I think mutualism is the fabled third way between capitalism and socialism. This blog is a way for me to jot down my thoughts as I read, think and learn about mutualism.
I think the time’s come to champion mutualism as an alternative to the pointless to-and-fro of left-right politics. It’s time to end the sham of the liberal capitalist democracy. There’s a better way, a happier way.
We don’t need to capitalise or socialise; we need to mutualise. Let’s work together.
November 8, 2009 at 8:49 pm
[...] "Growth Fetish". And he now blogs regularly, with his evolving thoughts. As he says in his new about page (version 2): I’m interested in mutualism. I think it’s the fabled third [...]
December 13, 2009 at 12:42 am
If I might be a pedant – surely the blog should be “against mere profit maximisation” or “for the democratisation of trading surpluses”?
December 13, 2009 at 5:14 am
Thanks for the comment.
Why do you think the blog should be against profit maximisation or for the democratisation of trading surpluses?
The primary purpose of profit is to provide a return to shareholders. (Surpluses generated to fund investment, research and growth and to mitigate against risk of doing business aren’t really profits in my book; they are costs to the business.)
I am anti-capitalist because I think we’ve reached the point where capitalism is diminishing human happiness rather than increasing it. I believe that the time has come to mutualise our society and economy. If the sole purpose of profit is to provide a profit to capitalists then I must reject profit if I am also rejecting capitalism.
I see you’re point though. Lots of mutual organisations still make and distribute profits and this is something that I need to understand more.
The important thing I think is that distributions by mutuals fundamentally aren’t capitalist on the whole because they are not a return on capital. In worker co-operatives they are a way of ensuring that wages match the value created by workers. In consumer co-operatives they are a way of ensuring that the consumer pays a fair price for their goods.
If there are co-ops out there whose members’ sole purpose is to enrich themselves at the customers expense then I am against that. As far as I know though there aren’t any co-ops like that.
We need to distinguish between profits made solely with the purpose of providing a return to shareholders or members and surpluses made in the normal course of business which are then returned to workers and consumers. The latter I’m for, the former I’m against.
March 9, 2010 at 10:21 pm
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