Ask Prof Wolff: Democracy in Workplaces and Communities

A Patron of Economic Update asks: "In a worker co-op oriented society, how would conflicts between the people who own and operate the co-ops and the wider whole of society be resolved? Say the workers at a plant have two means of producing a product: one that the workers feel is better for them at the cost of the community, and another which is better for the community but makes things more difficult for the workers. How would such a thing be arbitrated?"

This is Professor Richard Wolff's video response.

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“Marxism always was the critical shadow of capitalism. Their interactions changed them both. Now Marxism is once again stepping into the light as capitalism shakes from its own excesses and confronts decline.”

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[shainowen]

Richard, BTW, I love all perspectives. They all have good ideas. We have coop grocery chains in my area of missouri

[ants_in_my_eyes_Wilson]

First!
Always brightens my day to see a video from Democracy at Work.
<3

[knumbi]

Dr Wolff, I would love if you could interview a couple of union "warriors". Yourself have very good insight in the theory of economics and democratization, but I do think we need the insights of people who are actively building unions. We are all on the same side, but we never hear their stories - can you help them to share their stories through your channel? <3 love you all

[BB-cfgx]

In a democratic worker owned co-op, what is the pass fail for a vote? 50% plus 1? 60%? And what recourse does the losing side have?

[ArielGarcia]

Can you demonstrate some examples of co-ops in a business space, thank you

[shainowen]

And you're from ohio so you know what I grew up around in Buick Town Flint. My grandfather was a Union boss at local 599. I ran as far as I could from GM. I made my mark in business. Logistics. I know what the drivers in Canada and the USSA are going through. Freedom First. I'm with the Polish from the former iron curtain. We don't want big government or central banks.

[michaelrch]

It's seems to me that the scope of decisions being made by the community rather than the enterprise should be limited to things that affect the community. If the enterprise says "we are expanding production and will be running twice as many trucks down our access road" then the community has the right to say no.
But if the company is later deciding to change what it loads those trucks with, then this isn't any concern of the community. They already agreed to allow the trucks. The community does not need consulting on this.

[robertburatt]

Well said. I would add that real democracies are also flexible, and a decision at one time can be altered whole or in part at some point in the future, and not permanent or resistant to new needs
Also, the "mayor" does not include the populace in his decision making, which is tyranny.

[vibhuvikramaditya]

Democracy in workplace still leads to alienation and doesn't provide freedom to the average worker anymore than democracy does to the average citizen, if a majority of workers decide to take some mode of action but a minority resents them what justification do the majority have in removing the control of workers from the objective conditions of their existence. Why should a majority get to decide what happens, is that right granted just on the basis of a numerical advantage? . True freedom and democracy can only come when there is unanimity by all participants whose life gets affected. Democracy in workplace without unanimity not only retains the chains of freedom but legitimizes them

[donrastar]

"And of course, if you could help us financially." Pretty much says it all.

[clarestucki]

It's also "undemocratic" for all of the financial risk to be borne by the investor(s), but because most of the people involved have no savings to invest, all the risk IS borne by the "small group of people at the top", so it is COMPLETELY "democratic" for those people to make all the decisions!

[patrickmccormack]

I'm making efforts to not engage the comments section. For only one reason: Work should be compensated. As much as I enjoy commenting, I'm scaling back. With that said, they can't have something for nothing. Take heed YouTube and those of us who work for nothing. If we are going to be media whores, pay us. Until then, boycott the comment sections. Turn the tide.

Love & Affection by Def Leppard

"Pay the Writer." - Harlan Ellison

Knock, Knock.
Who's there?
COVID.
(silence.)

[stevecoley]

Metaphysics
Darkness (business) exists so that stars like US have a place to shine in heaven (joy, beauty and harmony).

Stars like US don't exist to be sucked out of heaven by a giant a**hole in space called "greed" and it's ignorance (hate).

Also, Love spent billions of years creating this paradise planet lifeboat so that her miraculous works of fine art called "life" have a beautiful place to "be".

Love didn't spend so much time creating this paradise planet lifeboat to be depreciated, polluted and destroyed in a brief moment by hostile alien vampires (greed) and their ignorance (hate).

[bluewater]

Wolff claims to promote democracy. China is as anti democratic of a society as you can find, and yet Wolff promotes the Chinese system every chance he gets. What do thinking people do with these two opposing facts?

[donrastar]

"What you do with the fruits of all your labors." I.E. the capital. Mr. Wolff, regurgitates the same bs but absolutely refuses to call capital, capital.