Re: [OPE] II-Socialist Cybernetics in Allende’s Chile.

alejandro_agafonow@yahoo.es

Communism also requires a “rule of law”, not just the rule of aggregate people through vote.
 A. Agafonow

----- Mensaje original ----
De: Alejandro Agafonow <alejandro_agafonow@yahoo.es>
Para: Outline on Political Economy mailing list <ope@lists.csuchico.edu>
Enviado: miércoles, 4 de junio, 2008 21:27:31
Asunto: Re: [OPE] II-Socialist Cybernetics in Allende’s Chile.

We, as heterodox economists, are especially sensitive to many forms of conservative discrimination upon issues that require some degree of theoretical training. That’s why to understand our “informed participation” problem as legitimizing the current hierarchical institutions is not right.

We have to conceive institutions that properly canalize dissents opinions giving them a channel of expression, even in a communist society.

Thinking that we properly handle with the problem allowing mass voting upon anything, is to overcome the “intransitivity of preferences”. This kind of populist democracy is too dangerous for pluralist values.

Think about all kind of minorities. Some people are just waiting this kind of populism for discriminating them.

A. Agafonow

----- Mensaje original ----
De: Dave Zachariah <davez@kth.se>
Para: Outline on Political Economy mailing list <ope@lists.csuchico.edu>
Enviado: miércoles, 4 de junio, 2008 20:37:05
Asunto: Re: [OPE] II-Socialist Cybernetics in Allende’s Chile.

on 2008-06-04 19:24 Alejandro Agafonow wrote:
>
> Yes, I agree with Zachariah.
>
>  
>
> This raises what Håvard Haarstad and I think is a weak point or a 
> point that deserves more attention in Cottrell and Cockshot’s model.
>
>  
>
> We call it the problem of “informed participation”. Can we open all 
> spheres of decision making to all that have a interests on it, 
> irrespective of their command upon the issue? Especially, if it is a 
> highly technical one.
>
>  
>
> In principle, it could sound like an elitist way of reasoning, but our 
> point is that if we agree to open it without any consideration, one 
> have to offer an answer to the risks involved in making wrong 
> decisions by the wrong people.
>
>  
>

Hang on a minute Alejandro. I did not mean that decisions must be 
centralized in the hands of a few individuals, but that macroeconomic 
coordination needs to be taken on a 'national' level.

However, I think you are right when it comes to day-to-day decisions at 
this level. They have to be taken by few individuals that are held 
accountable, for practical and technical reasons. But the general 
development of the economy ought to be subject to the citizens' will: 
e.g. share of budget going to investments in healthcare, infrastructure 
etc. or perhaps vote on specific plans proposed by political parties.

That is necessary if we wish to sustain a socialist *democracy*.

//Dave Z
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