In response to a facebook post by Ailsa on Prince Charles
Sorry beloved, it’s much deeper than that.
I am clear that it is impossible to deliver universal abundance or universal freedom or universal security (in as much as security is possible) in a paradigm based in market values.
I am clear we must develop systems that take us beyond market values, that value individual life and individual liberty above all else, and are clear that strict adherence to rule based systems cannot deliver optimal outcomes in complex systems. Thus reality demands that we use the test of reasonableness in all situations, and that quite deliberately fuzzy boundary of reasonableness will allow and encourage the use of individual choice and individual wisdom in a cooperative context, to deliver as close to optimal outcomes as possible.
The old information processing paradigms present in market systems that were identified by Hayek et al have been entirely surpassed by automation of both manufacturing and communication and service delivery that allow effective delivery of universal abundance and security and freedom.
Markets served us well in history, when most things were in fact genuinely scarce [including not just goods and services, but accurate & timely information about needs and the means of delivery and the means of computation].
Our current reality is one of exponentially increasing abilities in design, manufacturing and service delivery [including computation and systems complexity] that are doubling roughly every year, yet the old system of money and markets mean that little or none of that benefit is delivered to the vast majority of humanity. And the only reason that is so, is the needs of capital in a capitalist system.
Capitalism has passed its “use by” date.
We need to replace it.
We need to do so quickly.
The demand has to come from the bottom, it is unlikely to come from the top.
Effective alternatives are available.
We need to start accepting diversity at whole new levels.