Kwanzaa Economics
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With Kwanzaa just a couple of weeks away I thought this would be a good time to start talking about economics. (What you don't understand the connection? Keep reading I'll explain it.)
In Kwanzaa there is a day set aside to the idea of cooperative economics, the term actually used in Kwanzaa is Ujamaa. Here watch this video about cooperative economics from a Christian perspective. the hecklers voice is very annoying but the video does a semi-decent job explaining the idea.
I first encountered this idea when doing some research into first generation Celtic christian communities of Ireland. The idea is still used in many African villages and I suspect in some other areas.
I support the idea of cooperative individualism. I have long been a supporter of co-housing, co-op markets and the like. This seems like the next logical step in that movement.
(I feel this going to get very in-depth and complicated very quickly but I'll try my best not to use any phrases or words that are abstract or uncommon. here we go)
Most people know my libertarian ideology, what most people don't know is I am technically a Libertarian Socialist. I view the federal government as more of an oversight board that keeps the citizens safe and secure, the local governments are where things such as laws, health care, and land usage. Sure this is not a complete anarchist definition of Libertarian Socialism but is by far the closest group to my belief that I have found. The local governmental institutions are those that the group puts into place.
I believe that by forcing the federal government into a Classical liberalism or more likely a Laissez-faire economic system. This would then let cities rise up in power and begin to compete with each other in a free market. I suspect the citizens of these cities will then take more pride in the local communities and in turn create miniature socialist states. Now not all cities will become this co-ops (I doubt an equal number will be found in places like Texas or Arkansas as would be found in places like California or the Northeast). The federal government will also oversee the size of these co-ops to make sure that themselves do not grow too large in land mass and overtake small ones or force those who do not wish to partake in the co-op to be in it. This is different from Voluntaryism due to the use of the governmental institutions. The federal elections will still be done through personal anonymous voting. Of course sadly I see many people attempting to replicate what works for an individual city community on the federal level and quickly realizing it doesn't work but time will slowly let these lessons be learned.
This in turn will also help the nation as a whole get out of the major debt we currently find our nation in. I believe the Celtic Tiger could be replicated without the halt it experienced if by then enough cities had adopted the socialist village system.
One of my hopes with the rising popularity of New Urbanism communities is a better sense of local community and in-turn a higher meeting of local needs. As these residents begin meeting the needs of their community they will slowly begin creating institutions to help these needs be met. Its not uncommon to find New Urbanism communities that already have their own schools, transit, and environmental institutions.
I expect the next big trends within these communities to be health care, equal housing, and unemployment assistance. This begins looking very close to a socialist state. As these ideas work in New Urbanist towns other towns will adopt them. This is turn begins the process I see happening and support.
This is more or less what the Celts had. Each village was welcoming to outsiders and yet was focused on meeting every need of the individuals within it. Some of the earliest Christian writings (Acts 2:42-47 being a prime example! They had few personal possessions and instead shared as the needs would arise!) also show this. I know that some people disagree with this and in an ideal world they could leave the city at any moment, just as the Celts let them leave the village. The life of St Patrick shows this hospitality, community, and openness to let the individual live the life they so wish. From my brief understandings and encounters with the Amish they seem to live in a similar system but with stricter guidelines with outsiders and those wishing to leave and come back. I, of course, am not supporting slavery or Kings but am just stating that some aspects of the Celtic life could be used today.
The idea is really bring community back into our cities. We have lost the sense of community, of local village, and instead live in a world where each person is a lone island of skills that they must continually market just to keep existing. Once the skills become less marketable the person is forced into a lower living standard and many die old, alone, and poor. This is not the American dream! This is not the role elders should be in! This is not what human evolution has given us! There must be more.
We try to run a nation using the same ideas that we try to run our cities and it doesn't work! Our nations political system was designed to be used for 13 small states. What works great for 13 rarely works for 50+. Its time we re-evaluate our systems and begin to evolve as a nation.
Agree? Disagree? Did I use any words out of context? Could this work? Give me some feed back because I am needing to gain a better grasp on these ideas and I need to formulate my ideas into a better working idea. Thanks.
I support the idea of cooperative individualism. I have long been a supporter of co-housing, co-op markets and the like. This seems like the next logical step in that movement.
(I feel this going to get very in-depth and complicated very quickly but I'll try my best not to use any phrases or words that are abstract or uncommon. here we go)
Most people know my libertarian ideology, what most people don't know is I am technically a Libertarian Socialist. I view the federal government as more of an oversight board that keeps the citizens safe and secure, the local governments are where things such as laws, health care, and land usage. Sure this is not a complete anarchist definition of Libertarian Socialism but is by far the closest group to my belief that I have found. The local governmental institutions are those that the group puts into place.
I believe that by forcing the federal government into a Classical liberalism or more likely a Laissez-faire economic system. This would then let cities rise up in power and begin to compete with each other in a free market. I suspect the citizens of these cities will then take more pride in the local communities and in turn create miniature socialist states. Now not all cities will become this co-ops (I doubt an equal number will be found in places like Texas or Arkansas as would be found in places like California or the Northeast). The federal government will also oversee the size of these co-ops to make sure that themselves do not grow too large in land mass and overtake small ones or force those who do not wish to partake in the co-op to be in it. This is different from Voluntaryism due to the use of the governmental institutions. The federal elections will still be done through personal anonymous voting. Of course sadly I see many people attempting to replicate what works for an individual city community on the federal level and quickly realizing it doesn't work but time will slowly let these lessons be learned.
This in turn will also help the nation as a whole get out of the major debt we currently find our nation in. I believe the Celtic Tiger could be replicated without the halt it experienced if by then enough cities had adopted the socialist village system.
One of my hopes with the rising popularity of New Urbanism communities is a better sense of local community and in-turn a higher meeting of local needs. As these residents begin meeting the needs of their community they will slowly begin creating institutions to help these needs be met. Its not uncommon to find New Urbanism communities that already have their own schools, transit, and environmental institutions.
I expect the next big trends within these communities to be health care, equal housing, and unemployment assistance. This begins looking very close to a socialist state. As these ideas work in New Urbanist towns other towns will adopt them. This is turn begins the process I see happening and support.
This is more or less what the Celts had. Each village was welcoming to outsiders and yet was focused on meeting every need of the individuals within it. Some of the earliest Christian writings (Acts 2:42-47 being a prime example! They had few personal possessions and instead shared as the needs would arise!) also show this. I know that some people disagree with this and in an ideal world they could leave the city at any moment, just as the Celts let them leave the village. The life of St Patrick shows this hospitality, community, and openness to let the individual live the life they so wish. From my brief understandings and encounters with the Amish they seem to live in a similar system but with stricter guidelines with outsiders and those wishing to leave and come back. I, of course, am not supporting slavery or Kings but am just stating that some aspects of the Celtic life could be used today.
The idea is really bring community back into our cities. We have lost the sense of community, of local village, and instead live in a world where each person is a lone island of skills that they must continually market just to keep existing. Once the skills become less marketable the person is forced into a lower living standard and many die old, alone, and poor. This is not the American dream! This is not the role elders should be in! This is not what human evolution has given us! There must be more.
We try to run a nation using the same ideas that we try to run our cities and it doesn't work! Our nations political system was designed to be used for 13 small states. What works great for 13 rarely works for 50+. Its time we re-evaluate our systems and begin to evolve as a nation.
Agree? Disagree? Did I use any words out of context? Could this work? Give me some feed back because I am needing to gain a better grasp on these ideas and I need to formulate my ideas into a better working idea. Thanks.
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