RevolutionZ

Episode 249 of the podcast titled RevolutionZ is the first of three  that will together present and comment on Participatory Planning. Most of the content is from two years ago, the book No Bosses, which presents participatory economics. But interspersed throughout these episodes are also clarifying and critical comments I make, now, as I revisit the content. Three episodes on one component of a post capitalist economic vision? Well, allocation beyond markets and central planning  is not simple and has many moving parts so that describing it fully enough to assess will take some time. Indeed, the three episodes aren't week after week but themselves spread out a bit so that if you send comments and questions I can use those to augment subsequent content. 

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Episode 248 of RevolutionZ critiques markets and central planning as unfit for a desirable new economy. 

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Episode 247 of RevolutionZ controversially consider's Oliver Anthony's song, Rich Men North of Richmond, and especially responses to it. "Time will tell who has fell and whose been left behind."

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Episode 246 of RevolutionZ considers Income norms now and in a post capitalist participatory economy. What determines peoples' incomes, with what incentive affects, and what consequences. 

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Episode 245 of RevolutionZ considers in depth the division of labor as it is now, called corporate division of labor, and as it is proposed in order to have no bosses, balanced job complexes. It addresses why and how to implement a new division of labor in terms of class, power, income, and mainly the types of tasks employees do. It derives from No Bosses chapter 4 but includes considerable spontaneous commentary.

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Episode 244 of RevolutionZ has as our guest, Kali Akuno - the co-founder and director of Cooperation Jackson. He shares with us the  story of their network, a web of worker cooperatives and solidarity economy support institutions working together to make economic democracy a reality in Jackson, Mississippi and beyond.

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As mentioned last episode the platform I use for RevolutionZ has installed an AI facility. It "listens" to the podcast, proposes titles, generates a description, and does some sound balancing, i think. The titles are not crazy, but I ignore them. It also generates a transcription. I suspect before long such facilities will generate translations as well...

This episode is about ownership relations and workplace decision making both  in capitalism and, more so,  as proposed for a post capitalist economy called participatory economics, and also about a way to think through conceiving and assessing any kind of social vision.  It includes material from the book No Bosses, published two years ago, and also current comments on that material generated when I recorded this episode. 

The AI generated the following description, included below.. Sadly, it is good enough so I can imagine many podcast creators using this facility either for a draft to edit or for a final copy.  

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Bold claim, you say? Here it is - the traditional capitalist concept of ownership is fundamentally flawed and needs a radical overhaul. This provocative episode dives into the hot debate on the capitalist ownership of productive assets, from resources and tools to entire workplaces. We examine the stark difference between personal ownership and the immense power that comes with owning these productive assets. We discuss how we can create a just economy where workers are rewarded fairly for their work and those unable to work still get a fair share, with a portion allocated for collective needs like healthcare and public infrastructure.

How do we foster collective self-management in our institutions and make everyone an integral part of the decision-making process? This episode pulls no punches in exploring this complex subject. From understanding how individual decisions can impact others to the necessity of involving everyone in the decisions that affect them, we discuss it all. We delve into the challenges of making temporary assumptions in economic visions and how this leap of faith can transform our workplaces into more egalitarian spaces.

Finally, we venture into the realm of workplace decision-making under the banner of collective self-management. We discuss how to tackle variations within the workforce and manage decisions that have wider implications. The process of generating and assessing proposals for new institutions comes under scrutiny and we share insights on how people might choose their workplaces based on their preferences for decision-making procedures. This episode will challenge your preconceived notions about capitalism and inspire you to imagine a more equitable, self-managed future. 

We round off the episode with a deep dive into collective decision-making and how we can create an environment where every worker and consumer is prepared to make important decisions. We explore the issues of class relations and class rule, how decisions can be made effectively within teams, and how different decision-making procedures can be chosen to best approximate self-management. Don't miss out on this thought-provoking episode that aims to challenge the status quo and propose better solutions for the future. Tune in and join us in our journey towards a more equitable economy and society.

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Ep 242 of RevolutionZ begins a continuing investigation of what a post capitalist economy can and should be including the introduction to No Bosses and its first chapter on Values, and including current spontaneous ruminations on the substance and wording of those. But...

[My host site for the podcasts has installed an AI to "help" - and the AI  generated the following episode description from the audio...which I thought I would keep for your edification,  amusement, or horror...]

A promise and a journey. That’s what awaits you as we navigate our human nature, exposing our capacity for both cruelty and kindness. We're going to dismantle internalized complacency and habitual obedience, and rally for resistance and organization. Are we, as a society, ready to take that leap and aim for a new world, free from disease, depravity, and catastrophe? Join us in this quest, as we talk about the importance of unified motion and big change in transcending our current challenges.

It's a tall order, isn't it? To set a vision for a better future, one that balances economic, social, political, international, and ecological relations. But that's exactly what we're doing. We're not here to dictate the minutiae of that future, but to provide the hope, guidance, and means for us to get there. We want to offer a vision that blends in with the diverse expectations of future citizens. This is no easy task, but it's one we must undertake if we are to navigate from our present state to a more desirable future.

Finally, we'll zoom into the values that drive decision-making in society and how they can be applied. We'll tackle self-management concepts and the importance of equitable remuneration. We'll explore institutions and their ability to provide self-management. This is not a call to reward income for property, power or luck. Instead, it's a movement towards embracing the advantages that a society brings and finding value in its people. So press play, and join us on this journey towards a better world.

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Episode 241 of RevolutionZ titled Chomsky, Varoufakis, and Mr presents prefaces to the book No Bosses by Noam and Yanis and, interspersed in that presentation, my reactions to their observations. 

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Episode 240 of RevolutionZ is titled Students Step Up 1. It  simultaneously calls for Student Activism and considers obstacles and possible paths through them. Directed at Students, it addresses all ages.

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