Economic Centralization vs Collaborative Economics
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Since the industrial revolution, technology has driven a centralization of many aspects of the economics. We have transitioned from communities that once had a tailor shop in every town to make your clothing, then to a few clothing factories in the country, to offshore production of all textile products. The centralization of the production process has created a transition for individuals and communities, from independent, to highly dependent economies.
A free market is an economy based on competition, big fish eats small fish. We don't actually eat the competition, they are left as low wage providers for the big fish. All to the eventual point where there are only a few big fish and everyone else is a small fish. Big fish then become the size of governments, and you have what is known as an oligarchy. The final result is the centralization of services and production, which has the same unpleasant effects of communism. I live in Amish country, I can see a community that avoids technology, and does quite well. The rest of us are immersed in technology, and are required to stay abreast of change, or fail professionally. Technology is a good thing. It, saves lives, lowers the cost of production, improves communication, and provides entertainment. It also permits those that understand it best to out compete others, creating even more extreme centralization. We don't notice the disappearance of the marketplace. Central banks can print money, deficits expand, government jobs are created, and we provide social outreach. Nothing ever completely falls apart because technology provides many social benefits. Profits become bigger and bigger, but mostly for corporations that can participate, not for labor, and the many small business components of your community. All this is what is giving us an increasing wealth separation between the 1% and the 99%. How to fix the issue... The most valued aspect of any economic equation is not production, sales, or distribution... it is you, the consumer. There is no way to put the brakes on the world economy, nor can we put technology back in the box, but there is a way to take back some control. Collaborating consumers can take control of the most important economic variable, consumption. The one aspect of the internet that has gone unnoticed is its potential for collaborative business administration. Since collaboration is the opposite of centralization, this technology could be used to permit consumers to collaboratively administer any business. If you combine social media with e -commerce, and then give it away to its users, you have created a collaborative marketplace.
Since you are the consumer, you are the most important component in economics. Your purchases make all initial choices, and therefore can choose what type of economy, or community you like. How Open Collaborative Governance Works. Prior to the internet, in order for a community to debate any topic, a meeting hall with delegates was required. Today, debate can be a series of online comments, open to anyone, with a thumbs up or down for consensus. Most all management systems are "top down", based on a "boss type," who are chosen, elected, or force themselves into authority. The "boss" then makes all operational choices. This system has always permitted the "boss" to be self serving, or for outsiders to corrupt these choices with payoffs, or threats. In an open system of governance there is no actual boss or CEO to pay. Concepts are debated and voted for online, and results are produced by paid staff that executes the choices made. It is difficult, if not impossible to corrupt the process, because choices are documented, and with many eyes for verification, greater security is assured. Civilsocialmedia.com is a prototype of this form of management platform, we are seaking participants to test and modyfy our project. Please contact us for more information civilsocialmedia.com/contact. |