Lou Plummer đź’–Jan 19
The real MLK was a radical. Take a moment today to learn something new about him. You will be glad you did.
Show threadSquirrelJan 19

@amerpie I don't think was as controversial back when it was said.

I don't think there is anything making you inherently evil if you criticize capitalism, so even today, you might come across as naive, but you're not really Stalin, though.

Show threadJ LouJan 19
@squirrel @amerpie naive is assuming the problems with the current system can be solved any other way
Show threadSquirrelJan 20
@jlou @amerpie why would you though? say you could have something like the nordic model, instead? still capitalism, but with quite a bit of equality.
Show threadJ LouJan 20
@squirrel @amerpie Nordic model doesn’t resolve workers’ inalienable rights violations that occur routinely under all forms of capitalism. Capitalism is deeply inefficient at allocating resources towards public goods and dealing with externalities.
Show threadSquirrelJan 20
@jlou @amerpie what rights are being violated?
Show threadJ LouJan 20

@squirrel @amerpie the inalienable right to appropriate the positive and negative fruits of your labor.

Source: https://www.ellerman.org/inalienable-rights-part-i-the-basic-argument/

Inalienable Rights: Part I The Basic Argument

What is the inalienable rights theory that descends from the Reformation through the Enlightenment and that answers the classical apologies for slavery and autocracy based on implicit or explicit voluntary contracts?

DAVID ELLERMAN
Show threadSquirrelJan 20
@jlou @amerpie thanks. that was interesting. these cooperatives are free to operate within a Nordic model, though. you don't have to burn it all down for these to gain traction.
Show threadJ LouJan 20

@squirrel @amerpie The problem is the violation of workers’ inalienable rights in non-democratic non-cooperative firms. The employment contract must be abolished making all firm’s democratic.

Abolishing capitalism ≠ burning it all down

We can have economic democracy and keep many market institutions.

Show threadSquirrel

@jlou @amerpie I understand why somebody would want this. Myself, I kinda feel quite happy renting myself out and not having any responsibility for the fruits, good or bad, of my labor.

I mean, it is a capable way or organizing, but I'm unsure if it is everything to everyone, if you know what I mean.

Jan 20 at 3:19pmWeb
Show threadJ LouJan 20

@squirrel @amerpie

Responsibility is non-transferable even with consent. No matter how much you like the terms of the employment contract. You can’t fulfill it because a de facto person can’t become de facto non-person to fulfill the legal role of a non-person.

Show threadSquirrelJan 21

@jlou @amerpie it feels a bit patronizing, tbh.

I mean, we have the concept of non-transferable rights in most democracies, but I guess I'm comfortable with the specifics as they are today because I've lived with them forever.

Thanks for giving me something to think about, friend.