Let's create our own cooperative economy | Benoît Molineaux | TEDxLausanne

Our globalized economic system is like a strong current carrying us towards the depletion of resources and an unfair distribution of wealth. We all know this can’t go on. In his talk, Benoit will illustrate examples of swimming against the current, setting the path for a more cooperative society. His hypothesis is that most human beings would rather live in a society where people cooperate and help each other rather than compete with each other. Benoit is a trained physicist and climate scientist, as well as being a social facilitator and community leader. He is an employee of the housing cooperative which he helped create and in which he lives with his family. He is currently helping local authorities and groups of people imagine and realize cooperative projects in eco-districts, such as the cooperative supermarket www.spp-vergers.ch. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@barnabyvonrudal1]

I like the idea that cooperation enhances collective intelligence. This is useful to keep in mind

[@burden9809]

Thank you for the push!

[@jc6226]

very interesting talk, this should have 8 million views.

[@Nevarek_]

democracy in the workplace? yes please

[@jrhoads4849]

Private property is not abolished but is redefined as to what "private" means. The criteria to do this is a "dependency test". If you own a private business that provides a product or service in a community where the community becomes dependent upon that product or service and without which would upset the balance of this community, the business would need to become a democratically operated public affair. Any time you sell something to someone that becomes dependent on you for that transaction, this is not a private affair but a public affair. Hence in this circumstance, your business becomes a cooperative thus ensuring that personal whim and fancy don't screw the people out of their required goods and services. Now, if you keep your business just under this radar, you can be as private as you please. The gist here is the smaller your foot print in the public, the more private you can be. Most all family owned and operated businesses are of this caliber (mom and pop) and is why they are small and operate privately. Capitalism works if it's "scale" is kept small. However, once it scales out and into public dependencies, it should be slated for conversion to a cooperative. Socialism and its foundation in democracy doesn't discount capitalism, it just makes sure it doesn't get too big for its britches. 🙂. The same dependency test can also be used successfully with "intellectual property" and patents.

[@wesleywagumba812]

But what about people working under these small enterprises,can't they still be exploited?unless they get so many benefits,so much so that they don't really mind the little money🤔they just do it because of passion.

[@shreepragada]

Love the dependency test. So many smart people! Why are we still wallowing in this? How do we break out?

[@shreepragada]

@@wesleywagumba812 That requires a change of what a family entity is.

[@TheRevolutionJournal]

@@headsails your ability to thoroughly explain a pretty complex phenomenon is masterful. Don't know who you are or where you are in life but please never stop using your voice! (or keyboard) 🙌

[@puddleglum9179]

@@shreepragada because the people at the top are invested in the current system and are fighting against regular people trying to improve the world.

[@austinrwann5509]

Seems like this idea of co-op has some real advantages that we must explore.

[@kage2907]

Advantages for a community that is new and starts that way from the ground up. I can't imagine a co-op system be used to replace a long standing society if a different economic build. Overall it just sounds like a good neighborly community, which people in general struggle with building.

[@wesleywagumba812]

@@kage2907 turning all enterprises into co-ops will lead to such,I think not.The only thing that's different with this is community ownership,and they've struggled to build because of a lack of resources and capital,when they have a lot of resources (both mineral and human)economies of scale can make it very easy to do.

[@kage2907]

@@wesleywagumba812 anything is always easy to build when someone has resources before hand. Collective minds can achieve that...when its a collective mind. Forced participation for a greater good is theft.

[@wesleywagumba812]

@@kage2907 I agree with your last part,that's why at first it has to start as voluntary(just like how capitalism started).And after the lives of the people under it are vastly improved,with higher standards of living,the rest of the population will want in.Essentially creating class consciousness using practicality rather than theory(the latter will be for the first adopters)

[@wesleywagumba812]

@@kage2907 With the basics of food, shelter,clothing and medical care,And having access to resources,such a system,in my opinion,can be built from scratch.

[@francescolopes2724]

Tellement inspirant !! Ca fait rêver !!

[@vivalaleta]

The only way democracy can be maintained is giving real power to the people. This by mandating worker ownership of their workplaces.

[@friendfortheartists]

Great Presentation. Simple and elegant with a spoonful of hope. Going to find out more.

[@Into_The_Mystery_13]

Yes!

[@vivalaleta]

A beautiful system. I envy you.

[@kamaldaud2782]

Very inspiring even after 4 years later.

[@bobbaconofficial7462]

Great

[@JooAlbert07]

Your job is precisely with your cooperatives what I am looking for Madeira Island, i'm going to visit you at Geneva

[@wesleywagumba812]

Did you do it?

[@JooAlbert07]

@@wesleywagumba812 On my way in July

[@rooney3102]

I swear by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.

[@AJ-vp1te]

This may work with people that align to this ideas but is not for everybody.

[@wesleywagumba812]

Most people just want a life in which they're financially secure and can afford luxuries.I believe it works for 90% of people.If you haven't noticed as the manpower,resources and scale increases (the latter two are dependent to manpower)the standards of living of people under the program also rise,the housing even looks better.I believe when done at a very large scale,most people will be pretty wealthy.Since most goods and services can be easily produced as human utility can be satisfied easily.

[@garrettcole2251]

What about Anarko socialism or markets that are democratic without hierarchy, city councils and laws created by the very city council. Laws should be voted on by the public. Wake up Afrikans and non Afrikans, let's bring justice to this planet now!!!

[@chambersinternational7347]

Please can you give me more ideas about this? I’m Nigerian and trying to start my own cooperative for developing an alternative economy for a small group of people for a start. I really need ideas and people who share in my vision. It seems impossible right now but I know it is.

[@garrettcole2251]

@@chambersinternational7347 the details include the majority of a society dictating the rules, dictating the economy, and having a vote on producing goods and homes. As far as getting it done, they got to have people skills to merge and work together.

[@chambersinternational7347]

@@garrettcole2251 ok thanks for breaking it down! I really need to this, although I need some motivation. The economy of Nigeria is messed up right now and I’ve been thinking that forming an Alternative economy through cooperatives would be a good way out.

[@garrettcole2251]

@@chambersinternational7347 regarding the sound frequency of Nigeria, you gonna have to change that Energy brotha. That energy has not provided health and happiness for the 400 million plus people in that area. Though the Ijaw, Yoruba, Igbo are closely related.

[@garrettcole2251]

@@chambersinternational7347 Atibu reflects the old economy. Plus your area needs to give up some people to build farming and production spaces. The area is over populated

[@BrianReplies]

Soooo....where do I put my boat? And my camper? And how do you have enough space between you and others to feel..."right"? I like my neighbors. And I like the fact that there is an extra city lot between me and the one neighbor...and a 5 acre lot between me and the other. I like people...but I don't want to live that close to any of them.

[@wesleywagumba812]

The housing is like that because of limited resources, they started it with very few people,and limited resources,as manpower increases,which may increase the resources available for use (like the scale in the farm increasing)it will be easier to construct such type of housing(mansions in their own compounds with more independence).This is simply a small scale version.

[@pumfeethermodynamics3286]

A cooperative economy is called Market Socialism.

[@rangerstrade2268]

All depends on the type of cooperative and the goals set by the members. There are lots of cooperatives in America and the U.K.

[@clipboss8052]

Only if they are run by the workers

[@rangerstrade2268]

@@clipboss8052 that's a workers cooperative. There are many other types.

[@clipboss8052]

@@rangerstrade2268 I know what you are saying. But for an economy to be called "Market Socialist" it has to be controlled primarily by the workers.

[@robinhoodstfrancis]

More like Christian social market economics.

[@stevenjames9487]

Classic ghetto

[@briansykes2806]

For those who want to live this way, these ideas are great, and can bring about a happy and sustainable community. But most people do not want to live in this manner, and they need an alternative model.

[@haydencase7886]

But what if it was type of voluntary cooperation?

[@rivasimri]

Why not just have options for people so they can decide for themselves?

[@justinjaeger1554]

It is a voluntary model and no one is telling people who want to live differently to do so

[@spiritualeco-syndicalisthe207]

It's all voluntary. The important part is not "hey, we build our houses from wood" or "hey, we're extremely energy efficient". It's the concept of a worker cooperative that makes it so powerful. All the decisions are made democratically, one person one vote, no matter how many capital you've brought into the project, you still got one vote. So the project is equally owned by all members, that means that the project is almost certain to have an outcome in favor of everyone (unlike in a conventional capitalist enterprise where you have one person at the top, usually demanding way more than he contributes). Everyone can have a big house and a big car and a big family and long holidays when you don't have a capitalist parasite demanding a huge villa, a boat, a private jet and dozends of cars...

[@adilkhanindore]

That's where Americans come 😎 we don't like that