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The ‘democracy problem’

The Case for Community Wealth Building

‘The Case for Community Wealth Building’: review

of Lowimpact.org |
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This is the first of three articles in three days about ‘community wealth building’ (CWB) and mutual credit. Today we’re explaining community wealth building, and reviewing a book: The Case for Community Wealth Building. Tomorrow we’ll blog about how mutual credit can help post-Covid communities, and on Monday, Dil Green continues the theme, explaining how …

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Getting back to normal: is there an alternative post-corona?

Post-covid: ‘getting back to normal’ is suicidal – here’s the alternative

of Lowimpact.org |
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“For those who dream of a return to “normalcy”: normalcy was standing on the tracks watching an oncoming train & arguing about how fast it was going. Something just banged into us & sent us sprawling. It hurt. A lot. Now let’s get up, but NOT get back on the tracks again.” – David Graeber

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Should we return to normal post-corona?

Post-covid: ‘getting back to normal’ is not just a bad idea – it’s suicidal

of Lowimpact.org |
| 14

There’s been a lot of talk about ‘thanking’ coronavirus for giving us the breathing space to re-evaluate, and for giving nature some breathing space too. This isn’t one of those articles. I don’t find it compassionate to thank a virus that’s killing thousands of people, and closing millions of small businesses, allowing Amazon to hoover …

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Together we can build a new economy

Coming together to build a new economy: Matthew Slater, barefoot economist and Credit Commons co-designer, Part 2

of the Credit Commons Protocol |
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In part 1 I described why a resilient economy needs be to separate from the failing capitalist juggernaut and that we need to start by finding new economic partners from without the Market.

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Perception dollar by Matthew Slater of XR and the Credit Commons Collective

Starting from scratch: Matthew Slater, barefoot economist and Credit Commons co-designer, Part 1

of the Credit Commons Protocol |
| 11

Donald Trump recently derided Greta Thunberg and everyone pleading with government to heed environmental science as ‘doomsayers’. The more imminent peak oil or environmental collapse appear, the more intransigent our political system seems to be. Whatever the reasons for this, responsible citizens can only accomplish so much while the political and economic winds are blowing …

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Can we vote our way to a better society?

Disillusioned with the parliamentary route to a better society? Here’s an alternative.

of Lowimpact.org |
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Before the election in December, I had a ‘lively debate’ with a friend – an old-school Labour supporter and Corbynite – who was trying to convince me that the only way that we can have an effective social safety net is by voting in a genuinely redistributive party, taxing the rich properly and spreading wealth …

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The money system

What I’ve discovered about the money system and how the world is run, since working with the Open Credit Network

of Lowimpact.org |
| 0

In the summer of 2018 I went along to Open2018 to see Matthew Slater talk about how we might shake up the money system with a global Credit Commons. After his presentation, Matthew and I met with Oliver Sylvester-Bradley of the Open Co-op, who organised the event, and decided to build a mutual credit network …

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Questions about the election

26 questions from a 10-year-old to his parents about the election

of Lowimpact.org |
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At a dinner party on Saturday evening, I had a discussion about a) the efficacy of elections for bringing about meaningful change, and b) the desirability of the quest for perpetual economic growth (I didn’t feel positively about either of those things). Our hosts’ 10-year-old son was listening carefully, after which he expressed his intention …

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The tragedy of the commons

New topic – ‘commoning’ – and why ‘the Tragedy of the Commons’ is wrong

of Lowimpact.org |
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At university, back in the 80s, we were taught about ‘the Tragedy of the Commons’ – an essay by Garrett Hardin, about how common resources are always abused, because humans are basically selfish. It seemed plausible at the time, but has since been shown to be false.

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2019 CTRLshift gathering

Reflections on the CTRLshift gathering – an emergency summit for change

of Lowimpact.org |
| 0

The stated aim of the annual CTRLshift gathering (that took place in Stoke-on-Trent recently) is to bring key people together to talk about practical steps to help shift power away from central government and multinational corporations, to communities and individuals. Well, you had me at ‘decentralisation’, so I went along.

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