left of our system in order to keep it all from unraveling. It would also be a lot easier, since the infrastructure is already in place.

Our current system rewards greed and ambition, that is all. I propose a system that changes that, and allows the community to decide what is appropriate.

I really don't know where to post this, but I have started a site that is designed to create this model. It is very young, but it should give a good idea of what I am talking about opencapitalist.org

thank you.

[MarxSchmarx]

I have a hard time understanding whether you propose to create a new corporate model, or novel social institutions.

If the latter, there already are worker owned co-ops, communes, business models based on open-source tech, etc... So why reinvent the wheel?

If the latter, why are the Walmarts and CMGs of this world are laughing their way to the bank, when "Americanization" has gripped Nissan and Nokia? Social responsibility per se isn't the issue, as much as "competitive" ability in a rigged market. I agree open-source software has so far managed to dodge this bullet. But whether this model is applicable to other industries with high start-up costs (e.g. computer chip manufacturers, capital goods like plastic molding machines) is a very real question. I remain rather skeptical.

Indeed, if we are to "create a new society out of the shell of the old", it seems the future lies with those who work for the Walmarts and Lufthansa's of the world taking over the management of those firms, rather than creating de novo institutions.

[joe_the_red]

The only form of "using Capitalism against itself" that I would ever subscribe to is defining that as using its weaknesses against it. Capitalism will always corrupt and lead to the current U.S. and British Empire model.

Fascism <- Capitalism -> Imperialism

"The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation." -Vladimir Lenin

That will be all. -Joe