Autonomy and Independence

The following information is copied from the International Co-operative Alliance website.

4th Principle: Autonomy and Independence

Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. If they enter to agreements with other organisations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.Copyright © 2005-2009 International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)

Member Economic Participation

The following information is copied from the International Co-operative Alliance website.

3rd Principle: Member Economic Participation

Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.Copyright © 2005-2009 International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)

Democratic Member Control

The following information is copied from the International Co-operative Alliance website.

2nd Principle: Democratic Member Control

Co-operatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and co-operatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner.Copyright © 2005-2009 International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)

Voluntary and Open Membership

The following information is copied from the International Co-operative Alliance website.

1st Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership

Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.Copyright © 2005-2009 International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)

Cooperative Identify

The following information is copied from the International Co-operative Alliance website.

Statement on the Co-operative Identity

Definition

A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.

Values

Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.

Principles

The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.Copyright © 2005-2009 International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)

What Would Thomas Do?

Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson were the chief proponents for American Independence and American Democracy. Innate defects of monarchy and aristocracy have resurfaced in corporate capitalism and special interest politics. In Rights of Man, Paine championed Principle over Precedence, then championed by Edmund Burke, a member of British Parliament, in Reflections on the Revolution in France.

How soon we forget. Strict constructionist judges champion Precedence, whereas judicial activist judges champion Principles. Segregation had Precedence on its side. Precedence is no better than its weakest Principle. Paine traced the Precedence of English kings back to William the Conqueror, a Norman. Paine exposed a blind spot in human cognition, which persists today. Even science harbors derivative tendencies. Corporate capitalism and special interest politics are bastards of monarchy and aristocracy. What Would Thomas Do?

In Common Sense, Paine championed Independence over Reconciliation. An Independent Democratic alternative does exist to corporate capitalism. Whereas unions are wed to Reconciliation with corporate capitalism, cooperatives exist as Independent enterprises that embody democratic Principles. Corporate capitalism is ruled by shareholders, one share one vote, which is plutocratic. Profit motive is the guiding principle of a market economy. Cooperative enterprises are ruled by shareholders, one member one vote, which is democratic. Reputations and relationships are the guiding principles of a gift economy.

The Capitalism versus Socialism debate is a false dichotomy. Socialism also suffers from innate defects of centralized control. By nature, corporate capitalism needs external regulation. By virtue, cooperative enterprises are self regulating, transparent, and open. The major obstacle preventing a democratic revolution in the economic sphere is mind share. People are uninformed, and a person of Principles is self made not born. In Principle, a democratic, cooperative revolution could compete plutocratic corporate capitalism and special interest politics into extinction.

“What Would Thomas Do?” is the inaugural campaign to raise public awareness for a worldwide, democratic, cooperative revolution, and for Principles over Precedence.

Gistmass Story: Context

Gistmass Story is a modern retelling of Homer’s Odyssey. The whole story starts here. The first installment is 83 pages long, and over 30,000 words.

A woman who hasn’t seen him since college, meets the protagonist, UV Faust (i.e. Ulysses), and the two discuss his relationship with his estranged ex-wife Penny (i.e. Penelope) and their son Telemachus (nicknamed Telly). That discussion begins here.

On the long train ride, he discusses his company’s involvement in the Free Software Community, and has to explain everything to her. That part begins here. The ubuntu installation process is mentioned on page 52.

In it he compares Microsoft to socialized medicine and the “free world” to free market health care. In one section, he labels Richard Stallman and Linus Torvalds as two leaders of the free world. That part beings here. The name Richard Stallman is mentioned on pages 53, 56, and 61.

He also uses an analogy of the American Revolutionary War, with the Microsoft monopoly like the English monarchy and the Free Software Community like patriotic American revolutionaries bringing democracy to the economic sphere. That part begins here.

During the long train ride, he also mentions an arbitration scheme he uses with Penny to handle relationship issues using ABBA songs. That explanation and many examples that lend insight into the relationship between Ulysses and Penny begins here.

Furthermore, he develops a model to diagram the satisfaction or frustration of needs. That part begins here.

Together these two tools can serve as the basis for improving and getting the most out of relationships.