Email or username:

Password:

Forgot your password?
𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

Which do you prefer, the private ownership of the means of production, or the collective ownership of the means of production?

Anonymous poll

Poll

Private ownership of the means of production
37
4.9%
Collective ownership of the means of production
713
95.1%
750 people voted.
Voting ended 19 February at 20:57.
247 comments
Robert

@Radical_EgoCom it depends on what you call private.

I don't mind if the workers own a company, but not the whole society.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@rsf92
Private ownership of the means of production, even if it's owned by workers within a company, still perpetuates hierarchical structures and inequalities inherent in Capitalism. Collective ownership of the means of production by society as a whole would ensure that resources are distributed and managed democratically without exploitation or oppression.

Robert

@Radical_EgoCom I disagree somewhat. I guess it depends on how you describe a hierarchy.

I'm an anarchist without adjectives because I come at anarchism from a deontological position, not a consequentialist one. I think there might be many possible social orders without hierarchy (institutionalised coercion), although I might prefer a given social order (prob some very decentralised communism), I don't advocate it as a model, just my moral right to willingly implement it with others

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@rsf92
While I also value the absence of hierarchy and institutionalized coercion, I view Communism not just as a personal preference, but as a more just and equitable social system. Advocating for Communism is not just about personal preference, but also about recognizing the inherent inequalities perpetuated by other social systems and advocating for the liberation of all individuals from oppressive structures.

Robert

@Radical_EgoCom I don't think you can have an oppresive structure without coercion. People will just leave. My take is that If communism is the only nonoppresive social form of organisation, people wil organically come to it.

Highly debatable, I know. But I still think you can defend anarchy and communism as separate things.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@rsf92
While coercion is a significant factor in oppressive structures, there are other mechanisms, such as economic exploitation and social hierarchies, that can maintain oppressive systems without explicit coercion. People often do not have the option to simply "leave" oppressive structures due to systemic barriers such as economic dependence or lack of viable alternatives.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@rsf92
The transition to communism requires active dismantling of existing power structures and redistribution of resources, which won't occur organically without collective action and organization, which is why it's important to view Anarchism and Communism as interconnected ideologies that share the goal of dismantling oppressive structures and promoting collective liberation. (END)

Robert

@Radical_EgoCom Economic exploitations is unfeasable without coercion, so with social hierarchies. IMO

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@rsf92 You are right in saying that economic exploitation is impossible without coercion, but there are also other systemic barriers that prevent people from just leaving their exploitation.

Robert

@Radical_EgoCom poverty is one, prob.

But, absent institutionalised coerciΓ³n, I don't think anything can stop the organic development of societal forms
Might be an optimist.

Either way, we probabhy agree on many things, let's not Focus on what separates our thougth

MORAL_BASELINE

@Radical_EgoCom How do you account for a tyrannical majority or an unjust society? If society owns the means of production, but 90% of society is (for example) Christian, white, homophobic and whatnot... can this society still be just to the other 10%, which in itself consists of a multitude of minorities? Thanks

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@MORAL_BASELINE
Anarcho-Communism is primarily an economic ideology, and therefore it alone won't be able to deal with racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. An Anarcho-Communist society would have to implement robust mechanisms for protecting minority rights to ensure that decisions are made through consensus-building processes that respect the diversity of perspectives within society regardless of majority or minority status.

Fabio G.

@MORAL_BASELINE

That's already how it works under the current thing

And worse. Sometimes the 90% owns 99% of wealth. Sometimes a 20% minority owns 90% of the wealth and oppresses the 80% majority like they're the minority, as in apartheid South Africa

There's nothing to lose on that front by transitioning to collective ownership

@Radical_EgoCom

wakame

@Radical_EgoCom
Nitpicky me: I think means of production that are so centralized that "private ownership" essentially means "not everyone can have access" is the problem.

Unproblematic private ownership: Tools like hammers, needles or knives. And other professional, personal tools.

Problematic private ownership (but also problematic if collectively owned): A large factory that doubles as a monument dedicated to inequality.

At least from my perspective, factory (and other places that worship mass production) will always try to spawn hierarchies and priestly castes.

@Radical_EgoCom
Nitpicky me: I think means of production that are so centralized that "private ownership" essentially means "not everyone can have access" is the problem.

Unproblematic private ownership: Tools like hammers, needles or knives. And other professional, personal tools.

Problematic private ownership (but also problematic if collectively owned): A large factory that doubles as a monument dedicated to inequality.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@wakame
The centralization of means of production inherently leads to unequal access and perpetuates systemic inequalities, regardless of the scale of ownership. The root issue lies in private ownership itself, which concentrates power and resources in the hands of a few, inevitably leading to hierarchies and oppression. Collective ownership and decentralized decision-making would ensure equitable distribution and prevent the emergence of hierarchies within production systems.

BoxOfRain

@Radical_EgoCom
Possibly self selecting sample there. πŸ˜„

Morten Kjeldgaard

@Radical_EgoCom Collective ownership is also private, unless you mean government owned. Personally I prefer a combination of all of the above.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@mok0
Collective ownership is not akin to private ownership in any way. In Anarcho-Communism, the emphasis is on abolishing private property and establishing collective ownership where the means of production are owned and managed collectively by the community without the need for a governing authority or state intervention. Private ownership perpetuates inequality and exploitation, whereas collective ownership promotes solidarity and equitable distribution of resources.

Morten Kjeldgaard

@Radical_EgoCom Yes exactly so it's privately owned by the community.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@mok0
Anarcho-Communism opposes private ownership of the means of production, even if it's by the community. Anarcho-Communism advocate for resources to be shared and managed collectively by the people themselves, rather than being owned privately, even if by the community as a whole.

Morten Kjeldgaard

@Radical_EgoCom Collective means of productions are privately owned by the community as a whole. That is, nobody outside the community has ownership or is involved in running the enterprise.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@mok0
I don't know why you're going about this meaningless semantics game when you know very well what I mean by "private ownership" and "collective ownership".

Morten Kjeldgaard

@Radical_EgoCom Because there is a clear difference to government ownership, seen under Communism, where the state is the owner of all enterprises. The state represented by the government inserts the board of directors and runs the enterprise which in practice means that top level party apparatchiks reap the profits and benefits for themselves and workers are exploited with low pay and poor working conditions.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@mok0 Ok, well I'm obviously not talking about or advocating for any form of government ownership. I'm clearly advocating for Anarcho-Communism, which lacks any government.

Sabrina Web :privacypride:

@Radical_EgoCom in case of private, owned by who? The worker, the boss, who else?

Sabrina Web :privacypride:

@Radical_EgoCom I mean, you said "private ownership of means of production", but I think it's different if the workers own their means of productions, or if those means are owned buy someone else (as it is today)

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@sabrinaweb71
I'm against the notion of private ownership altogether, preferring more the abolition of private property and the means of production being collectively owned and managed by the community or workers themselves, rather than by any individual or entity, including bosses.

Mourioche ⏚

@Radical_EgoCom Γ‡a dΓ©pend de quels moyens de production on parle.
On ne peut pas rΓ©pondre Γ  une question pareil.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@Mourioche Je fais rΓ©fΓ©rence Γ  tous les moyens de production, c'est-Γ -dire les usines, les outils, les machines, etc. qui sont utilisΓ©s pour fabriquer des produits.

Bernd Paysan R.I.P Natenom πŸ•―οΈ

@Radical_EgoCom Depends on what you call β€œcollective”. If it is just a party secretary who then controls it, nothing changed.

The means of production need to be controlled (no need for the term ownership) by those who actually produce.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@forthy42
By "collective" I'm referring to the workers directly controlling the means of production without a government or hierarchy, i.e. Anarcho-Communism.

HighlandLawyer

@Radical_EgoCom Ownership is a convenient social construct, or fiction if you prefer.

πŸ‰

@Radical_EgoCom a secret, third option: no ownership of production

kravietz πŸ¦‡
@Radical_EgoCom

The question is impossible to answer, because there’s practically infinite number of β€œproduction” activities possible that are so different that forcing them into one or another box inevitably leads to an absurd.

Some goods and services are better provided by public owned collectives, some are only possible when provided by private individuals.
@Radical_EgoCom

The question is impossible to answer, because there’s practically infinite number of β€œproduction” activities possible that are so different that forcing them into one or another box inevitably leads to an absurd.
𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@dr_jo_mue Depends on what? Private ownership of the means of production is the only option that allows for monopoly.

Dr. Med Johannes M. βœ…

@Radical_EgoCom There is no such thing. If the state runs the companies, you have your monopoly. If you have a problem with the officer of your branch, you're in very bad Karma. There is no difference.

What you need is unions and participation. I work for a Hospital that belongs to a local trust. If I have a problem with our management I can look 50 km across the land!

Please point me to a country in which you'd say that it worked for the employees. There was Russia, North Korea, China.. chose

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@dr_jo_mue Russia, China, and North Korea are not examples of Anarcho-Communism. I'm not advocating for the state controlling the means of production, I'm in support of the workers directly owning and managing the means of production without any authoritative structures or hierarchy.

Dr. Med Johannes M. βœ…

@Radical_EgoCom well, and I think unions gave us every benefit we now have. I'd bet on that horse.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@dr_jo_mue I also believe unions gave the working class every advantage they have now.

Billy Smith

@Radical_EgoCom

Both are good for different purposes. :D

If we have a UBI, then providing the basics should be publicly owned for real resilience, but i own the results of my own creativity, so the tools that i make are mine.

Note that this is valid up until we get real AI that qualifies for the rights held by all sapients. :D

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@BillySmith
Private ownership inherently leads to exploitation and inequality, regardless of the intentions behind it. Collective ownership and democratic control of the means of production would ensure that resources are distributed equitably and decisions are made democratically. Individual creativity and innovation can still flourish within collective ownership, as individuals would be free to contribute their ideas and talents to society without the constraints of private ownership.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@BillySmith
Also, Universal Basic Income (UBI) is not sufficient on its own to address systemic inequalities. True resilience and equality can only be achieved through collective ownership and solidarity.

Billy Smith

@Radical_EgoCom

Are you saying that i don't own the things i create?

Yes or no.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@BillySmith You clearly do. Also, I want to make it clear that by "private ownership" I'm referring to the private ownership of the means of production, not of things you create.

Billy Smith

@Radical_EgoCom

I'm an engineer as well as a musician.

Some of the things i create are music and song.

Some of the things that i create are tools that i use to make more tools.

Do i own the tools that i make?

yes or no.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@BillySmith If you made those tools then yes you own them. But most of the means of production aren't made by just one person, so this isn't really relevant to this discussion.

Billy Smith

@Radical_EgoCom

Note that as i work on tools, i am happy to share the designs, and help other people make their own versions, but i want to decide who can use my own tools.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@BillySmith If you made the tools on your own then that's your right to allow whomever you want to use them.

Dr Dan Marshall

@Radical_EgoCom How about option c: the *decentralized* ownership of the means of production

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@DrDanMarshall
Private property leads to inequality, exploitation, and hierarchies. Communal ownership of resources is necessary for true equality and freedom. Only decentralizing private property would still leave room for disparities in ownership and power.

Dr Dan Marshall

@Radical_EgoCom and so could collective ownership, depending on how it is organized.

As a social liberal, I would like to live in a society where everybody has >60% of the median income, and no single individual owns >Value of a Statistical Human Life. Still disparities in ownership and power, but massively reduced.

Markets are swarm intelligences. Need to maximize number of independent decision makers for markets to function well. How are econ decisions made in your system?

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@DrDanMarshall
In an Anarcho-Communist society, economic decisions are made through decentralized, participatory processes involving local communities, worker cooperatives, and voluntary associations. Decision-making is based on consensus-building, direct democracy, and collective ownership of resources and means of production. The focus is on meeting the needs of individuals and communities rather than maximizing profits, with an emphasis on equitable distribution and mutual aid.

Dr Dan Marshall

@Radical_EgoCom Toy example: Econ organized into communes of 200 citizens each. Each commune has democratic mutual aid society. Vs. hierarchical econ where 1% own everything, but evenly distributed within that 1%. Communal system has fewer decisions making entities than the hierarchical econ. (1 per 200 vs. 1 per 100.) More democratic, more compassionate. But perhaps less "efficient."

"Travel fast, travel alone. Travel far, travel together." Need both. How much room for individual decisions?

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@DrDanMarshall
This toy example fails to accurately depict a communal economy. In a true Anarcho-Communist society, decisions would be made collectively through direct democracy and consensus-building processes, rather than by a limited number of decision-making entities within each commune.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@DrDanMarshall
The hierarchical economic model described, where 1% own everything, even if distributed evenly within that 1%, still perpetuates inequality and exploitation. The abolition of private property and the establishment of common ownership of the means of production would lead to a more equitable and just society.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@DrDanMarshall
Regarding the quote "Travel fast, travel alone. Travel far, travel together," I agree that collaboration and solidarity are essential for societal progress, but individual decisions should be made within the framework of communal goals and principles, prioritizing collective well-being over individual gain, with a balance between individual autonomy and collective responsibility.

Dr Dan Marshall

@Radical_EgoCom Indeed. But on commune, workshop system, same problem can emerge. Division of labor is more efficient, but separation implies inequality. If communes, workshops specialize, inequality would re-emerge. Solidarity, mutual aid would help, but "gifts make slaves like whips make dogs." Insurance socializes risk, but less important richer you are. Progressive taxation would help, but is it legitimate, or exploitative?

Dr Dan Marshall

@Radical_EgoCom Hence "toy." Commune is a collective decision making entity, rich dude individual decision making entity. Different methods, different strengths and weaknesses. (I.e., discursive dilemma vs. individual akrasia.) But both single decision making entity, functionally speaking.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@DrDanMarshall
This comparison oversimplifies the dynamics of decision-making within a commune versus those within a wealthy individual's sphere of influence. The commune embodies democratic and egalitarian principles, allowing for more equitable and inclusive decision-making processes, whereas decision-making by a rich individual often perpetuates inequalities and serves their own interests rather than those of the broader community.

𝗖 𝗔 𝗧

@DrDanMarshall
Additionally, characterizing both as "single decision-making entities" overlooks the diversity of perspectives and power dynamics present within a commune, as opposed to the concentrated power wielded by a wealthy individual.

moondog548

@Radical_EgoCom Co-operative ownership of the MOP for me, thanks.

At least until our species has evolved quite a bit more.

Josh

@Radical_EgoCom

Yes, mixed systems.

Also, could like some forms of collective ownership and not others. So, answering that collective is definitely better is hard.

Log πŸͺ΅

@Radical_EgoCom
It's complicated.

Market infrastructure, rights of way, education, air, justice: 100% public
Food, water, shelter, power, healthcare, security: 80%/20%
Communications, textiles/clothing, pharmaceuticals, research, journalism, tools/machines: 60%/40%
Artistic patronage, vehicles/transports: 40%/60%
Tourism, amusements, restaurants, conveniences: 20%/80%
Religion, luxuries, fashion: 100% private

DanDan420

@Radical_EgoCom How would you define the collective? Say there's a factory in a small town; who's in the collective that owns it? The people of the town, the people of the county, the country, everyone on the planet?

ℝⓐANismo

@Radical_EgoCom are these our only two options? Seems rather limited.

Noel Kelly

@Radical_EgoCom

Collective ownership is good, but "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs" more important.

The basis of the family, a functional tax system and functional firms etc.

Sine-NomineπŸ‡΅πŸ‡ΈFree PalestineπŸ‡΅πŸ‡Έ

@Radical_EgoCom and the means of everything essential to life.
>Water
>energy
>electricity
>transportation
>health & social care
education (primary, secondary, tertiary, lifelong) >telecommunications
>essential food groups, (produced & sold at cost to all citizens)
>social housing, provided at cost

kcarruthers

@Radical_EgoCom I misread that as β€˜memes of production’

Go Up