Coincidentally with recent replies<div>- I feel like emphasizing on an excerpt from this email :<div><br></div><div>" <b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "><span style="font-family: Arial; ">Socioeconomic Democracy</span></b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: Arial; "> is a theoretically consistent and practically implementable socioeconomic system wherein there exist both some form and amount of locally appropriate <b>Universally Guaranteed Personal Income</b> and some form and amount of locally appropriate <b>Maximum Allowable Personal Wealth</b>, with both the lower bound on personal material poverty and the upper bound on personal material wealth <b>set and adjusted democratically by all participants of that democratic society</b>. "</span><br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 7:50 AM, Michel Bauwens <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:michel@p2pfoundation.net">michel@p2pfoundation.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Rob George</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:georgecsds@aol.com" target="_blank">georgecsds@aol.com</a>></span><br>
Date: Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 12:26 PMRob George<br>
<font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><div style="font-family:helvetica,arial;font-size:10pt;color:black"><div><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><div style="font-family:helvetica,arial;font-size:10pt;color:black">
<div><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><div style="font-family:helvetica,arial;font-size:10pt;color:black"><div><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><div style="font-family:helvetica,arial;font-size:10pt;color:black">
<div><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><div style="font-family:helvetica,arial;font-size:10pt;color:black"><div><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><div style="font-family:helvetica,arial;font-size:10pt;color:black">
<div><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><div style="font-family:helvetica,arial;font-size:10pt;color:black"><div><font color="black" face="arial" size="2"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">
<font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">
<a href="http://www.centersds.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Center for the
Study of Democratic Societies</span></a></span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">~~~~~</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">We respectfully desire to introduce you to Socioeconomic
Democracy, an advanced socioeconomic system which can and eventually will
significantly help to realize your, and eventually all humanity's, legitimate
thirst for universal justice, democracy, peace and well being. We commit
to being available to you for any assistance, clarification, further general
development, and specific application you may desire and request.<br>
<br>
We further emphasize that there are many required changes to existing
politico-socio-economic systems. One is the definition of money and
wealth, and another is the distribution of same. Happily noting that
there are a number of thoughtful contributors in our group to the first area of
necessary improvement, this particular discussion considers the second. </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">The purpose of this Introduction to the work of the Center for the
Study of Democratic Societies is twofold. First, it is to inform (or
acknowledge agreement with) you that there are indeed rational, just,
democratic, and peacefully realizable solutions to the world’s increasingly
painful, unjust and unnecessary societal problems. Secondly, it is to
invite you to participate in the democratic resolution of these unnecessary
interlinked problems.</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">As John Kenneth Galbraith laconically observed, “The conventional
view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking.” Yet the
mishmash of conventional views, both amateur(ish) and professional(ish), is
increasingly being seen and acknowledged to be the root cause of society’s
needless and costly pain.</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">The incompatible clamor
for reduction of national, state, regional and municipal monetary debt, while
insisting upon the provision of increased necessary governmental services for
the already rich or hapless poor; the demand for reduced local crime and
killings with “cost-saving” and "deficit-reduction" police layoffs,
while tolerating/advocating increased global crime and killings with
mercenary/military-industrial buildup; the plethora of unearned bonuses of
nearsighted Banksters and brutal bludgeoning of necessary Budgets; the
crescendo of cries for “unregulated” personal profit possibilities attempting
to drown out the chorus seeking safe working conditions in dangerous,
life-threatening and life-killing employment; the demand for more jobs, while
neglecting the onslaught of economically efficient (and profitable, for whom?)
technological advancement; the truly sad yet farcical salary conflicts between
private and public sector wage earners, unionize or otherwise, surreptitiously
encouraged by the economically comfortable who, equipped with "theoretically
justifying Economics Texts" care about the welfare of neither; the
increasingly familiar statistic that the “top” 1% of most any population
controls more wealth than the “bottom” 90%, serving as a point of pride for a
non-thinking citizenry of a laudably self-interested society espousing a
contempt for a meaningful minimum wage; the increasing quibble between those
who claim raising the retirement age and those who suggest reducing the
retirement age can "help" solve the “lack of jobs” problem, while
neither side considers either the advancement in automation or the rape and
reduction in natural resources; </span></font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font color="black" face="arial" size="2">the impossibility of unlimited growth on a limited planet; the
so-called "Offshoring of jobs and personal/corporate profits; the
unconscionable Acts of Empire; the obscene acts of unconscious
politicians</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> and on and on, all add to the confusion and
deadly conflict of humanity.<br>
<br>
Unexpected (by some) or otherwise (by others), and certainly right on cue, the
enigmatic (to some) and perfectly understandable (to others), global #OWS
respectfully and emphatically struggles to present and facilitate the necessity and inevitability of Fundamental Global Change.</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">Clear and unambiguous definition of these and numerous other
critical matters is, of course, essential, if meaningful progress is to be
realized. The definition of Socioeconomic Democracy, an advanced,
fundamentally just and democratic socioeconomic system follows. It is on
the basis of this definition of Socioeconomic Democracy that a straightforward
politico-socio-economic Platform can be and has been articulated. It is
further the case that this Democratic Socioeconomic Platform has been adopted
by a presently existing political party and is now being considered for
adoption by other peacefully progressive political parties about the globe.</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">Socioeconomic Democracy</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">
is a theoretically consistent and practically implementable socioeconomic
system wherein there exist both some form and amount of locally appropriate
<b>Universally Guaranteed Personal Income</b> and some form and amount of locally
appropriate <b>Maximum Allowable Personal Wealth</b>, with both the lower bound on
personal material poverty and the upper bound on personal material wealth <b>set
and adjusted democratically by all participants of that democratic society</b>.</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">As described at length elsewhere, Socioeconomic Democracy both
creates economic incentive and provides necessary monetary funds to cause
significant reduction in an almost surprisingly diverse array of unnecessary
yet painful and deadly individual, societal and global problems. These
problems are produced by currently inadequate, inaccurate and/or inconsistent
assumptions, theories and practices of contemporary Economics and
Politics. These unnecessary problems can be eliminated by a thoughtful
and resolute application of meaningful Democracy.</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">These intimately intertwined problems include (but are by no means
limited to) those familiar ones associated with: automation, computerization
and robotization; budget deficits and national debts; bureaucracy; maltreatment
of children; crime and punishment; development (sustainable or otherwise);
ecology, environment, resources and pollution; education; the elderly; the
feminine majority; inflation; international conflict; intranational conflict;
involuntary employment; involuntary unemployment; labor strife and strikes;
sick medical and health care; military metamorphosis; natural disasters; pay
justice; planned obsolescence; political participation; poverty; racism;
sexism; untamed technology; and the General Welfare.<br>
<br>
Memorably expressing his mixed emotions regarding the troubling topic, Sir
Winston did indeed observe "[T]hat democracy is the worst form of
government except for all the others that have been tried." From
Aeons before Churchill to this day, humans and their ancestors have grappled
with the virtues and vices of tyrannies and "class warfare" imposed
by individual dictators, small groups of elites, sizable minorities, and large
majorities.</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">A successfully functioning Democracy requires, by definition, at
least a majority of informed and thoughtful citizens participating in the
political process in a wide variety of ways, ranging from essential theoretical
developments to myriad practical activities. Those interested in contributing,
in any sense, to the further development and realization of the ideas and
benefits presented here, which are applicable throughout the world, are urged
to get in contact with us, when you are ready. We further wish to
reiterate our desire and determination to collaborate with all other
individuals and organizations committed to all the other necessary aspects of
the general survival and healthy developmental challenge confronting the human
race.</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">The following are a few relevant links connecting to material
describing the evolution and exposition of the theory and practice of
Socioeconomic Democracy:</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">1) Center for the Study of Democratic Societies</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <a href="http://www.centersds.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">http://www.CenterSDS.com</span></a></span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">2) <i>Socioeconomic Democracy: An Advanced Socioeconomic System</i></span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <a href="http://www.centersds.com/thebook.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">http://www.centersds.com/thebook.htm</span></a></span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">3) “A Democratic Socioeconomic Platform, in search of a Democratic
Political Party”</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <a href="http://www.centersds.com/dsep.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">http://www.centersds.com/dsep.html</span></a></span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">4) “Socioeconomic Democracy: A Nonkilling, Life-Affirming and
Enhancing Psycho-Politico-Socio-Economic System”</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">Global Nonkilling Working Paper #4|2010</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <a href="http://www.nonkilling.org/node/20" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">http://www.nonkilling.org/node/20</span></a></span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">5) “Socioeconomic Democracy: A Nonkilling, Life-Affirming and
Enhancing Psycho-Politico-Socio-Economic System”</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">Also appearing in PelicanWeb’s Journal of Sustainable Development</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <a href="http://www.pelicanweb.org/solisustv06n10page2robleygeorge.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">http://www.pelicanweb.org/solisustv06n10page2robleygeorge.html</span></a></span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">6) A list of the historical development of the ideas of
Socioeconomic Democracy, as presented by this writer, starting in 1968, is
available at</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <a href="http://www.centersds.com/biblio.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">http://www.centersds.com/biblio.htm</span></a></span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">7) A Biography of this writer is available at</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <a href="http://www.centersds.com/bio.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">http://www.centersds.com/bio.htm</span></a></span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">Sincerely,</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">Robley E. George<br>
<a href="mailto:georgeCSDS@aol.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">georgeCSDS@aol.com</span></a></span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">Director, Center for the Study of Democratic Societies</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <a href="http://www.centersds.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">http://www.CenterSDS.com</span></a></span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black">Coordinador, Nonkilling Economics and Business Research Committee</span></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:black"> <a href="http://www.nonkilling.org/node/7" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">http://www.nonkilling.org/node/7</span></a></span></font></div>
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