A federation of individuals and small groups working in a network to create value, instead of corporate operations. Mutual recognition of such collaboration and the value created from it largely replaces commercial transactions.
I love this approach, and it’s one aspect I really appreciate about Substack (both in general and this one) as a medium to discuss complex ideas in a distributed way—a sort of modern day application of the Socratic method.
This post also made me think of Posner and Weyl’s book Radical Markets, which might be of interest for your research—certainly fits in this theme of wild but thought-provoking. I especially liked the part about a single land tax in the spirit of Henry George’s, but there are also lots of other interesting ideas on quadratic voting, sponsoring immigration, and more. All this to say, I think there are good ideas going around, including many of the ones in your Substack, and I’m happy to see there seems to be demand to hear them and discuss.
You're so right—Substack IS a modern day application of the Socratic method! And thanks for the book rec. I actually already have it on my Kindle and have read a few chapters. I need to revisit and see where there might be room for some more imagination!
I wrote about this in “The Dreaming Comes First” where we have to imagine a different world before it comes to pass. All we’re doing now can change. We decide when. There is no reason we can’t make the future what we want. I would say though that sometimes it’s worth a disclaimer or indication that a proposal is hypothetical. Not everyone can entertain that type of thinking off the bat. We’re very used to taking things literally and getting upset (with good reason, honestly).
I want free basic necessities like houses, utilities, and food. I want a shift from career to passion. It’s only those dreamers who foretell the future.
This stuff right here is what keeps me coming back. When it comes to imagination, we're on the same wavelength. I also sometimes notice myself slipping into dogmatic thinking (thanks evangelical church), and it's very hard to shuck entirely even after so many years.
Posts like these are a refreshing return to the broad horizons we need to get out of the messes we're in.
Yes you are really good at the imaginative part, that's why I really love your writing! I don't actually feel that it's at all dogmatic, and you seem very accepting of quite a lot of views even as you come up with your own. Another reason I really love your writing!
Also, I appreciate spending time understanding the problem well. Otherwise our solutions and imaginations are ill informed. Complaining can also be understood as "bitterness speaking" and is the beginning of a process of shared undersandings that can and has motivated change. Consciousness raising originates in the practice of "bitterness speaking."
I get it Elle! If I could pick a small bone or two, you paint democracy as a positive experiment and socialism as negative: “Some of them didn’t—socialism has thus far resulted in despotism and poverty despite Bellamy’s and Morris’ advocations for it. ” But the happiest places on earth rn are socialist, namely Denmark and Iceland. And guess what Germany was under Hitler? A democracy. Democracies devolve to autocracies and fascism, as in current day US.
Ahhhhhh we have different definitions then. I would not call Denmark and Iceland socialist (because capitalism is still their means of production), though they are certainly social democracies (in that they have a socialist means of distribution). I think they wound up finding the perfect balance between the two (the best of capitalism and the best of socialism)! And I very much agree with you that Democracies can easily devolve into autocracies (as I've written). We can certainly do much better, but I think as methods of government go it's still the best one we have so far (and is better than the alternatives!)
P.S. I looked it up and now I get waht you are saying. They are not socialist becuase the gov doesn't own the means of produciton; it is a social democracy with a market and lots of social services. We often think of them as socialisit contires but not technically the case
Not to mention the positive effect filling your mind with hopeful ideas for the future has on your mental health. I make it an intention to focus on these sides of the internet just to keep myself feeling good and with an optimistic mindset. Thanks for all the material!
"We’re focused on the problems rather than coming up with solutions." I'd amend that: We’re focused on the problems rather than dealing with what causes them." Everyone who is interested in what your asking for would find a lot of ideas in my unusual Substack that looks to come up with what would get us to a utopian future. There are a lot of ideas in the essays submitted for my contest, How We Saved the World, where people wrote from 2050, when the world is working, fantasizing about how we got there. Here's the track where you'll find my posts and comments on them, where the creativity continues: https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/s/essay-contest
I'm afraid I'm one of those people who have sometimes read your brainstorming ideas and lacked the imaginative spark in the moment to use it as a springboard for ideas of my own.
Also, maybe I've watched too many Black Mirror episodes of new technologies backfiring!
I'm going to try my hand at out-of-the-box thinking and come back with some thoughts.
This was a great explanation of your project. I know you've laid it out before, but for some reason, this time I "got" it.
I think we've all watched too many Black Mirror episodes to be able to imagine things turning out well 😆 But you are a great thinker and I'll be excited to see what ideas you come up with!!! I'm glad this made what I'm doing here more clear. 🥰
I love this so much! Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm, commitment, thoughts, and voice. We absolutely *must* be open to thought experiments and conversations in order to evolve - and we sorely need to hurry up and evolve!
A federation of individuals and small groups working in a network to create value, instead of corporate operations. Mutual recognition of such collaboration and the value created from it largely replaces commercial transactions.
I love this approach, and it’s one aspect I really appreciate about Substack (both in general and this one) as a medium to discuss complex ideas in a distributed way—a sort of modern day application of the Socratic method.
This post also made me think of Posner and Weyl’s book Radical Markets, which might be of interest for your research—certainly fits in this theme of wild but thought-provoking. I especially liked the part about a single land tax in the spirit of Henry George’s, but there are also lots of other interesting ideas on quadratic voting, sponsoring immigration, and more. All this to say, I think there are good ideas going around, including many of the ones in your Substack, and I’m happy to see there seems to be demand to hear them and discuss.
You're so right—Substack IS a modern day application of the Socratic method! And thanks for the book rec. I actually already have it on my Kindle and have read a few chapters. I need to revisit and see where there might be room for some more imagination!
I wrote about this in “The Dreaming Comes First” where we have to imagine a different world before it comes to pass. All we’re doing now can change. We decide when. There is no reason we can’t make the future what we want. I would say though that sometimes it’s worth a disclaimer or indication that a proposal is hypothetical. Not everyone can entertain that type of thinking off the bat. We’re very used to taking things literally and getting upset (with good reason, honestly).
I want free basic necessities like houses, utilities, and food. I want a shift from career to passion. It’s only those dreamers who foretell the future.
This is beautifully said.
In 50 years, American GDP per capita in real terms will likely be about double what it is now.
Given that level of income, it should be easy to afford a much more robust social support system for all families.
That's not imaginative, but it is optimistic.
This stuff right here is what keeps me coming back. When it comes to imagination, we're on the same wavelength. I also sometimes notice myself slipping into dogmatic thinking (thanks evangelical church), and it's very hard to shuck entirely even after so many years.
Posts like these are a refreshing return to the broad horizons we need to get out of the messes we're in.
Yes you are really good at the imaginative part, that's why I really love your writing! I don't actually feel that it's at all dogmatic, and you seem very accepting of quite a lot of views even as you come up with your own. Another reason I really love your writing!
Your support means the world!
Also, I appreciate spending time understanding the problem well. Otherwise our solutions and imaginations are ill informed. Complaining can also be understood as "bitterness speaking" and is the beginning of a process of shared undersandings that can and has motivated change. Consciousness raising originates in the practice of "bitterness speaking."
I totally agree. The problem is still important, I just think it's overrepresented in the media. (And solutions are underrepresented).
I get it Elle! If I could pick a small bone or two, you paint democracy as a positive experiment and socialism as negative: “Some of them didn’t—socialism has thus far resulted in despotism and poverty despite Bellamy’s and Morris’ advocations for it. ” But the happiest places on earth rn are socialist, namely Denmark and Iceland. And guess what Germany was under Hitler? A democracy. Democracies devolve to autocracies and fascism, as in current day US.
Ahhhhhh we have different definitions then. I would not call Denmark and Iceland socialist (because capitalism is still their means of production), though they are certainly social democracies (in that they have a socialist means of distribution). I think they wound up finding the perfect balance between the two (the best of capitalism and the best of socialism)! And I very much agree with you that Democracies can easily devolve into autocracies (as I've written). We can certainly do much better, but I think as methods of government go it's still the best one we have so far (and is better than the alternatives!)
P.S. I looked it up and now I get waht you are saying. They are not socialist becuase the gov doesn't own the means of produciton; it is a social democracy with a market and lots of social services. We often think of them as socialisit contires but not technically the case
Yes exactly!
Not to mention the positive effect filling your mind with hopeful ideas for the future has on your mental health. I make it an intention to focus on these sides of the internet just to keep myself feeling good and with an optimistic mindset. Thanks for all the material!
I so agree with this. It definitely helps me to think in a positive direction rather than a negative one!
"We’re focused on the problems rather than coming up with solutions." I'd amend that: We’re focused on the problems rather than dealing with what causes them." Everyone who is interested in what your asking for would find a lot of ideas in my unusual Substack that looks to come up with what would get us to a utopian future. There are a lot of ideas in the essays submitted for my contest, How We Saved the World, where people wrote from 2050, when the world is working, fantasizing about how we got there. Here's the track where you'll find my posts and comments on them, where the creativity continues: https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/s/essay-contest
Hi Elle,
I'm afraid I'm one of those people who have sometimes read your brainstorming ideas and lacked the imaginative spark in the moment to use it as a springboard for ideas of my own.
Also, maybe I've watched too many Black Mirror episodes of new technologies backfiring!
I'm going to try my hand at out-of-the-box thinking and come back with some thoughts.
This was a great explanation of your project. I know you've laid it out before, but for some reason, this time I "got" it.
I think we've all watched too many Black Mirror episodes to be able to imagine things turning out well 😆 But you are a great thinker and I'll be excited to see what ideas you come up with!!! I'm glad this made what I'm doing here more clear. 🥰
I love this so much! Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm, commitment, thoughts, and voice. We absolutely *must* be open to thought experiments and conversations in order to evolve - and we sorely need to hurry up and evolve!
I think so!! Glad you're with me!!! 🥰