A Proposal for a New and Humane Economic Order
As a
citizen of this planet, I support the goal of economic
justice. This is the same goal that the Occupy movement seeks.
I
have long believed that the present political and economic order is
deeply unjust. A few years ago I suggested a better way. The alternative system that I proposed goes
beyond
conventional capitalism and socialism. Links to my writings on this
topic are at the bottom of this page. Read these documents, discuss
them, and decide for yourself how the ideas in them can benefit the movement.
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Today we
have an economic oligarchy. Rich companies control most of the means of
production, and many of the people have nearly nothing. Our society is
not economically free. If we had real capitalism instead of the
quasi-feudal system we have today — if we had capitalism for everybody,
instead of a capitalism for the few — then we would be able to have
true freedom. And that’s what we need to aim for.
- p. 62, Tomorrow Is for Freedom
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Here
are
the main features of the new system I am proposing.
- A wide distribution of
wealth so each of us can be economically self-sufficient. None
of us will have to beg anyone for a job before we
can find housing and food. None of us will be forced into
poverty
just
because the job market doesn't need us at the moment. Each
of us will have a slice of the means of production so we can support
ourselves as individuals and as families. The people will not control
the means of production collectively as in socialism. Instead, each of us will
have his or her own share of the resources.
- Limits on forms of government
power that harm people.
Government power will be limited, but in a way that leaves
plenty of room for help for those who need it. Governments will no
longer grant excess privileges, like legal personhood, to
corporations. Punishment as we know it
will be replaced with more constructive methods for dealing with crime.
The prison-state will no longer exist.
- Cooperatives
and
associations to help those in need. With a humane
distribution of wealth and a less authoritarian government in place, we
will be able to set up safety nets for anyone still in need. These
safety nets can be far more compassionate and effective than
anything we have today.
This proposed
system has roots in libertarianism, distributism, and the progressive
left. However, it avoids the excesses of all those ideologies. (The
libertarianism I mention here is the original, pro-people kind of
libertarianism. It has nothing to do with certain so-called
"libertarians" who
advocate cutthroat "free" markets.)
Here are the links to my writings on this subject. May they
prove useful to the movement!
-
Mark Sharlow
LINKS
Tomorrow
Is
for Freedom - this is the main document
Statement of Principles
Manifesto of the Good Society
Last updated 3/25/2012
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