Journals
Wednesday,Jan 19 2005, 12:04:00 AMM. E.. R... -- Mundo de Escuelas...
M. E.. R... -- Mundo de Escuelas Revolucionarias:
Economics – Resources – Social Solidarity
Agrarian Reform | Participatory Decentralized Economics | Solidaristic Policies
Education & Radical Restructuring for a Solidarity Society
... Un MUNDO Lleno de Escuelas Revolucionarias: Contact: mescuelas_revolt@yahoo.com
Solidarity Economics is the macro study; MER is the Micro-study-of-the-Macro (or some might say Policy Analysis) and Business Economics will become the study of Cooperative,; Community Banking/Investments and Planning Operations. The study of the Micro-micro is for: small businesses, entrepreneurs and innovation. A fourth COLLEGE would be EDUCATION For Solidarity Economics (Macro) and MER (Micro) – how to teach the administrative and practical skills for the New Economy. From this short list it is apparent that most of education would need to be re-organized. – Jason Martin
AN APPEAL:
We are seeking assistance in designing middle school and high school curricula that are relevant to the new world we are building. Our primary focus is economic and politics – actually the heart of our project is to show how these two interact and compliment – political economy. One leads the other in a virtuous or a bad circle. We feel that in order to teach students for a cooperative and solidaristic future – that we need to have a well-defined economic program that reflects and teaches these values.
Thus, we have embarked on a project to piece together such an economic program drawing on the work of Hugo Chavez (
No one reads economics or about economic development, but maybe they should.
The MER approach rejects the capitalist notion that you simply socialize and train people to fill jobs determined by the market forces of big business and their government cronies. Without the market to tell us what to learn and what attitudes to develop, we have to have a plan for the kind of world we are fighting for and what kinds of skills will be needed in that world that we must win.
The experiments in
Isabel Rauber – We are prisoners of concepts that hide the real world we are witnessing. In the poor countries when we talk of globalization we talk about robbing our countries and about the incapacitation of our opportunities; the break down of our productive systems – and when we talk about production we talk about life; economic structures. The destruction of the productive system leads to the destruction of countries and the existing systems. Globalization, the WTO, the IMF etc. are behind this. We can’t discuss this issue without mentioning them. The national-global dichotomy is false. The complicity of our national governments are implied.
I. Introduction to Vuelvan Caras: The Economics of MER
To have Real Change one needs real development – for real development to happen we need real change in existing instituions, laws and attitudes (values). You can call yourself a communist, anarchist or new age follower, these are all fine goals and may even come true someday – after great struggles are won... What poor countries need right now are practical, functional economic plans for survival. Plans are needed that inspire and guide and prepare people for seizing power and designing structures to decentralize political and economic power for the long run.
When people ask us what we think about John Kerry, Nationalized Medicine or US Foreign Aid (Tusnami disaster) we are bewildered and saddened. How can people grow up, be educated and watch so much information go by them without understanding how the thinking process works – clueless that there are even clues.
How strange of a world where 20 years ago there were basically two clear ideologies – Western Capitalism versus Soviet Communism, and most of the world adhered to the dogma and doctrines of these two views. Answers were much easier to give in such a world. Now we are at the opposite extreme with no clear ideologies – or people think they are somewhere in between the two. A kind of rainbow, new age, denial addiction has afflicted most people – including those who once based their lives (or views) on the old ideologies.
How people with little political or economic experience or knowledge can pretend to think or make decisions in such a world is amazing – or bizarre. And yet, anyone can reasonably build their own ideology with only a few hours of thinking and later add some research to confirm and fleshout their views. We have tried to teach this process to people, but they are usually too fearful of what they will learn (that they are either fascists or socialists) to complete the process.
THE PROCESS OF AWARENESS: What kind of world do you want?
II. Mundo de Escuelas Revolucionarias: MER
Solidarity Economics is the macro economics and the vision of our goals and hopes and direction. MER is the micro, the details and the types of direct policies that support a solidaristic society. In the MER program there is a market economy but the government at all levels – directed by the people’s budget prioritizations – intervenes in the market to create sufficient basic goods and to satisfy basic needs within a sustainability guidelines.
To have Real Change one needs real development – for real development to happen we need real change in existing instituions, laws and attitudes (values).
There is no viable middle way in economics – in the world we are in – one either goes hog wild for free trade and working with the corporations or else you go strong toward an import substitution (ISE) and the solidarity economics program developed by MER.. Orient to the market and open up to foreign investment and control (secondary product/culture control, foreign policy manipulation, and brainwashing toward the US system.) … or else you follow an increasingly radical path of withdraw from international institutions (World Bank, US AID, UN) and dependence on your own nations skills, people and capital generation ( and a few friends – maybe).
Through capital controls, higher taxation and strategic spending, nations can avoid some of the effects of globalization (
Foreign capital, corporate investments and privatizations of public utilities, properties and services are the mainstays of neoliberalism, but many natural resources will soon begin to decline if exploited rapidly and without planning that benefits the whole society into the future...
In the radical path of Solidarity and Agrarian Economics – income, wealth, power, and prestige are all redefined and severely redistributed along lines of equity and poverty reduction. In a series of iterative (back and forth) planning and public budgeting sessions, regional and local agencies ( or elected bodies) direct local and national budgets to investments in social improvements: water, schools, food distribution and food for work programs. Skills training and health care – especially for women and children – would also be major priorities of funding and local health officials would have some control over at least an emergency portion of the budget...
Resources are carefully nurtured and developed with friendly aid or barter based trade used to build bridges and relationships with neighboring countries that are struggling along with you in developing new arrangements of mutual benefit and responsibility.
Yes to markets! No to CAPITALISMO! -- Many people have written about alternative forms of economics: from socio-economic democracy to green economics and agrarian based development. While we talked and dreamed the elite in the
The idea say for
For MER, the meaning or value of a new socialism – or a new economics - means that through collective power and decisions things happen that would not otherwise happen as well. For example schools; if the people collectively decide that schools are a priority and their childrens’ education is important then they can come together or pay money to build a school and to hire teachers. If this were not done collectively then schools might still happen, but they might cost a lot of money or use curriculums that do not educate for the kind of world that we want and need.
Or take public water supply as an example; if the community comes together to build or pool money to build a good well and a distribution system then plentiful water of good quality can be available to all at low or zero price. If the community does not act collectively then there may be water for some and not for others, or the price may be too high for some and so they suffer to find cheaper water or they are forced to drink bad water and perhaps spread disease or else they are not very productive because of the costs, time or sickness caused by a lack of cheap water. Many more products and services experience similar needs for a local socialism of control and fair appropriation.
Often socialism is associated with the government (the State) controlling everything or the commanding heights of the economy, industry and resources. The state does away with markets and proceeds to plan the economy as if it knew what was best for everyone. Better models of this sort have been tried and even some aspects of Soviet central planning were effective in providing health care, education and housing, but these are not the sort of models that we mean when we say a local power of “Socialismo of Communities.”
In the Solidarity Program the state at the national level would not do very much except oversee research, planning and allocations to poverty stricken regions. The State would be a referee to assure that no region was violating the constitution or the norms which the whole nation had agreed to. They also collect some taxes at the main borders to help pay for their research and administrative efforts.
In the MER - Solidaritstic Model, power – the ability to make and enforce decisions - would reside primarily in local assemblies of a few hundred delegates representing a few thousand people. For example in a town of a sector of a city with 4000 to 8000 people a hundred or two hundred delegates selected by their neighborhoods would take the issues and votes of their people to these larger assemblies where priorities would be established according the peoples’ wishes. (See
The world is in the grip of several terrible evils. One is capitalism by which we mean the USA-backed corporate system of dominance that steals your traditions, common sense and your souls and replaces them with a very shallow materialism of you – your family and your neighborhood first – with little regard to the environment, the long term effects or the suffering such a system wrecks onto others.
Another terrible evil is what goes under the rubric of reform, the alternative or progressiveness – it steals your hope, your aspirations and your potential and replaces them with phony thinking, phony programs of ill defined terms and strategies that do not make sense. These are strategies that are designed to fail, to avoid pain, risk and any real challenge to the system of power dominating the planet.
Another of the evils is what is called Leftism or state planning. These people come from an honorable tradition but they have not been able to adjust to the situation lived in everyday capitalist culture. They have not been able to inspire the masses or break out beyond the failed examples of the
These dilemmas drastically limit the space available to each of us for real dialog or creative thinking. We do not claim to know the only path to real change and the reduction of bad thinking, bad living and bad planning. We can claim to have the only insights on a way that could work – or the only one that we know of...
First let us examine the two models that have some legitimacy:
1. The Alternative (Carnival of Resistance) or the anti-globalization model;
2. The socially conscious model of Hugo Chavez and the real radicals in
1. The ANTI_ GLOBALIZATION POLITICAL ECONOMY
Little challenge to the structures of power, the land ownership or the distribution of wealth... reliance on volunteerism, mutual aid and slow change. But the social implications are profound. If the social movements can continue to grow (10 to 40 years) without major attacks by the
2. BOLIVARIAN REVOLUTION AND THE TRANSITION TO SOLIDARITY ECONOMICS
The Venezuelan economic program has channeled wonderful increases in spending for education, the poor, health and nutrition programs among a few of its accomplishments. However, the government has not significantly entered the market to employ people and to protect the economy for the poor. Instead Chavez relies on the market, on the business community and the underground economy to employ people and provide most of the goods. Chavez uses global conflict/revolution as the necessary vision rather than relying on the power of the local and a New Economics of the local. Several of his programs will help build momentum toward a solidaristic society and greater changes.
III. M. E.. R... -- Mundo de Escuelas Revolucionarias:
Economics – Resources – Social Solidarity
Agrarian Reform | Participatory Decentralized Economics | Solidaristic Policies
Education & Radical Restructuring for a Solidarity Society
Re – Forming the MODEL of SUSTAINABLE LIVING – M E R ...
There is a market, but the government at all levels subsidizes outputs of basic goods and things that are at a comparative advantage - and thus good for trade (produced below the price of world market trends with eco and infrastructure costs accounted). Products important to neighboring countries would also be subsidized depending on the new policies in that country. So, lots of corn, soy, timber, herbs, dairy, local building materials (rocks, adobe, lumber or tile (roofs) are produced in abundance. The government (local or regional) buys or produces some of this surplus, but doesn't have much else in agricultural subsidies or bureaucracy – except for credit and extension. The government may choose to process ( add value) to this publicly owned surplus, give it to the poor, export it or the processed goods (local, neighbors, region, continental international hierarchy) for foreign currency earnings or use it as foreign aid or gifts/trades with neighboring countries.
Un Mundo de Escuelas Revolucionarias: Es un Mundo de Escuelas de la Economia Nueva Novela
The MER Economic Model that we propose draws on aspects of the flawed models of Chavez and the Anti-Globalization authors, but that is mostly coincidence. In other words, many good ideas are sought to be captured by any models that attempts to make sense, but capturing a good idea and integrating it into something that structures in common and social sense is a different matter. In fact, we are not aware of any enduring examples in human history.
Radical Restructuring – The Economics of MER
Poor Countries and Revolutionary Movements cannot expect any help from anyone. They cannot wait for Chavez in
I. A CONSTITUIONAL CONVENTION is held before or after the re-conquest of a government. The only invited full-participation attendees would be students, workers, soldiers, representatives of Indians/indigenous groups, soldiers' groups, young people, slum dwellers, poor workers, small farmers and landless farmers.
1. Prioritize: The needs of the whole population for a new revolutionary/solidarity education; water for drinking and for crops; pure food; land; agricultural support; and participation.
Secondary priorities: Community and national defense through Fifth Generation Warfare Techniques; housing with long term use/needs taken into account (mostly rural and border areas); cooperative production units; Watershed restoration; and public spending for the sustainable development of natural and other resources.
II. A NEW POLITICAL ECONOMY – Structures and Guides
Capitalism pretends that all needs are provided for by maximizing corporate profits. But despite huge expensive bureaucracies the rich countries still have serious social problems concerning health, education and crime. The MER Solidaristic Policies model maximizes food security; health and well-being; participation; a practical education; the values and benefits of cooperation; and a goal of many equalities.
We are sure that such policies can produce enough (social) profits to satisfy basic needs for development: the people empowered.
1. Extreme taxation of all foreign and elite owned businesses, bank accounts and resources to accomplish state takeover at the lowest cost and minimal disruptions.
2. Extreme tariffs on the imports from all non-aligned nations.
3. Extensive programs for the relocation of urban people to rural areas for production and for defense.
4. Education for solidarity and revolutionary economics, society and consciousness.
Program of Revolutionary Takeover of a Country like
I. Short Transition Period (First 3 Weeks) : Immediate Priorities
The development path for
Security and law and order are the next responsibilities. Soldiers and police not required for protection of vital installations should be assigned to neighborhood or regional assemblies to be deployed as requested by these local authorities (worker-soldier alliance). Lists of critical jobs should be drawn up by the assemblies and the positions necessary are filled. Garbage collection, water supply, electricity (rationed), and emergency medical needs are at the top with sewage disposal and heating or cooling next. The central government's primary role other than security is to seize all food supplies and critical parts (equipment) and to distribute it fairly according to need and circumstances (weather, poverty and breakdowns). The government should also distribute transport vehicles and fuel supplies as best it can.
II. Phase II of Transition Period (First 3 months) : Beginning Long-Run Priorities
The two primary requirements during the first 3 months is to further develop and secure the neighborhood and regional assembly operations, effectiveness and organization; second to prioritize all productive factors (money, skills, workers and material) for long run production of basic goods and the factors required to produce them. Food, electricity, transport and water
III. ECONOMIC POLICIES: Slow Version –
This is macro - kind of - then the data and conclusions examine price and supply curves under these macro conditions - increased investment and increased consumption level - how to keep prices low -
1. Credit controls
2.
3. Modest Credit programs
4. Increase taxes - corporations and the rich and idle lands -
5. Partial decentralization
6. Increase minimum wages
7. Regional Employment
8. Import Substitution
9. Modest re-nationalization
Phase II - of Go Slow -
1. All of above - but more – and faster...
2. More linkages that support import substitution -
3. Military construction projects
4. Links across borders - rural development
5. Government purchases of lands and confiscations -
6. Increase taxes on medium size farms and some small ( or income tax)
7. Limits on land ownership
8. Re-location projects to rural areas
9. Urban Land titles and confiscations - purchases etc.
10. Education for Solidarity
Fast Econ Program - Do all of above quickly. Get rid of US $ and end trade with those aligned with the
Many people have known about policies that would improve conditions for rural people. An example is found in the demands made by highland Indians in
1. Return of lands and territories taken from indigenous communities, without costly legal fees
2. Sufficient water for both human consumption and irrigation in the indigenous communities, and an environmental plan to prevent contamination of water supplies
3. No payment of the municipal taxes levied on the small properties owned by indigenous farmers
4. Creation of long-term financing for bilingual education programs in the communities
5. Creation of provincial and regional credit agencies under the control of Conaie
6. Debt pardon for all debts indigenous communities have incurred with government ministries and banks
7. Reform of the first article of the Ecuadorian Constitution such that it recognizes
8. Immediate delivery of funds and credits currently assigned to the indigenous nationalities
9. A minimum two-year price freeze on all raw materials and manufactured goods used by the communities in agricultural production, and a reasonable price increase for all agricultural products sold by the communities, relying upon free-market mechanisms
10. Initiation and termination of all necessary and priority construction of basic infrastructure in the indigenous communities
11. Unrestricted import and export privileges for indigenous artisans and merchants of artisan-craft
12. National legislation and enforcement in favor of strict protection and controlled exploration of archaeological sites under the supervision of Conaie
13. Expulsion of the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL, a missionary group), in accordance with Executive Decree 1159 of 1981
14. Respect for the rights of children and the raising of consciousness in the government regarding the actual state of affairs extant among children
15. National support for the practice of indigenous medicine
16. Immediate dismantling of organizations created by the political parties that parallel governmental institutions at the municipal and provincial levels, and which manipulate political consciousness and elections in the indigenous communities (Hoy 6/29/90) [ Bold denotes policies related to the rural economy ]
The Mararikulam Experiment is an alternative to corporate dominated globalization.
It is an example of the kinds of policies that :
1. show that poor people in the 3rd world can generate significant economic growth without international corporate investment;
2. create an economy with substantial resistance barriers to corporate domination: the soap production and many other products will generate jobs that are insulated from multinational corporate practices of moving into a region and then leaving to escape upward wage pressures;
3. make more efficient use of local raw materials than would a vertically integrated international corporate production process;
4. reinforce local democracy, participation, and empowerment of ordinary people. The goals of the Mararikulam Experiment include developing an economy that is egalitarian and a political structure that allows for the greatest possible democratic participation of workers and consumers in designing their own products.
5. provide an example to others of the power of cooperatives as engines of economic growth and development that simultaneously promote social justice and support communities.
-- The Mararikulam Experiment: Women-Owned Cooperatives in
For the Preservation of Domestic Security and Self Defense:
1. Restrict travel by the wealthy (Venezuelans and others) and require background checks of US, Colombian and Haitian citizens entering
2.Maintain strict currency controls and broaden investigations of tax paying by US and opposition connected businesses and organizations.
3. Expose the connections between the Cisneros clan, the AUC/Colombian elite, the Miami-Cuban CIA mafia and Spanish rightwing drug dealers (and US and Mexican Banks!)
4. Phase out US Embassies, all