Re: Easing Transition to Cybereconomy
Durant wrote: > > > Because they contain no solution to the > > > problem of the basic capitalist mechanism > > > of production > > > > In a period of convulsive intragenerational sociotechnical change it seems > > counter-productive to think in terms of _a_ solution. In a maelstrom one tries to > > get a handle on the pattern of events, perceive the window of opportunity and go > > with it. Then start looking for the next. A mind-set devoted to implementing a > > final solution is ominously reminiscent of certain WW2 German policies. > > > > "The pattern of events" is the dependent variable. You have to > pinpoint the base for the reason of change, before the "pattern of > events" happen to go the wrong way. Who was talking about any final > solution? I find such a strawman a tad offensive. > > > > "The pattern of events" is the dependent variable. Now you are using the terminology of inferential statistics. > You have to > pinpoint the base for the reason of change, Presumably by "base" you mean the independent variables. If so, then I don't understand "independent variables for the reason of change". What I could understand is: what are the independent variables influencing the pattern of events? And that I've answered in various previous posts. But, in any event, one can only state that a relationship exists in probabilistic terms. > before the "pattern of > events" happen to go the wrong way. To rephrase: one has to identify the independent variables before the dependent variable goes the "wrong way". You seem to see this as a quality control problem, i.e. ensure that the dependent variable stays within certain limits. While there may be some insight to be gained by adopting that metaphor, it is not one that I intended. I guess all I was saying was: Find a need, and fill it! (the entrepreneurial maxim updated to reflect a more complex environment). > Who was talking about any final > solution? I find such a strawman a tad offensive. And, believe me, I was sensitive to the implication of the term; however, your uncompromising views do give the impression that you can see only one solution, and that that solution is the final one. But, even so, I do apologize for giving in to my baser instincts. -- http://publish.uwo.ca/~mcdaniel/
Digital Economy contributed 1/3 of economic growth in US (fwd)
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 1999 09:41:15 -0400 (EDT) From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Digital Economy contributed 1/3 of economic growth in US For more information on this item please visit the CANARIE CA*net 3 Optical Internet program web site at http://www.canet3.net --- E-WORLD FUELS U.S. ECONOMY, REPORT SAYS The information technology industry is driving U.S. economic growth, according to a report by the Commerce Department. Although the industry is small, only comprising 8 percent of the nation's total economic output from 1995 to 1998, it is responsible for more than one-third of U.S. economic growth. It has also steadied the inflation rate, with the rising quality and decreasing prices of technological products lowering the inflation rate by 0.7 percent in both 1996 and 1997. The industry has contributed significantly to the recent investment boom, with investments in computers and communications responsible for more than half of the growth of business equipment spending from 1993 to 1998. Salaries have increased as well, with information technology workers earning 78 percent more than other workers in 1997. The report, "The Emerging Digital Economy II," concludes that by 2006, almost half of U.S. workers will be employed in the information technology industry or in a field that uses technology heavily. (USA Today 06/22/99) - To subscribe or unsubscribe to the CANARIE-NEWS list please send e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the body of the e-mail: subscribe testnet end - * EDUCAUSE, an international nonprofit association dedicated to transforming education through information technologies Bill St. Arnaud Senior Director Network Projects CANARIE [EMAIL PROTECTED] +1 613 785-0426
On Reducing internet traffic and other problems.
Dear Friends and Determined Defenders of The Old Order (DDoTOO), Three mind-boggling replies to previous posts have been received since my last post of 99-06-22 17:56:01 EDT, "community governance." They are repeated below for the benefit of the Innocents on Burt's copy list. mind-boggling reply #1. In a 99-06-23 08:15:03 EDT post to list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Hans Sinn responded to Yves Bajard's comments of 99-06-19 16:33:48 EDT on my earlier note, "Devious Defenders of The Old Order (DDoTOO)," as follows: >> "Dear Yves, It appears that the discussion about strategies and tactics for implementing the Tobin Tax is beginning to lead into the discussion of "the global crisis" as such and from there into more personal questions, i.e. how much thought we have given to the matter, what lead us to support the Tobin Tax initiative in the first place and what are our underlying philosophical or religious assumptions. As I mentioned to John (Courtneidge), I am not averse to such a discussion. But I am not sure if such personal discussion will help the Tobin Tax initiative or if such enquiries will become a hindrance to attac's stated objective. For most people on the attac list, it seems, the implementation of the Tobin Tax was (and is) the "common base of communication and understanding". You, it seems, want us to develop something more and are disappointed that most people on the attac list do not respond to your call for further thought and action. However, if most people on the attac list do not respond to your call, then it might well be that they are involved in other issues. I would not infer from their silence that they are any less interested than you to "avoid the imminent crash of our civilization" - assuming they believe in such crash. In the meantime, allow me a comment on what you assume to be common human objectives: "to avoid the imminent crash of our civilization" and "common survival of our civilization under decent and ecologically liveable circumstances". At first glance these objectives are reasonable and have proven themselves in the course of over three million plus years. However, while these objectives appear to be common they are not automatically universal. You are probably aware that there are people do not share you interest in survival and instead are earnestly looking forward to that which you want so energetically to avoid "the crash of our civilization" - the end of time. But I am not sure if you are aware of the number of people who do not share your assumptions and expectations. But "50 % of US college graduates await Jesus Christ's return. As Gallup and Castelli observed in 1989, the United States is nearly unique in the Western world with its unmatched combination of high levels of education and high levels of religious belief and activity" writes Paul Boyer in "When Time Shall be No More - Prophecy Belief in Modern American Culture", Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1992, 468 pp.) Comments Paul Boyer "prophecy belief is rampant, our there - in the dark beyond the campfire, so to speak - (but) academics have given these beliefs little systematic attention." Fortunately, there have been more studies since 1992 of the belief systems which prepare people for the demise of the world and civilization as we know it. There is an excellent study by Damian Thompson, The End of Time - Faith and Fear in the Shadow of the Millennium, University Press of New England, 1996, 373 pp. As a rational, civilized people, who have gone through a long period of "Enlightenment", we are inclined to ignore or sidestep these otherworldly expectations and the people who harbor and propagate them. But "beyond the campfire", there exists indeed a world untouched by the sobering effects of reason ( or people who after having tasted reason have gone back to belief). Thus there are hundreds of millions of people whose "ultimate concern" is, in spite of their enlightenment, salvation ( a place in the world to come) rather than survival and preservation of the world as we know it. To such people who believe in the earlier and Biblical promises of salvation the call for survival holds no strong attraction, regardless of its urgency. We are not dealing here with a lunatic fringe, but a large mass of people whose individual beliefs affect public policy. The effects on public policy of religious end time beliefs were clearly noticeably during the Presidency of Ronald Reagan, who himself believed in an end time scenario. Caspar Weinberger, Reagan's Secretary of Defence, when asked about in 1982 about his beliefs stated " I have read the Book of Revelation and yes, I belive the world is coming to an end - by an act of God, I hope - but everyday I think that time is running out." As an environmentalist you will probably know about James Watt, who became Reagen's Secretary of the Interior and responsible for the protection of the environment. Watt when questioned at
Capitalism and the information age.
some futureworkers may be interested in this book. == TITLE: Capitalism and the information age : the political economy of the global communication revolution / PLACE: New York, NY : PUBLISHER: Monthly Review Press, YEAR: 1998 PUB TYPE: Book FORMAT: 254 p. ; 24 cm. NOTES: Includes bibliographical references and index. The political economy of global communication / Robert W. McChesney -- Modernity, postmodernity, or capitalism? / Ellen Meiksins Wood -- Virtual capitalism / Michael Dawson and John Bellamy Foster -- Global village or cultural pillage? : the unequal inheritance of the communications revolution / Peter Golding -- Challenging capitalism in cyberspace: the information highway, the postindustrial economy, and people / Heather Menzies -- The U.S. rules, OK? telecommunications since the 1940s / Jill Hills -- The privatization of telecommunications / Nicholas Baran -- Selling our children: channel one and the politics of education / Michael W. Apple -- Work, new technology, and capitalism / Peter Meiksins -- Fighting neoliberalism in Canadian telecommunications / Elaine Bernard and Sid Shniad -- Propaganda and control of the public mind / Noam Chomsky -- The propaganda model revisited / Edward Herman -- Democracy and the new technologies / Ken Hirschkop -- Information technology and socialist self-management / Andy Pollack. ISBN: 0853459894 (paper) 0853459886 (cloth) SUBJECT: Information technology -- Social aspects. Computers -- Social aspects. Capitalism. OTHER: McChesney, Robert Waterman, 1952- Wood, Ellen Meiksins. Foster, John Bellamy. =
URGENT APPEAL: 4 Shrimp Farm Protesters Killed In India
From: "World Forum of Fish-harvesters and Fishworkers WFF]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Fishworkers Killed in Police Firing in India Fri, 11 Jun 1999 Protest Against the killing of fishworkers in Orissa, India. Four fishworkers, including a women, were killed and 13 injured some of them seriously as police opened fire late at night against the fishworkers who were in their villages after participating in an anti prawn culture agitation organised by Chilika Matsyajibi Mahasangh. The problem in Chilika is going on for some time. There was a strong movement in Chilika which was supported by the National Fishworkers Forum which had earlier resisted the industrial group of TATAS from conducting aquaculture there which destroys both the livelihood of fishworkers and the environment. The Chilika lake (which is the largest Brackish water lake in India) has been occupied by mafias for aquaculture with the support of local politicians and beaurocrats. The Supreme Court of India by their historical judgement against aquaculture has said that there should be no shrimp farms within 1000 meters of the lake. The fishworker organisation had given a 24 hour ultimatum to demolish all prawn gheries which lapsed on May 29. Fishworkers then destroyed about 11 illegal prawn farms. Police raided the village on midnight after 10,000 villagers led by Chilika Matsyajibi Mahasangh destroyed the prawn farms. Police then began to beat villagers mercilessly, threw tear gas shells and began shooting without provocation. Banchhanidhi Behera died on the spot; Digambar Behrera and Prema Behra on the way to hospital (and another victim died later at the hospital.). The National Fishworkers Forum Chairperson Mr.Harekrishna Debnath has condemned the incident and strongly protested against the police action. He said that National Fishworkers Forum uphold the right of the fishermen to freely fish in the lake and asked the administration to evict all outsiders from the lake. NFF is supporting the strike call of June 5th. NFF vows to intensify the struggle against industrial aquaculture and demands the withdrawal of the Aquaculture Authority Bill. Thomas Kocherry Co-ordinator of World Forum Of FishHarvesters and Fishworkers has also condemned the police firing and asked the guilty to be punished immediately. ORISSA BANDH OF 5TH JUNE. The police violence has resulted in a massive popular strike held on June 5th called by the fishermen's union. On 5th June, due to the 12 hours Bandh called by Chilika MatsyajibiMahasangh, the railway and road connection with Easten coast of the country came into a standstill. This bandh was supported by two left groups and Janata Dal. Fishworkers have blocked the railroad in many stations as a result of which trains were stranded in different stations. >From the morning fishworkers started sitting on the railway lines of Rambha, Khallikote, Bhusandapur and other stations.In Bhubaneswar station 600 women carrying their children stopped the Chennai-Howrah Koromandal Express. Eight trains including Puri-Talcher Passenger, Puri-Katak Passenger were cancelled. Apart from the communication system, in rest of the state the impact of the Bandh was partial. In capital Bhubaneswar it was totally successful, shops were closed. Thousands of fishworkers from Chilika and adjacent area have made human wall in the city and vehicles were totally stopped. Attendance in offices was very poor. Police arrested 2000 people including fishworkers and workers of different political groups. For more information, contact: Thomas Xavier Kocherry Co-ordinator, World Forum of Fish-harvesters and Fishworkers [WFF] Co-ordinator, National Alliance of Peoples Movements (India), [NAPM] Velankanny, Junction, Valiathura, Thiruvananthapuram 695 008, INDIA Phone & Fax: +91 - 471 - 50 1376; E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website: http://www.south-asian-initiative.org/wff --- ACTION ALERT!!! Please send faxes and/or letters of protest to Prime Minister and Orissa Chief Minister at the following addresses: 1) Mr. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister of India, 152, South Block New Delhi- 110 011, India. Fax : +(91) 11 301 8906, 301 6857 2) Mr. Giridar Gomang Chief Minister of Orissa, Bhubaneswar, Orissa India. Fax: +(91) 674 401 007 3) Ambassador R.K. Rai Indian Ambassador to Thailand The Indian Embassy Sukhumvit 23 Road Soi Prasanmit 46 Bangkok 10110 Fax: 02-258-4627 And, please include in your cc of any copeis of correspondence you may have sent out to embassies or Indian PM to the National Fisherworkers Forum (NFF) of India and to Harekrishna Debnath at: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> so that they can pass the word along to the people on the frontlines who, I'm sure, will receive a moral boost to know that the eyes of ISA Net a
who is holding what stake?
Re language, history and culture
>>Professor Barry appears to misstate stakeholder theory.
This language is problematic. So called "stakeholder theory" has an
entirely different meaning in the European region of Transylvania. There
they prefer "shareholder theory". The holders of the shares, apparently
some ancient guild associated sheep and goat farming; got a percentage of
all returns in investment income.
In rent times in the land of the Union Jack, stakeholder theory has been
associated with Tony Blair and the theory of the "Third Way". This
modification of the neo-classical theory can have an effect of assisting
some of the beneficiaries of "thatcherite wealth redistribution regime" by
legitimating the refusal to return of the largess expropriated off the
citizenry under the auspices of the privatising State driven Structural
adjustment programme. Its slogan is "you can' turn the clock back". one
of its earlier theoreticians was Will Hutton, the current editor of the
Observer and an ex-Guardian Weekly economics columnist. Like all late 20th
Century politico-economic commentary, its potential has been outweighed by
the realism of its implementation phase.. In addition to the Golden Rule
there now exists the Golden parachute.
This Blairite strategy designed to avoid scaring the capital markets has
been a hall mark of "New Labour". It is not to be confused with the "turd
way", which is an economic programme where the holders of the stakes are
ritually screwed in a manner of speaking as the rate wealth transfer and
reallocation is both locked in and intensified.
-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
Behalf Of Ian Ritchie
Sent: Friday, June 25, 1999 3:57 PM
To: Ian Ritchie
Subject: [PQList] Businesses' Social Responsibilities
FYI
Businesses' Social Responsibilities
--
Profit maximisation inadequate sole goal
DICK HUBBARD, in reply to Norman Barry, argues that collective ethics should
be more robust.
NZ Herald, 23 June 1999
Professor Barry ("Ignorance, misunderstanding drive business ethics
moralism") appears to ignore the major changes occurring in thinking and
practice throughout the Western world. Senior managers and directors of
large corporations are embracing a form of business that no longer
concentrates on the maximisation of shareholder wealth as the only reason
for business.
When such multinational giants as General Motors, BP Shell and IBM adopt a
radical new way of approaching business one has to take note - likewise when
such an august institution as the British Institute of Directors does a
rethink on business social responsibility.
Organisations such as Business in the Community, Social Venture Network,
Businesses for Social Responsibility, Environmental Business Network, the
Natural Step and the Business Council for Sustainable Development are being
formed, not by academics and not by anti-capitalist elements, but by
practising business people.
Since the Milton Friedman days of the 1960s we have moved extremely rapidly
from a shortage of labour and an abundance of resources to a world-wide
surplus of labour and a shortage of resources.
It has been calculated that we would need three globes to provide the
physical resources to give everyone the same standard of living as Americans
have now. The Barry model of business would have us use these resources in
the pursuit of profit, regardless of the scarcity for future generations. It
is not possible to agree with him that "the solution to many environmental
problems is a clear definition of property rights."
Central to the argument for social responsibility is the concept of
stakeholder. Professor Barry appears to misstate stakeholder theory. It is
not company directors and managers handing control to the competing demands
of stakeholders. Rather; it is the realisation that managers have moral and
ethical responsibilities to all stakeholders in a business and that the
shareholders are not the only stakeholder.
The theory is that shareholders are investors, not owners, and this
redefinition removes some of the arrogance from the concept of ownership.
Professor Barry is also concerned about the new business ethics and
morality. Again he appears not to realise the changes that have occurred.
Large corporations can now easily span the world, moving money, resources
and goods from country to country at will. This may be a good thing.
However; many corporations are now considerably larger than the governments
of sovereign countries, particularly of small countries. Bill Gates is
wealthier than New Zealand.
These corporations do not have the transparency or accountability of
democratic governments. Without a sense of morality and ethics, they can
disadvantage large sections of the world to benefit their shareholders. Some
of the management excesses associated with these corporations suggest that
sometimes they are not even fully accountable to shareholders.
Re: Easing Transition to Cybereconomy
The difference is that the marxist picture of the future is based on the analysis of the past and the present. Socialism is depicted as a more or less natural next and NOT necessarily final step towards a more efficient, consciously designed social environment, which can be only pictured in it's basic definitions as a/ democratic b/socialist, without a step by step instruction. It is not the "Grand Design" of any individual or God, like the xian idea. > >None of the "Grand design" etc. is involved in a marxist analysis, as it > happens. > Only the description of economic mechanisms and their depictable > consequences. Please do not follow the established sloganising about > socialist thinking, it is false propaganda. > > I'm not exactly sure of what is meant by this, but in my opinion everything > important ever written in the social fields has involved sets of > presuppositions and desired outcomes that can be called a "grand design". > Marx didn't simply wake up one morning and say to himself "Hmm. Today I'm > going to start thinking about the economy and write a book on capital". He > had given a lot of thought to how the world works before his ideas jelled > into what can only be termed "a grand design" which took him from how the > world actually works to how it ought to. He borrowed heavily from other > grand designs, particularly Hegel's dialectical theory of history. If, as > you seem to be saying, Kapital is essentially analytical, taking us from the > world as it is to the logical outcome of this world, the Communist Manifesto > is most certainly ideological and most certainly prescribes a revolutionary > aftermath that is most certainly a "grand design". > > A more important point, however, is that, when a theory enters the realm of > the practical, steps and consequences are attached to it which the author of > the theory may not have intended. Crusaders, ideologues and petty > politicians, many of whom have only a very passing knowledge of the original > grand design, take over and create a grand design which happens to suit > their particular purposes. The vast, repressive, enormously wealthy and > powerful medieval church was built on the simple words of Christ, just as > the vast, (then) enormously wealthy, repressive and powerful Soviet Union > was created on the appealing, if not simple, ideas of Marx. I'm sure both > Christ and Marx would have been horrified if they were able to see what had > been done in their names. > > Ed Weick > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Easing Transition to Cybereconomy
Eva: >None of the "Grand design" etc. is involved in a marxist analysis, as it happens. Only the description of economic mechanisms and their depictable consequences. Please do not follow the established sloganising about socialist thinking, it is false propaganda. I'm not exactly sure of what is meant by this, but in my opinion everything important ever written in the social fields has involved sets of presuppositions and desired outcomes that can be called a "grand design". Marx didn't simply wake up one morning and say to himself "Hmm. Today I'm going to start thinking about the economy and write a book on capital". He had given a lot of thought to how the world works before his ideas jelled into what can only be termed "a grand design" which took him from how the world actually works to how it ought to. He borrowed heavily from other grand designs, particularly Hegel's dialectical theory of history. If, as you seem to be saying, Kapital is essentially analytical, taking us from the world as it is to the logical outcome of this world, the Communist Manifesto is most certainly ideological and most certainly prescribes a revolutionary aftermath that is most certainly a "grand design". A more important point, however, is that, when a theory enters the realm of the practical, steps and consequences are attached to it which the author of the theory may not have intended. Crusaders, ideologues and petty politicians, many of whom have only a very passing knowledge of the original grand design, take over and create a grand design which happens to suit their particular purposes. The vast, repressive, enormously wealthy and powerful medieval church was built on the simple words of Christ, just as the vast, (then) enormously wealthy, repressive and powerful Soviet Union was created on the appealing, if not simple, ideas of Marx. I'm sure both Christ and Marx would have been horrified if they were able to see what had been done in their names. Ed Weick
Re: Easing Transition to Cybereconomy
Eva: >None of the "Grand design" etc. is involved in a marxist analysis, as it happens. Only the description of economic mechanisms and their depictable consequences. Please do not follow the established sloganising about socialist thinking, it is false propaganda. I'm not exactly sure of what is meant by this, but in my opinion everything important ever written in the social fields has involved sets of presuppositions and desired outcomes that can be called a "grand design". Marx didn't simply wake up one morning and say to himself "Hmm. Today I'm going to start thinking about the economy and write a book on capital". He had given a lot of thought to how the world works before his ideas jelled into what can only be termed "a grand design" which took him from how the world actually works to how it ought to. He borrowed heavily from other grand designs, particularly Hegel's dialectical theory of history. If, as you seem to be saying, Kapital is essentially analytical, taking us from the world as it is to the logical outcome of this world, the Communist Manifesto is most certainly ideological and most certainly prescribes a revolutionary aftermath that is most certainly a "grand design". A more important point, however, is that, when a theory enters the realm of the practical, steps and consequences are attached to it which the author of the theory may not have intended. Crusaders, ideologues and petty politicians, many of whom have only a very passing knowledge of the original grand design, take over and create a grand design which happens to suit their particular purposes. The vast, repressive, enormously wealthy and powerful medieval church was built on the simple words of Christ, just as the vast, (then) enormously wealthy, repressive and powerful Soviet Union was created on the appealing, if not simple, ideas of Marx. I'm sure both Christ and Marx would have been horrified if they were able to see what had been done in their names. Ed Weick
Re: Some more JG quotes
-- >From: Steve Kurtz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: Thomas Lunde <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Re: Some more JG quotes >Date: Thu, Jun 3, 1999, 12:48 PM > > Hi Thomas, > > If JG is really saying what you think he is, I think you say it more > clearly. George Soros has expressed a similiar position in his recent > book and articles. The pendulum will likely reverse, but when? > > Cheers, > Steve Thomas Thought this would provide a little documentation to back up James Galbraith's ideas. As to when the pendulum will reserve - who knows! Respectfully, Thomas Lunde >Date: Fri, 04 Jun 1999 12:42:27 -0700 >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >From: Sid Shniad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: STUDY PAINTS BLEAK JOB SCENE IN CANADA > >The National Post June 3, 1999 > >STUDY PAINTS BLEAK JOB SCENE IN CANADA > > 52% BELOW $15 AN HOUR > > Jobless figures don't measure underemployment, report contends > > By James Cudmore > > Canadian workers are underpaid and underemployed, says a >report released yesterday by Ryerson Polytechnic University. > The study, conducted by the Ryerson Social Reporting Net- >work, observes that 52% of Canadians are paid less than $15 an >hour, and that 45% of the country's workforce is engaged in >"flexible" work, with people unable to find full-time or permanent >jobs. > The study, which was produced through an analysis of labour >force surveys by Statistics Canada surveys, stands in sharp contrast >with the oft-expressed claim that the growing Canadian economy is >creating a stronger, more secure labour market. > "We hear an awful lot about the new economic boom," said Dr. >John Shields, the author of the study. > "But, I think there is still a real question about what that means >for people in the labour market. > "This study clearly reveals a great wage differential between >people who have stable jobs and those with flexible employment," >Dr. Shields said. > "The labour market is polarized between stable, secure types of >employment and insecure, inadequately compensated employment." > According to Dr. Shields, 45% of Canadian workers are en- >gaged in flexible work (defined as part-time and non-permanent), >earning an average of $5 to $8 less an hour than full time workers. > The study goes on to suggest that these flexible workers have >little chance of improving their wage. > "All of the indicators show that this is the emerging trend," said >Dr. Shields, "It's the new labour market." > The Ryerson report also introduced a new employment-vul- >nerability measure intended to reflect the amount of underem- >ployment in the society, rather than just unemployment. > "Looking at traditional unemployment isn't enough," Dr. Shields >said. > "It masks the tremendous underemployment in our economy, >people who are working part time who don't want to be. They want >more work, but just aren't able to find it." > While the official unemployment rate in the country is 8.4%, the >Ryerson study estimates that as many as 20.3% of Canadians are >underemployed or otherwise lack employment security and an >adequate level of wages. > "If we look at the employment problem from that perspective, >the real unemployment rate is two-and-a half times larger," Dr. >Shields said. > "What's really going on in the labour market is an increase in >more-peripheral and more-vulnerable types of employment," Dr. >Shields says. > "I think that's very serious for families." > > >
Re: Easing Transition to Cybereconomy
> > Because they contain no solution to the
> > problem of the basic capitalist mechanism
> > of production
>
> In a period of convulsive intragenerational sociotechnical change it seems
> counter-productive to think in terms of _a_ solution. In a maelstrom one tries to
> get a handle on the pattern of events, perceive the window of opportunity and go
> with it. Then start looking for the next. A mind-set devoted to implementing a
> final solution is ominously reminiscent of certain WW2 German policies.
>
"The pattern of events" is the dependent variable. You have to
pinpoint the base for the reason of change, before the "pattern of
events" happen to go the wrong way. Who was talking about any final
solution? I find such a strawman a tad offensive.
> This, of course, is not to deny the virtue of the "Grand Design" or utopia in
> inspiring people and giving them hope. But just as in everyday life designs are in
> constant flux , so it probably is so in the design of the economy. (I guess I've
> inadvertently slipped into the "Holy Grail" syndrome!)
>
None of the "Grand design" etc. is involved in a marxist analysis, as it happens.
Only the description of economic mechanisms and their depictable
consequences. Please do not follow the established sloganising about
socialist thinking, it is false propaganda.
Eva
> > - there will be not enough profits made
> > based on this tax-scheme to make capitalist
> > enterprises viable.
>
> Which tax scheme? Only a few involve taxes, but when they do you're right to
> consider the possibly deleterious impact on local (i.e. national) business - they
> may threaten as usual to take their business elsewhere!
>
> > So you just wait until they collapse,
> > and then there will be no other alternatives but
> > for the employees to take over ownership
> > and management at last?
> > Hear, hear...
> >
>
> That is probably basically it! This may well be the ultimate irony of capitalism
> since, as has been pointed out by others, it probably contains the seed of its own
> demise or transformation. There may be a rough parallel here with the British
> aristocracy: In 18th century France they had a revolution to overthrow the
> aristocracy while in Britain over a couple of centuries it simply became irrelevant
> or decorative.
>
> >
> >
> > >
> > > 1. Reduce the length of the work-week (4 day)
> > > 2. Extend ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans)
> > > 3. Extra tax on corporations not participating in ESOPs (to be used by
> > > govt. to buy stocks on behalf of employees)
> > > 4. Educational system cultivating a mind-set geared to self-employment
> > > and the "meaningful" use of leisure time
> > > 5. Corporate "profit centres" become employee owned
> > > 6. Individual persona incorporated into expert systems and royalties
> > > paid for each use, e.g. actors' attributes may be incorporated into
> > > computerized images
> > > 7. Infomediary professionals trained to facilitate the interface
> > > between people and their automated systems
> > > 8. Give greater official encouragement to the establishment of
> > > role-playing societies (pioneer villages, period societies (e.g. 18th
> > > century society), etc.), "living museums"
> > > 9. Establish system of micropayments (perhaps modeled after LETS
> > > (Local Employment (Exchange) Trading System) in which people accumulate
> > > an income through numerous microtransactions
> > > 10. Right to privacy modified to include a right to payment for providing
> > > the personal data (including opinions) required to support the automated
> > > economy
> > > 11. While business may still compete, nevertheless inculcate a more
> > > cooperative mode conducive to the sharing of information (perhaps
> > > primarily but not solely via the Internet) by forming cross-institutional
> > > teams
> > > characterized by information literacy
> > > 12. Founding of voluntary neighbourhood productive associations
> > > ("consentives" - to use Robert Theobald's term) may be particularly
> > > applicable to low income areas
> > > 13. Encourage the expansion of DIY (do-it-yourself) activities taking
> > > advantage of sophisticated hi-tech instructional systems (which may also
> > > provide access to LETS so people can easily find those who can help, given
> > > that they
> > > have neither the time nor inclination to complete a task)
> > > 14. And then there's the Tobin Tax, a proposed tax on global
> > > corporations' electronic financial transactions
> > > 15. The role of volunteers is critically important to many organizations
> > > dedicated to helping the disadvantaged. Some firms grant paid leave to
> > > employees who can provide skilled help to such organizations. The
> > > volunteer system may be a vehicle for transferring wealth indirectly
> > > 16. "1984" with a new face: Pervasive global electronic surveillance
> > > systems ensure that _each one_ of the e
