I am not an economist but in the last few years I have been struck by the seemingly inherent flaws in neoclassical economies. It seems to me even with regulation of the debt centered mechanisms of this type of economy loopholes are consistently found that undermine the prosperity of the many for the few. I wanted to know if there are or have been any economic schools of thought which were/are based around an idea similar to corporations. An economy where there was a right to land and joint ownership between citizens of the country from birth. What I mean is where each family was entitled to a percentage of the countries national product and commodities .Say x% of the countries profit was split up among citizens. Just barely enough to live on but a chunk of the country split among everyone. Then when someone got a job they would have to invest in the company they worked for and from that point on would be employees/shareholders with annual dividends that would leave a comfortable cushion of assets and capital for the company. Government operations would be run the same way or by bids. People could invest any other money back into the company or another company or spend it. Savvy businessman would save and become majority shareholders and boards of directors would be voted in. The country would pay for infrastructure health care, education and guarantee initial investments in companies in case of bankruptcy before the employees/shareholders investment was returned through profits above the needed liquidity of the company which would count as needed capital and not profit. This idea seems similar to socialism except the people would own the country. The people would have to invest initial income in the company they work for, but after that was satisfied you could invest wherever you wanted. The state would own nothing everything would belong to the citizens who would reap the benefits of manufacturing and technology advancements. Average wages of all non governmental employees would be worked out to be the average wages of governmental service type corporations (or be tendered) who could then increase or decrease wages depending on efficiency like all other business. A ranged union wage would be figured out for all professions with a fairly close high end and low end wage. The main source of capitalism would be investment in companies thereby driving supply and demand. Tight accounting policies transparent to all shareholders to prevent any fraud with fairly stiff penalties for fraud would be enforced. The share of the country would be divided among families which should serve as a population control as once your kids grew up they would share your percentage of your equity in the country. I am just trying to think of a type of economy that is not so debt based and in my opinion actually is more capitalistic than say the current American system which to me has some strong traces of socialism inherently built into it by control of land. I see the fact that the country holds land as an artificial way to drive up property values and enable people to use real estate as a way to make money that should not necessarily be made using debt. I think that a population with a ownership stake in a country which could grow in prosperity (based on investment not debt) through technological, efficiency and manufacturing advancements as a whole. Where the government would not have any ownership rights only the people would. The governments role would be infrastructure justice legislation, education and taxes which would come directly from the businesses profit based on a sliding scale. Road work and other infrastructure would be tendered out and the best candidate would get the job as I see it most of this would be very similar to typical capitalism with a slant towards maybe a forced investment in your country through the company you work for in order to survive instead of a forced debt to someone? in order for the country to survive. Everything else working much like it does today in a capitalistic society except the government would not own anything the people would own it all. Even government officials could bid their jobs on a salary and the run there campaigns with their sticker value appearing with them in every advertisement so that people could choose the best valued representative. Has anyone heard of an economic system with the basic idea of being based on investment not debt and ownership of everything belonging to the people not their government representative? To me this would seem to be the ultimate capitalist type of democracy. Would it ever work?
Excellent Commentary .................................................................................... I really like your train of thought.....if you read some of my previous posts....you will note similar thinking.... ................................................................................. Countries have been mis-labeled... Capitalist Socialist Communist Dictatorship Aristocracy Democracy Free State Kingdom .................................................................................. Each country has a little of everything.....and their labels are erroneous..... ................................................................................... The closest to a true, managable democracy would be to change the tax structure to a consumption tax only.....you use it, you pay for it.... The people (democracy) would internet vote on the use of taxes.....to be run city by city , state by state... You can eliminate Democrats and Republicans...the vote win by advertising run by a couple of ordinary people is a joke type democracy.... People voting without lobbyists, congress, senate, P, vp.....would be a true democracy.... Each person in each township would have 1 vote valuation. The vote would be based on township economics. Objectives would be formed and met by the qualified.....Corruption means being fired....no job.... ..................................................................................... Financial backbone and distribution....... Banks by town.... Electronic stock exchanges for non interest nonobligatory debt....and wealth distribution...... Stock ownership promotes equal distribution of wealth, efficiency, productivity......Each individual would have a stock ownership mandate based on performance, contribution, and loyalty. ............................................................................................ The current so called US Democracy is broken...1% of the population controls 80% of the wealth..... This does not work.... ............................................................................................ It will be because of the internet and good localized management that an effective democracy can actually take place and be a correct label......
The US is not a pure Democracy by definition. Although the definition of Democracy has been broadened to include rule by elected representatives, historically a democracy was rule by majority vote. In reality, this is a Republic. People are free to vote for representation, but after that the choices are no longer their's to make. Anyway, I agree with your statement regarding consumption tax. It is dismissed on the argument that there are flaws. As if the system that replaces our current system should be completely without flaws. The consumption tax could be setup easily to function 10X better than the current system.
I know it is very idealist and may not work in reality but the main thing about the type of system I described that I think is Important is the tangible ownership in your country. If your country succeeds so do you so there is a tangible (in your hands) reason to care abut what happens. If your country becomes more efficient in manufacturing technology etc everyone gains from it. Then everyone has a reason to care and learn to understand policies and acquire a deeeper understanding of the processes that inevitably make it more or less efficient.
@slider123456 @libertad the problems with your ideas are as follows: 1. you live in rainbow-land 2. you assume most people have the proper level of intelligence and understanding to think beyond their f*ing pathetic lives 3. you assume most people actually deserve an ideal system 4. you think that those in power those who have created these complex systems, complex so they can confuse the f*ing average moron, and run these pathetic measly lives, will just drop their system and adopt yours. Even if you had your own country they wouldn't let you implement it. 5. you fail to understand that the thing isn't that some of those who think can't think of ways to build more efficient systems, the thing is they don't want to build such systems majority of humans are f*ing ugly and dumb as shit, can hardly understand and learn anything and if they were to get what they deserve they would have been dead by now. Whether they work for the gov or a corporation the are just another replaceable dog.
Excellent Commentary All ......................................................................... Well now.....the method does have to be elegantly simple.....so that all can move from point a to pòint b. Obviously we are talking about a revolution.....but in a peaceful manner.... When the internet gets a little further along....perhaps it will be possible..... So let us consider what is possible.... .................................................................................................... The government is going to change. Government can run efficiently township to township, and report to the state capital. There will be no further need for Washington...it will be just another town....the government buildings will be turned into hotels and condos.... Otherwise....management fails because of size and distance.... ................................................................................................. Each person has a vote....which is equivalent to a share of stock that reflects the innovations and contributions from the township....in that the sales revenue tax would be higher.....so therefore instead of rap singers being the heros....those that contribute to innovation end up being the heros..... Also there will be a mandate of stock ownership for all employees that work for a company....not cash....in that stock provides incentive for innovation, dedication, and contributions.... Thus the local societies are incentivized to contribute both in the government and business sectors..... .............................................................................................. The only tax at all.....is a consumption tax.... ........................................................................................ Each township internet votes on all government projects....reflective of a true democracy...... ..................................................................................... I do have the utmost confidence in people overall to do the right things....They just have to be given a proper framework in which to operate..... .................................................................................... Recently Al Gore gave a talk on changing the energy mix 100% away from fossil fuels.... The part that is missing is a proper government/business structure that should be sought with even more zeal.... The current structure is flawed.....and has to be changed rapidly as well....The 1% of the people controlling 80% of the assets is not going to work..... .......................................................................................... I can easily visualize the next golden age of America.... Look....unfunded promises alone ...merit this necessary revolution.... Why not make the most of it....and just learn from the mistakes....
the socialism of all of the capitalist mistakes (i.e. FRE FNM) are being spread amongst the populace without their consent.. so in effect, the marginal taxpayer is being further enslaved by the central bank.. not by forced labor at first, but by coercion, and an ever tightening tax code. Since the population owns guns, initially, government tyranny could get rather messy. so the socialists will slowly, drip by drip, attempt to remove this threat. and the 2nd amendment was ratified (narrowly) by a 5-4 Supreme Court.. And an aging Supreme court needs replacements... you can figure out the rest...
There is one big difference though all forms of Marxism that I am aware of have been socialist. The state owned everything not the people. What I am saying is that the people own everything which is less socialistic than the current system where the government owns the Land and gives it to the people as it sees fit in effect artificially governing prices of land and real estate and using it as one of the prime drivers of wealth artificially. The wealth of a country and its citizens should be based on the assets of the country instead of the faith of people in its debt. To me an economy based on the faith people have in its debt is a system which is sooner or later doomed to failure until the faith of the people can be restored so the whole system starts again unless it can be sustained long enough until wealth is distributed so lopsidedly that there is a revolution and everyone loses. I believe no system will be sustainable until it is realized that you cannot separate classes everyone in a economy is dependent on everyone else like it or not.
Capitalism is dependent on individual responsibility. Democracy is dependent on vigilance. Marxism is dependent on surrender of the masses.