Democracy At Work
October 15, 2019 9:33 AM   Subscribe

“This is the most ambitious plan on corporate ownership ever put out by a presidential candidate,” Peter Gowan, with the Democracy Collaborative, an economic inequality-focused research institution, said. “[This is] giving real bones to Sanders’ vision of democratic socialism.” Bernie Sanders’s plan to reshape corporate America, explained (Vox) posted by The Whelk (20 comments total) 16 users marked this as a favorite
 
Seems like a good plan. My preference would be for even more aggressive requirements for both employee and customer ownership of large corporations but this is a good start.

I do find it odd that the article, and Sanders himself, set this up as a big contrast between him and Warren before going on to explain that her plan is substantially similar. It's the thing that frustrates me about Sanders; instead of just promoting the idea, he has to claim total ownership over it. Part of this is just the nature of political campaigns, of course, but Sanders has a particularly bad history of it.
posted by biogeo at 9:57 AM on October 15, 2019 [27 favorites]


There's so much confusion in the political atmosphere because the meaning of "socialism" is different to different people or generations.

To the older generation (Warren, Sanders), "socialism" is synonymous with "communism," and so Warren has to describe herself as "capitalist to the core" to provide a bulwark against the notion that she might support centrally planned economies.

To the younger generation, we've been told that basic social programs (universal health care, social security, UBI) are "socialism," and we consider that separate and distinct from "communism," which describes centrally planned economies like the USSR or China (perhaps more as it was than as it is now).

As far as I'm concerned, neither Sanders nor Warren are looking to toss out capitalism wholesale. They're both looking to bring aspects of socialism in to temper the excesses of capitalism, but their ideal economy is one of worker-owned companies, not one of government-owned companies.
posted by explosion at 10:35 AM on October 15, 2019 [18 favorites]


They're both looking to bring aspects of socialism in to temper the excesses of capitalism, but their ideal economy is one of worker-owned companies, not one of government-owned companies.

Worker-owned companies are socialism; that's the definition of socialism: where the workers own the means of production. Some theorize socialism can only be done through an all-encompassing government that owns the means of production (and because the government is democratic, the workers control them that way), while other socialists of more libertarian bend see the companies owned directly by the workers that work there and forming federations of worker-owned businesses.

Sanders's and Warren's plans fall short of the 100% employee owned, but they're a step in the right direction. Despite what some Republicans think, socialism isn't "when the government does things." Rather, it's who controls wealth generation in a community: capitalists or workers.
posted by Lord Chancellor at 10:49 AM on October 15, 2019 [26 favorites]


Oh, I missed one Sander’s Housing Plan, Explained. It starts with nationwide rent control
posted by The Whelk at 11:01 AM on October 15, 2019 [2 favorites]


I'm curious to know where Sanders "claim(s) total ownership" over these ideas? And what is his "bad history" of claiming ownership over "ideas"?
posted by windbox at 11:09 AM on October 15, 2019 [3 favorites]


As a side note, several companies are actually 100% worker-owned. W. W. Norton and King Arthur Flour for two.
posted by Lord Chancellor at 11:15 AM on October 15, 2019 [6 favorites]


A dual ticket of Sanders-Warren or Warren-Sanders would be an nigh-unstoppable force for the good of the country. I pray they don't get petty and try to split the progressive vote. Kudos to these ideas.
posted by Philipschall at 11:39 AM on October 15, 2019 [8 favorites]


A dual ticket of Sanders-Warren or Warren-Sanders would be an nigh-unstoppable force for the good of the country. I pray they don't get petty and try to split the progressive vote. Kudos to these ideas.

Personally, I'd like one of them to stay in the Senate because we need socialism there too.
posted by srboisvert at 1:05 PM on October 15, 2019 [8 favorites]


I have trouble believing this country would elect a Jewish socialist from Vermont and a really smart woman from Massachusetts running on the same ticket.
posted by kokaku at 1:20 PM on October 15, 2019


I don't, people want change.
posted by Meatbomb at 2:15 PM on October 15, 2019 [5 favorites]


I think this country would vote the shit out of a jewish socialist and really smart woman from MA. On a shared ticket or not.

I think the idea that they would combine tickets is a fun fantasy but ultimately wouldn't happen.
posted by windbox at 2:27 PM on October 15, 2019 [1 favorite]


Funny. My company just had our annual ESOP meeting this morning. Sometimes I think about pointing out how an ESOP is actual socialism in practice to some of my more Republican coworkers but then I think better of it.

Personally, I think it is a great way to align the interests of the business with that of the workers. Labor unions are important tools to guard against capitalist excess, but the tension of the worker vs. management is never resolved and that, I think, limits the business opportunities for companies.
posted by Big Al 8000 at 2:50 PM on October 15, 2019 [1 favorite]


People: We want something different.

Media: CAN PEOPLE HANDLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT?! NEWT GINGERICH HAS SOME THOUGHTS!

Candidate: I'm different.

Media: SHE'S DIFFERENT! IS AMERICA READY FOR STALINISM?

Candidate: I'm not a Stali...

Gingerich: SHE'S A STALINIST! THEY'RE COMING FOR YOUR TOASTERS!

DNC: I don't know guys. Gingerich has a point. Let's pick a centrist.

Joe Biden: Hi guys, I'm your nominee!

People: ...
posted by klanawa at 3:48 PM on October 15, 2019 [7 favorites]


"Dude Gotta Go" is the best 2020 slogan I've heard yet.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:21 PM on October 15, 2019 [2 favorites]


“The halls of Congress are no joke,” added Ocasio-Cortez. “Behind closed doors, your arm is twisted, the vise pressure of political pressure is put on you… and it has been in that experience, over the last nine months, that I have come to appreciate the enormous, consistent and nonstop advocacy of Senator Bernie Sanders.” 25,000 people show up for Sander’s Queens rally
posted by The Whelk at 10:18 AM on October 21, 2019 [2 favorites]


Guardian : AOC: Why I'm endorsing Sanders
posted by The Whelk at 8:11 PM on October 23, 2019


Sanders campaign just released a platform on pot legalization

Legalize in first 100 days by EO
-Expunge records & implement clemency reform
-$50b in grant programs
-Eliminate barriers to benefits; no drug testing requirements
-Keep industry from becoming Big Tobacco
posted by The Whelk at 1:37 PM on October 24, 2019


The Punchung Out Podcast reviews they top Democrat canidates’s labor platforms
posted by The Whelk at 2:18 PM on October 24, 2019






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