¶ 1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 0 Two jpg one page docs by Steele to Branson, as the basis for this commentary. One Two.
¶ 2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 0 It is very important that Steele be seriously studied, and involved.
¶ 3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 0 As much as I might agree with Steele (once I am familiar with his ample details) on his proposed alternative to Capitalism as Usual, and cannot assign to him any devious agenda, I react to his proposal of a Global Social-Media Network (GENERATING NEW PROFITS) as possibly the antithesis of what nuet contains as UPLIFT. Although Steele may agree with nuet’s concerns, this wouldn’t make his proposed “flip” [1% to 99% economic dominance] anymore secure against subversion by existing economic elites (systems and persons).
¶ 4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 0 My concern is the overarching frame/context of ECONO-CENTRISM behind Steele’s views. Providing everyone with digital interfaces within a Global Network is seen as enhancing the 99%’s influence in the Global Economy (and their own economically enhanced well-being); but only secondarily how it might augment their holistic well-living. That we are DEEPLY EMBEDDED in “econo-centrism” is evidenced by the fact that the term hardly brings up an item by Goggle search and had been a DEAD concept in my 4+ decades of trying to call attention to it..
¶ 5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 0 This is not the place to explicate “econo-centrism”, although needed.
A crude metaphor/analogy between the social and biological: Imagine yourself obsessively dedicated to the sub-systems within the channel in your torus (mouth to anus); being FOOD CENTRIC. This eating/digestive/elimination subsystem is your sole focus. Obesity is Beautiful and don’t be concerned about mobility or where you shit. This is EXTREME for emphasis. Yet, the behavior of my 5 dogs and 7 cats demonstrates the validity of the biological side.
¶ 7 Leave a comment on paragraph 7 0 “Economies” are a vital subsystem of any society, but it is not obligatory that it be THE dominant subsystem. Unfortunately, even the discourse on the conflict between early Anarchism (Kropotkin – Mutual Aide) and Social-Darwinism Capitalism is framed econo-centric. Every “contemporary, serious” proposal for societal change I am aware of focuses on an economic change as primary. Debt, Jobs, and Money are the hot topics about our future. Even most discourse about “education” is econo-centric.
¶ 8 Leave a comment on paragraph 8 0 We must not be naive to believe that global humankind digitally/networked, social-media linked is immune from being co-opted by.contemporary centralized ECONOMIC forces. Not that Steele or Branson would be part of any “conspiracy”. But, to have the Global Network established TOP DOWN should alert us.
¶ 9 Leave a comment on paragraph 9 0 NOT that we shouldn’t encourage Global Digitization; we should. But, WE must take additional steps to ensure that the networks be FREE from institutional control – which is unfortunately the current trend.
One Responses
“Econo-centrism, in its specific form, refers to a belief or an ideology that the economic mode of production absolutely determines a society’s social, political and intellectual life. The rational for this conviction is found in the “secular mind” (Coles, 1999) which sees modernity as the culmination of economic rationality, progressive spirituality and the faith of modernization. Many influential thinkers including Marx accept the primacy of economics as a point of departure in the production and reproduction of social life due to human “rationality”. In other words, it is an ideology that views economics as the key factor determining the course of human history. This later became the lens of secularization and modernity in measuring development of various countries.”
From: http://www.issi.org.pk/publication-files/1302591556_28890889.pdf