I have a strong intuition that the public benefit model of incorporation could be a powerful catalyst toward rebuilding the commons. Most people, if given a choice, would vastly prefer to work for the public benefit rather than for the private profiteers. If the public benefit model of doing business gains traction it could lead to a rapid shift toward an economy that puts people and the planet before profit.
Agree. People might want to check out the book Small is Beautiful, economics as if people mattered first published in the seventies and profoundly relevant today.
In agreement, but see little to none of this happening in the world.
Example: I recently ended my Skoolie road life and moved to Philadelphia. I have a puppy, so am up at 5am in the dark taking him for a walk. Sometimes, seemingly on random days of the week, I see this dude on a cargo bike picking up 5 gallon compost buckets people place on the doorstep (consider it a reverse Amazon model). Yet the project is virtually invisible. The buckets disappear in darkness and seems to be no "advertising" so I have no idea who is doing the program or how to join. A young black man knocked on my doo the other day selling "local fresh food". It was too expensive and required digital participation (phone app etc), which I don't do. But in talking to this young man, I learned that the cargo bike compost program provides inputs to local community gardens. There are 2 such gardens within a quarter mile of my house, but my Daugherty told me there is a 5 plus year waiting list.
So even when good things are happening, they seem either invisible, underfunded, expensive, technocratic, or microscopic in scope. Hate to be a whiner, but just my observations after a fe months of city life.
The Common Good is what we need to elevate, I agree, Patrick.
How do we capture those dollars going to the very rich and the military industrial complex, and as subsidies to the fossil fuel industry? Those dollars need to be redirected to the common good, so we all have enough, so our ailing planet can be restored and that we have institutions that keep us well and keep all of us, including our politicians, honest. I wish we had more people to vote for who were on the same page as we are.
And building in the shell of the old is what I think we need to do too. Re: banking, credit unions don't support the military industrial complex, so they're a good place to start.
Strongly agree with the need to revitalise the commons at the neighbourhood level, Patrick. Are there projects/seeds of hope you'd point to in Seattle? Based just across the border from you, so curious about PNW initiatives.
Your article goes hand in hand what we have been saying for the last twenty years. I would like your permission to republish your article on our pages at https://www.terrs.ngo
I have a strong intuition that the public benefit model of incorporation could be a powerful catalyst toward rebuilding the commons. Most people, if given a choice, would vastly prefer to work for the public benefit rather than for the private profiteers. If the public benefit model of doing business gains traction it could lead to a rapid shift toward an economy that puts people and the planet before profit.
Agree. People might want to check out the book Small is Beautiful, economics as if people mattered first published in the seventies and profoundly relevant today.
In agreement, but see little to none of this happening in the world.
Example: I recently ended my Skoolie road life and moved to Philadelphia. I have a puppy, so am up at 5am in the dark taking him for a walk. Sometimes, seemingly on random days of the week, I see this dude on a cargo bike picking up 5 gallon compost buckets people place on the doorstep (consider it a reverse Amazon model). Yet the project is virtually invisible. The buckets disappear in darkness and seems to be no "advertising" so I have no idea who is doing the program or how to join. A young black man knocked on my doo the other day selling "local fresh food". It was too expensive and required digital participation (phone app etc), which I don't do. But in talking to this young man, I learned that the cargo bike compost program provides inputs to local community gardens. There are 2 such gardens within a quarter mile of my house, but my Daugherty told me there is a 5 plus year waiting list.
So even when good things are happening, they seem either invisible, underfunded, expensive, technocratic, or microscopic in scope. Hate to be a whiner, but just my observations after a fe months of city life.
The Common Good is what we need to elevate, I agree, Patrick.
How do we capture those dollars going to the very rich and the military industrial complex, and as subsidies to the fossil fuel industry? Those dollars need to be redirected to the common good, so we all have enough, so our ailing planet can be restored and that we have institutions that keep us well and keep all of us, including our politicians, honest. I wish we had more people to vote for who were on the same page as we are.
And building in the shell of the old is what I think we need to do too. Re: banking, credit unions don't support the military industrial complex, so they're a good place to start.
Strongly agree with the need to revitalise the commons at the neighbourhood level, Patrick. Are there projects/seeds of hope you'd point to in Seattle? Based just across the border from you, so curious about PNW initiatives.
The main thing I want to say is that I read an essay on Resilience yesterday, which led me to the manifesto on this guy's website, occupythehearth.org , along similar lines but more radical. I recommend everyone check it out, starting with the piece on Resilience https://www.resilience.org/stories/2024-04-03/leo-infrastructure/
Thanks Patrick.
Just sent you the reply. Have a great weekend.
Hello Patrick,
just finished reposting your article @ https://terra.ngo/a-world-in-crisis-requires-we-recover-the-common-good-beginning-in-the-places-where-we-live/
Wishing you a relaxing good Friday,
Nils
ok. thanks. will do. would love to have you onboard as a member/author at terra.ngo
terra.ngo
Your article goes hand in hand what we have been saying for the last twenty years. I would like your permission to republish your article on our pages at https://www.terrs.ngo