Envisioning a convivial post-corporate world requires a diversity of new/old concepts, policies, technologies, best practices, etc. that are imaginable or currently available for decentralized implementation.

This blog is intended to collate promising contributions to this vision from experts in many fields.

Participants are requested to classify each of their posts with one or more of the Category Labels (listed here).

July 29, 2010

RSA Animate – Crisis of Capitalism

In this short RSA Animate, radical sociologist David Harvey asks if it is time to look beyond capitalism, towards a new social order that would allow us to live within a system that could be responsible, just and humane. View his full lecture at the RSA. 



United Diversity's Money Bookmarks



July 06, 2010

Progressive Taxation Scenarios

Sane Tax Initiatives

The cancellation of taxes on labor and basic consumption, the creation of a 2% worldwide tax on property ownership (except basic habitation for the poor), and the implementation of a global 0.5% flat tax on all financial transactions with a total prohibition of speculation on food products.

 
Until the beginning of the 19th century, taxes were largely used as a means of reducing inequalities, and fell mainly on property ownership.

Neoliberal policies of the 20th century slowly shifted the tax burden away from the rich to the poor by taxing labor and consumption—making the poor responsible for financing our economic system while giving the rich most of the benefit. And we all know what became of trickle-down theory.

Taxes must be shifted away from basic necessities and consumption, and back to profit-making operations, and the ownership of natural resources and other industrial properties. A tax must also be levied on financial transactions.
For more information on these issues:

Source article here (The Yes Men's World Economic Forum spoof site).

July 05, 2010

Common Good Banks: creating democratic economics for a sustainable world

What Is Common Good Bank™?

Common Good Bank™ is designed to be the basis for a new economic system -- a democratic, community-based system that can spread quickly to give everyone a home, healthy food, and satisfying work. Common Good Bank will be different from ordinary banks in two ways: who benefits (everyone) and who gets a say in how the money is used (everyone). This is not just another bank with a social mission. This is

a social mission with a bank!

  • All profits go to schools and other nonprofits.
  • Depositors decide what the bank should invest in.
  • Free local credit card processing for local businesses.
  • Micro-loans for new businesses and community projects.
  • A full range of secure, FDIC-insured banking services.
  • Committed to sustainability and economic justice.

July 03, 2010

Has the American Dream Become Our Nightmare?

"We may want to begin thinking about how we can strengthen what's been called the "commons"—an old but strangely foreign concept in modern America—that refers to what we inherit or create together that contributes to the good of us all as members of a human community."