[Ancapistani]

> For me, there's a hierarchy of needs here. First, destitution must end, then we can talk about equality. But ultimately, if the world is extremely unequal, but no one is destitute, then that economic system is good. And we're very close to that by continuing with current trends

This strikes me as an excellent way to put it, and is really at the core of why I look upon “alternative solutions” with a cynical eye.

Every proposal I’ve seen results in limiting overall wealth of our society. That just doesn’t pass the smell test for me.

To put it another way - it’s far easier for a wealthy society to achieve equality than it is for an equal system to achieve wealth.

Ironically, this seems to more closely mirror the writings of Marx than the goals of the self-described Marxists I’ve encountered.

[dbingham]

How would the proposal I outlined for a free market made up of worker cooperatives limit overall wealth in our society?

[iammisc]

It wouldn't. The free market and worker cooperatives are completely compatible. There is nothing that needs to change in the markets, only in society.

[dbingham]

> The free market and worker cooperatives are completely compatible.

I agree.

But there is something that needs to change in order for worker cooperatives become the dominant business form. So long as capital can demand ownership, worker cooperatives will remain a relative niche. What needs to change in markets is we need to remove the ability for capital to demand ownership. That's essentially the core of my proposal for a new system.

Replace the LLC and Stock Corporation with the worker cooperative. Remove the investor stock owner relationship from the economy. Legally mandate that all businesses be formed as worker owned cooperatives. And then regulate the amount of interest that banks and financiers can charge on their loans to limit their power over those worker cooperatives.

What you get is a free market economy where all businesses are democratically run by their workers and the relationship between capital and labor is flipped. It would vastly increase equality, with out increasing destitution. And would likely have some small decrease on environmental degradation.

In some ways it's a very gentle refactor of our existing economy. In other ways, it's far reaching and drastic (stock markets go away entirely and traditional banks become a primary mechanism of savings).

[iammisc]

The idea that replacing ownership with loans will lead to good outcomes is frankly shocking to me.

There's a reason all major religions historically prohibit usury (the charging of any interest, as well as enforce debt jubilees), while encouraging ownership.

Frankly, this sounds like a great idea, but it vastly understates the role of the markets (esp the stock market) in lifting others out of poverty.

Humans are not machines. We cannot always work. Stock ownership provides the ability for the disabled, the elderly, etc to earn income based off of work they'd already put in. It's like buying a stake in society. Without it, each person would be measured based off their economic output. I know you claim that's how the current system works, but imagine how much worse it would be if there were no other way to earn money other than by working.

> It would vastly increase equality, with out increasing destitution.

This is a claim stated without data.