[p2p-research] Here's another article perhaps you could use...edit as you like of course...

[Michel Bauwens]

superb Ryan,

I hope to engage with it later, as it is a topic that is crucial,

I'm posting it for the 7th:
http://blog.p2pfoundation.net/what-would-an-alliance-between-commoners-and-neo-capitalists-look-like/2009/10/07

Michel

On Thu, Oct 1, 2009 at 10:31 PM, Ryan Lanham <rlanham1963 at gmail.com> wrote:

> What would an Alliance between Commoners and Neo-capitalists Look Like?
>
> Civil Society organizations like the Progressio Foundation<http://www.progressiofoundation.org/>seem to offer a path toward a world where markets can be used responsibly
> alongside social frameworks where the commons is strong and vibrant.  It
> that a fantasy world where only silly idealists waste their time?
>
> At the fringes of socialist and capitalist discourses any willingness to
> find centrist ground is notably absent.  Tough minded socialists distrust
> corporate social responsibility (CSR), see profit motives corrupting nearly
> every venue of life and hold “capitalism” responsible for the great bulk of
> the world’s ills.  Hardcore capitalists hate government, distrust civil
> society, use socialism as a bogeyman and are generally skeptical of any sort
> of global movements that might potentially limit the opportunity to own
> assets at will and under contract or otherwise profit and exploit relatively
> freely.  If one listens to the fringes (and they are often the loudest
> members of a group) hope is small for functional coalitions.
>
> Identity politics require that we prove our stripes through litmus tests.
> Corporate leaders are often reticent to show that they can live comfortably
> in a social democracy where the state and civil society are strong and taxes
> are moderate to high.  Likewise, the activist left looks for every
> opportunity to find ammunition that shows profit corrupts absolutely—and
> universally.  Whether or not these two sides are equal and opposite ills
> seems practically irrelevant.  In fact, both sets of identity politics
> pull people away from potential harmonies.  More importantly, hegemonic
> control by one group or the other seems unlikely and seems to be destructive
> in the few localities where it does occur.
>
> But let’s say such a harmony could exist.  That is, there could be a
> neo-capitalist link-up with those in favor of a broad set of commons.  What
> would it look like?
>
> It would probably be associational and action oriented.  There would be an
> emphasis on personal responsibilities but there would be many safety nets
> and helping ladders.  It might be placed based.  It might focus on making
> a location or a state or small nation the shared venue for integrated
> strategies of caring and competitiveness in equal parts.  Many would hold
> forward Denmark or Holland or perhaps Sweden or New Zealand as models.  In
> the United States, people might focus on Vermont or Oregon or Greensboro,
> North Carolina with its Action Greensboro<http://www.actiongreensboro.org/>coalition that works to tighten the city’s competiveness in a socially sound
> manner.
>
> Here’s a laundry list of what to expect from such a harmonic partnership:
>
> ·         Business start-ups would be common and often focused on
> sustainable and green purposes
>
> ·         Acquisition of support would often be found in pools, assistance
> programmes and through groups that position themselves as enablers and
> advocates rather than product suppliers and service industries
>
> ·         The commons would hold strong social respect—people would note
> their commitment to shared resources, contribute willingly to furthering the
> commons and would identify with the commons in symbolic ways
>
> ·         Civil society organization boards would be sound and pleasant
> blends of corporate and social types of persons; organizations like
> community foundations would thrive…and corporate boards would reflect
> community and social leaders who care about justice issues
> ·         Volunteerism rates would be high
> ·         There would be respect for property, but also a prominent norm
> of sharing and pooling—as with shared bicycle programmes, sound public
> transportation, etc.
>
> ·         Willingness to support key local assets such as gathering
> places, schools, sports teams and natural resources would be equally carried
> by individuals and firms.  Commitments to urban planning, the walker, low
> income people and mixed used zonings would be strong
>
> ·         Pride and commitment to place would be high, but willingness to
> engage when trouble or crisis strikes other places would also be quickly
> organized.  That is people would act locally, think globally
>
> What other aspects of this sort of place are missing from this list?
>
>
> --
> Ryan Lanham
> rlanham1963 at gmail.com
> Facebook: Ryan_Lanham
> P.O. Box 633
> Grand Cayman, KY1-1303
> Cayman Islands
> (345) 916-1712
>
>
>
>


-- 
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