Is this the best possible social organization? — Vera Mont
The economic system we have divides all adult citizens into employers and employees. — Vera Mont
Can anyone think of alternative arrangements that might work better? — Vera Mont
Yes, and - at least in Canada - they are no better off financially than employees. However, I have some anecdotal and personal indication that they are happier.There are sole traders of course, self-employed individuals with no employees, but broadly you are right. — bert1
Very possibly. But would the managers need to be an upper class over a lower worker class?I think that if someone were to devise an optimal company, or even an optimal society, it would still have that division, there would still be managers and workers. — flannel jesus
But would the managers need to be an upper class over a lower worker class? — Vera Mont
I think managing is a skill itself, and like any skill it benefits from practice, and not everyone is good at it. — flannel jesus
But the role of a contemporary employer/manager is less dictator, more team leader. Especially in fields of work where the employees are more educated or specialized. — jkop
I agree wholeheartedly! My SO was constantly frustrated as an employee. Contracting still meant having to deal with inept managers. When we set up an independent business, our household income dropped by 60% and our family wellbeing increased 200%.One might as well work as a consultant, self-employed, or join a company that works as an economic democracy. — jkop
In fact, I'm convinced that a similar arrangement would work equally well for a community of atheists with personal computers and colourful clothes.
yeah, the grey and black only look seems optional. — Count Timothy von Icarus
The religious ones are certainly the longest-lived, even if we don't count monastic orders. I suppose a shared faith and ritual practice has a stabilizing effect. However, that may also alienate some of the youth, so that they either need to over-procreate or recruit mature members in order to keep the community going. I suspect modern mainstream people would balk at being denied birth control, and very few women would voluntarily have six or seven kids.The ones I am aware of are Christian communities, but I see no prima facie reason that such communities couldn't be grounded in some other sort of practice. — Count Timothy von Icarus
The whole paper is worth reading, though I skipped over the history part, having read it before in other articles.I have observed that intentional communities follow a developmental pattern similar to that of small businesses: many more are imagined and planned than ever start. Of those that do start, about half collapse within two years, with perhaps half the remain-der collapsing before the end of five years. Most small businesses and intentional communities that make it to five years prosper indefinitely.
Sounds very sensible as far as a single enterprise goes, and might even give the participants greater confidence to tackle inequalities on the political front. — Vera Mont
The interesting thing is that, despite their not using any modern technology and their scarce use of modern healthcare, they are both wealthier and longer lived than the general public. — Count Timothy von Icarus
I was specifically interested in the necessity of "jobs". This is considered central to social organization: — Vera Mont
Can anyone think of alternative arrangements that might work better? — Vera Mont
I was specifically interested in the necessity of "jobs". — Vera Mont
The economic system we have divides all adult citizens into employers and employees.
Is this the best possible economic system?
Is this the best possible social organization?
Can anyone think of alternative arrangements that might work better? — Vera Mont
One of the marking characteristics of a society evolving into a civilisation is the specialisation of the workforce, aka roles/jobs. It is only in tribal settings (non-civilised societies) where everybody does a little bit of this and a little bit of that. — Lionino
nobody seems to have any idea how direct or control the change — Vera Mont
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