Re: What's Wrong With America?

Matthew Scott wrote:
Islander wrote:

You call it something else. See "Capitalism 3.0" by Peter Barnes.
He advocates taking a number of issues outside conventional capitalism
and government control. He argues that there are specific rights that
everyone should have which are a part of the commons as he defines it.
His proposal is to establish self-supporting trusts that assure that
these rights are protected in perpetuity.

The problem of the "commons" is fairly well known. For those who may be unfamiliar, the concept is that all assets are pooled in common, and each contributor takes out only what is proportional to his/her contribution/need.

The problem arises when human nature reverts to form, and some participants are perceived to be taking more from the commons than they are presumably entitled to. Since the commons depends on trust and personal integrity rather than enforcement and regulation, soon resentment and envy destroy it.

Were the ordinary citizen committed to the idealistic principles implicit in such a system, the country (or the world) might indeed be the utopia that people such as Barnes envision. Unfortunately, reality always trumps such elitist pipe-dreams.

Barnes argues that the problem with the commons is that it is abused, not by idealistic principles, but by the practical motives of capitalism. The cost of using the commons is externalized by companies and therefore not paid. He also argues that government regulation does not work because favors are bought by the companies.

He instead argues that trusts persist as an independent entity and are protected by rule of law. What is protected in a well written trust is untouchable. This forces companies to internalize the costs of using something in the commons and a fee-for-use then supports the commons.

He cites a number of successful examples.
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Relevant Pages

  • Re: High strength fibers for high pressure tubes.
    ... >> on the denial of property rights in the affected areas. ... > The "commons" problem is a problem for ALL humans. ... period it became popular for each village to set aside a portion of land ... That piece of land was called the ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: Whats Wrong With America?
    ... His proposal is to establish self-supporting trusts that assure that ... these rights are protected in perpetuity. ... unfamiliar, the concept is that all assets are pooled in common, and each contributor takes out only what is proportional to his/her contribution/need. ... The problem arises when human nature reverts to form, and some participants are perceived to be taking more from the commons than they are presumably entitled to. ...
    (soc.retirement)
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