>Sepaking of which, Michael Albert is standing by to join the list for a discussion of parecon. I'd like to do that but I thought I'd ask - how much interest is there here?
I've got a couple of questions.
Firstly, I'd appreciate a precise definition of the supposed "Techno-managerial Class".
I understand the general idea that this refers to the those who, while not being ruling class themselves, manage things on behalf of the ruling class. But I can't tell whether this includes people like cops, the assistant manager down at the local McDonalds, the clerk at the dole office whose job it is to cut me off the dole, not to mention the entire legal profession. Including perhaps a student training to be a social worker or lawyer, or perhaps someone who just has a gleam in their eye about becoming a bus conductor or parking meter attendant?
Secondly, Participatory Economics apparently proposes an "alternative consumption principle, for those who are able to work: To each according to their work effort or sacrifice."
Is this measured in hours, or what? How would we measure the effort of people who don't clock in, like students, or people rearing children and/or caring for sick relatives?
What sort of mechanism might be devised for determining who was "able to work"? Presumably rules for this could be devised through a "participatory" mechanism, where everyone gets a say. But someone is going to have to vouch for the claimed inability to work, presumably specialised workers such as doctors, sociologists, social workers etc. But unless every man and his dog is to be required to take a turn at practising every technical specialty, then wouldn't specialised workers with this sort of power over the lives of others still amount to a "Techno-managerial Class"?
Frankly, the whole idea of everyone having to be adept in every specialised skill, as envisaged by the sponsors of a participatory economy, seems a little optimistic. Humans don't actually live long enough for us to develop the expertise. The only logical way to achieve this would be to basically de-skill every job, so that any job can be carried out by anyone, no matter their education or experience.
Maybe I've missed something though?
Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas