Democracy at Work (d@w)
www.democracyatwork.info
Democracy at Work: Nonprofit media that analyzes capitalism critically as a systemic problem and advocates for democratizing workplaces as part of a systemic solution. Founded by Richard Wolff. We can do better than capitalism. Our Media: Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff, David Harvey, Anti-Capitalist Chronicles, Capitalism Hits Home, All Things Co-op, Understanding Socialism, Understanding Marxism

From the recent Bad Faith podcast. Gonna read up on them. Seems like a decent first step towards full communism, with the added benefit of I don't think people have an immune response to the term.

"Democratize the workforce" is pretty close to "seize the means of production". I'll take it, for now.

  • OgdenTO [he/him]
    ·
    4 years ago

    Ok, so what if the smelter were worker owned, and the mine, and the electronics manufacturer, and the transport company? That is better, right? Even if they are operating in a market based economy?

    • glimmer_twin [he/him]
      ·
      4 years ago

      Are the different co-ops all “co-operating” with each other, or are they in competition? Are the smelters trying to squeeze as much profit as they can from the auto workers? Are the transporters trying to squeeze the rest of the supply chain? Because if they are, congrats, you just invented capitalism with more steps.

      • comi [he/him]
        ·
        4 years ago

        But it isn’t though if the whole supply chain is coops? Squeezing will result in much more effective socially needed labor contraction/wage equalization. As one labor place becomes too highly compensated, it would spawn a second shop in market paradigm.

        I think industries were this is not true is only extremely high tech sector (precision instruments/silicon manufacturing/space), where labor education takes decade plus. The issue wouldn’t be competition up and down chain, it would be exclusively top of the chain in imaginary market-economy coops.

      • OgdenTO [he/him]
        ·
        4 years ago

        I mean, yes, they are trying to lower the price of goods. And yes, this is a market-based system, so the balance of income for the co-op, distributed among its workers to pay suitable amounts, with affordability of the products will happen. But without the bourgeois ownership, without the leeches stealing surplus value, there is likely room for price changes while still providing the workers with their value.

        Isnt this desirable? Workers would see increases in income, and products would potentially decrease in price. Or go up.

        Anyway, I see what you're saying, but I think it is significantly different without the leeching class stealing value across the entire supply chain.

        And no, its not capitalism with more steps - worker power is a real thing in this situation, and where is the capitalist class?