[lbo-talk] Coops [was: Economics drivel]

[Wojtek Sokolowski]

Bill:
> Interestingly, many of them were so dim-witted that they 
> rejected the idea. Refused to believe it was feasible, 
> refused to even accept that the subsidy was available in some 
> cases, made all sorts of excuses. It took years to get it 
> accepted and only then when a crisis erupted to shake them 
> from their complacency did they reluctantly agree. Even then, 
> a small number mindlessly refused to accept that anything 
> needed to be done, they actually advocated that the co-op 
> ignore the threat of bankruptcy.
>

Unfortunately, I had similar experience.  People are squandering money
on car DVDs (these suckers are expensive!) but refuse to pay for the
upkeep of common property (such as water, maintenance, electricity,
insurance etc.) - we have about 50% non-payment rate and will likley go
belly up within the next two or three years.  Particularly upsetting
about that is  not just the loss of real nice piece of real property in
historic Baltimore, but the fact that this experience corroboartes the
"tragedy of the commons" narrative prominently featuring in the
neoclassical econ legitimating mythology.  Cooperation is something one
learns though experience and that is why there is always more cohesion
on the top of social ladder.

 
> and I can suggest several entirely rational theories for 
> their apparently irrational decisions, based on my 
> observations. Only theories, would need further 

What are they?

Wojtek