Re: Is this, in essence, what we are trying to create? {for interested eyes only}
cc2...@verizon.net
To respond to the Proposal, without causing irritation and a fuss as before-- I'll try to keep focus, be clear not argumentative, not repeat. If discussion is joined, let's stick to small list of those interested, OK? Participants should be volunteers, not dragged in.
All points in "Proposal" have great appeal, and it is worth getting into details as to "how". Especially, how will goods and services be exchanged in the society, since it looks like there will be no "market", as such. How to deal with conflicting or rival demands for a service or product? Answering that is key to a plan that could work--- and plans that won't work we don't need. If our present system is "bad", there is such a thing as "from bad to worse"-- and a system that can't deliver could mean mass starvation--- see Mao's China in the late 50's -early 60's--- maybe 50 million starved? Yes, that's even worse than now...
More fundamental question is; what is the source of this "proposal" ? Is it the starting point of a discussion, or a "take it or leave it" item? If the latter--- how is that a "democratic " revolution? "Democratic" revolution should mean, "by a democratic process, toward democratically formulated ends." Meanin , input by more than a sincere but self-selected group of "FOUNDERS". And-- if the end of the "democratic revolutoion" is some sort of socialism--- making that democratic means, the large majority would embrace socialism, and that should be with full awareness that they are doing so. From what I have read of New Democracy, a basic premise is that most folks are actually "socialists" -- in their hearts, their values. But for sure, they don't believe so-- they are socialists but don't know it? Maybe-- but that still leaves "democratic socialism" advocates with the big job of education, persuasion, conversion.
And-- actually, I don't think most folks are "socialists." If asked, they don't say they are-- are we saying we know what they think better than they do? Here is a thought experiment--- imagine Obama gets on TV, announces that the Democratic party and out whole system is a fraud, that he is a Puppet of the 1%, that they truly human way to go, to free us, would be to --- take to the streets and make democratic revolution happen, now! Most likely result? Not that Obama would be shot by stooges of the 1%, because--- they would not have to. Before they loaded their guns, there would be a mass movement in the streets--- of millions of Americans who would say Obama was nuts and/or a traitor, and had to go. I believe that that would be a "politics in the streets" movement that would dwarf anything Occupy or other progressive groups could accomplish. The large majority of Americans would say--- Obama is trying to force socialism down our throats!! And they'd be right.
Since I am a progressive and social democrat myself, this reality kind of frustrates me, sticks in my craw. Like Wayne Clark in our last thread, I wonder why the majority of folks get things so wrong-- and with such hideous consequences...Are people manipulated by fear? for sure. Do they have a distorted idea of what socialism is? No doubt. Are they blinded to the worst consequences of our system, because hard as things are in America right now, we do live in the land where capitalism presents it's sweetest and friendliest face? Where imperial capitalism exports the worst of the misery it creates to other lands? Damn straight. Are they turned off by the stilted, dogmatic, jargon-filled arguments of socialist ideologues, suspecting that people who think, talk, and write that way can't have much in common with them? It happens. And-- are there plenty of folks who have some idea that socialism might be "fairer"--- but know enough about the history of the 20th c to know it has ended in brutality, in states with unlimited power against their citizens--- or has at least has had a dismal record of being able to "deliver the goods?" They have heard this, and they are right-- though we may have a plausible explanation for all that, and our own favorite instances of flashes of socialism's shining promise.
Leaving us where? With the long, unspectacular, often tiresome task of - socialist education. Tell better stories, make clearer arguments with more passionate conviction, offer more persuasive facts. Paint the vision glorious and point to believable stages on the road. Accept that the revolution is not likely to be a matter of a week, month, or year, and will be made by people born and shaped by society as it is now, not by a shining new breed of socialist humanity. If democratic socialist revolution is even possible, it will be because the makers, though ensnared in the present, carry within them enough of courage, human decency, and solidarity to risk that great venture. If in making democratic and socialist revolution we are reckless with that decency and solidarity, what will we have to tap in building the human future?
Start there, otherwise there will be no democratic revolution and no democratic socialism.
Sorry for length--- but, trying to deal with issues raised in many threads, New Democracy docs, etc.
Cautiously for another good round of dialogue,
Joe Cugini
Summary of Proposals for a New Society
We propose a democratic revolution to sweep away the system of elite power and class domination that so distorts our present world. We propose a new society in which:
• All who contribute to society, or who are not obligated to do so because they are children, elderly or otherwise unable to work, have free and equal access to its goods and services, which are shared according to need, not bought and sold. Money is not used. There are no rich and no poor people.
• There is genuine democracy based on local assemblies of all community residents and all working people. All political power is vested in local community and workplace assemblies. Congress, state legislatures, city and town councils, and all other instruments of the former capitalist state are disbanded.
• All the things that people use to produce goods, such as factories and mines and large tracts of land, belong to all the people. These things are like the air we breathe and the sunshine that warms us—a common treasure for all of society, not the property of a few.
• The goal of economic production is to provide the things and services people need and want, not to make profits for capitalists.
• Human lives are no longer degraded nor the earth ravaged for the greed of a few. Instead of mindless growth laying waste the earth, we have creative, bottom-up planning to create a paradise.
• There is no unemployment. The more people want to pitch in to do the work, the better for everyone. Work-time is dramatically reduced. Automation is used to liberate workers from drudgery rather than to speed up or control them or put them out of work without pay.
• Everybody has a home to live in, good food to eat, good health care when they need it, a good education for the whole family, and an equal right to enjoy all the other products and services and benefits that society makes possible. If any of these things are scarce then they are rationed equitably according to need.
There will be no unemployment.
• All adults who embrace the principles of mutual aid, equality and democracy have an
equal say in decisions.
• All workers have an equal say in workplace decisions. People do not work for somebody else; they work with each other for the common good.
• Workplace assemblies determine the hours of work required per week and per year based on their assessment of needs and each worker’s personal circumstances. In a highly productive society with no unemployment and no overwork, time spent working will be drastically reduced.
• Local and workplace assemblies decide how to meet the needs of community members for food, shelter, health care, and other necessities. When local needs exceed local capacity these assemblies use voluntary federation, to coordinate with each other, carry out plans for the common good and share economic products and services on a large scale.
• The Pentagon, the military, the police, and other instruments of capitalist power are disbanded. Communities organize to meet local needs for safety and protection.
• There are no more unjust wars. People no longer feel helpless before the mass murderers who control the government today. People take power into their own hands.