Other Economies are Possible! (Ethan Miller, Dollars and Sense)

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

By Ethan Miller, Dollars and Sense

http://alternet.org/workplace/40339/

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Can thousands of diverse, locally-rooted, grassroots economic projects form the basis for a viable democratic alternative to capitalism? It might seem unlikely that a motley array of initiatives such as worker, consumer, and housing cooperatives, community currencies, urban gardens, fair trade organizations, intentional communities, and neighborhood self-help associations could hold a candle to the pervasive and seemingly all-powerful capitalist economy. These "islands of alternatives in a capitalist sea" are often small in scale, low in resources, and sparsely networked. They are rarely able to connect with each other, much less to link their work with larger, coherent structural visions of an alternative economy.

Indeed, in the search for alternatives to capitalism, existing democratic economic projects are frequently painted as noble but marginal practices, doomed to be crushed or co-opted by the forces of the market. But is this inevitable? Is it possible that courageous and dedicated grassroots economic activists worldwide, forging paths that meet the basic needs of their communities while cultivating democracy and justice, are planting the seeds of another economy in our midst? Could a process of horizontal networking, linking diverse democratic alternatives and social change organizations together in webs of mutual recognition and support, generate a social movement and economic vision capable of challenging the global capitalist order?

To these audacious suggestions, economic activists around the world organizing under the banner of economía solidaria, or "solidarity economy," would answer a resounding "yes!" It is precisely these innovative, bottom-up experiences of production, exchange, and consumption that are building the foundation for what many people are calling "new cultures and economies of solidarity."...

[Common Sense Party]

1. Umm...

Aren't these "thousands of diverse, locally-rooted, grassroots economic projects" actually a PART of capitalism? They are springing up, operating, and thriving (some of them) precisely because individuals are free to transact business with other individuals or groups at their leisure, whereas under a centrally-planned economic system, many such projects would not be allowed to operate legally?

I think these types of groups are great, and I think oursomewhat-unfettered economic system allows such alliances to provide a healthy alternative for those so inclined.

[applegrove]

2. I'm with you. Communism lost. Capitalism won..for the economy. Should

be regulated, monitored and not be reason for war (I'm dreaming). But really - co-ops between a grower and a wholesales a world away already happens. So the grower gets a good price. It is still buyers and sellers and economics..it is just cutting out the middleman.. which is how successful business has always been done.

Many people are having a chance at being involved in an economy rather than subsistance living..hand to mouth. What our grandparents and great-grandparents did in North America..where they stopped subsisting and started working and borrowing against that working life to get an education or a house... that is new to some people in some parts of the globe. Being able to afford "school uniforms" and such so kids can actually go to school..that is new. Pooling resources and actually having savings is new too. It truly is amazing. So don't begrudge that. Cause it is the only good thing to come out of globalism so far.

Thankfully with all the information on the net. We have the chance to choose to support these groups. It is done with coffee all the time. It will just keep increasing.

A coop is just a slightly different version of a corporation. One with the stock-holders being the producers and the customer. Opportunity here is endless. But it still is capitalism. Money is used. Resources are traded.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

3. Maybe so. I certainly think they are a departure...

...from big corporate capitalism as it has been practiced in America over the last 100 years. I'm not sure what label or descriptive term we put on these upstart projects is so important as our support of, and participation in, them.

[MasonJar]

4. I try to buy everything that I can from small concerns. It might

cost a little more, but it is worth it if we can change the world. Buy all you can from the little guy. Start today. If enough of us do it, then we can win this battle against corporate crime and influence.