Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Co-operative Socialism - in Brief

Co-operative Socialism - in Brief

 John Courtneidge
 31st May 2016

First:


The Problem (in two parts) and the solution (in three)
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We have a lot,
Others do not.
So, let us keep what we have got.
They've got a lot,
We do not.
So, let us take what they have got.
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Let us not take - and keep! - what we want.
But,
Share what there is.
To each according to their needs,
From each according to their abilities.
That's Co-operative Socialism!
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After the London Co-operative Party Council meeting, March 2016
https://www.facebook.com/john.courtneidge
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Second: Co-operative Socialism - in Brief

My friend  Brian points out.

                "...power corrupts...absolute power corrupts absolutely".

And that's why the plan for Co-operative Socialism is designed to hold power/income/wealth inequality to a socially-determined level:

a) By ensuring that everyone has a guaranteed 'Living Income for Everyone'

b) that no-one receives more than a socially-agreed amount more from paid work

c) that no-one gets rent, interest or dividends (ie profit-shares)

d) So that no-one can call the shots by having a grip of death (a mortgage, or threat of eviction or of the sack) over anyone else.

e) And that no country can control another country though debt.

(The above is a summary of the seven-point plan for Co-operative Socialism - eg as at http://occupylondon.org.uk/co-operative-socialism-by-john-courtneidge/

Which has some You-tube videos to - hopefully! - explain things more . . .)

Yes, also, there are plenty of people who co-opt the word socialism to their own power-seeking ends - often deliberately, sometimes, perhaps foolishly.

But, if you research the origin of the word socialism (and it was introduced into the English language before Marx) then you'll see that 'the Marxists' never were socialists - as we rightly observe.

So, it's co-operation or co-option.

Hence the call for Co-operative Socialism - by Tuesday!

Hope this helps!

Best, john

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Saturday, May 28, 2016

We need the kingdom of heaven - for wellness and wholeness - by Tuesday!

Is it time for The kingdom of Heaven - here on earth ("Thy will be done . . .")?


Hope so!

Jesus tells us ("Thy will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven") that we should replace 'the powers of this world' with 'The Kingdom of Heaven'.

In the Kingdom parables, he outlines the mechanisms that have to be replaced to bring about the Kingdom of heaven.

These five mechanisms are:

Theft ('ownership') of the Father's creation;

the consequential charging and receipt of

Rent (from stolen land);
Interest (from the theft of the Law);
Profit from the Theft of Knowledge)

and Unequal-pay for work (from the Theft of Position).

These five mechanisms may be remembered ('brought back together') using the acronym TRIP-Up (Theft, Rent, Interest, Profit, Unequal-pay for work).

So, 'No more TRIP-Up!'

We need the Kingdom of Heaven - for wellness and wholeness - by Tuesday!

In practical terms, this replacement can be achieved through the plan for Co-operative Socialism (for which see the paper's section at www.interestfreemoney.org)

Friends might like to know that Occupy London (Google "Co-operative Socialism") and Labour Action for Peace have already adopted the plan for Co-operative Socialism.

I hope that Britain Yearly Meeting @ymevent_britain  will also adopt the plan for Co-operative Socialism - as a witness that we, too, wish to see an economics of equality (and thus peace and sustainability) - just as our friend and comrade Jesus calls us to do.

By Tuesday!

Ie even today!

John Courtneidge 28 May 2016