The REAL Tragedy of the Commons

When it comes to the question of how we organise the land we inhabit and the resources therein, we’re presented with two paths: privatisation or nationalisation. The capitalist or the State. But an alternative exists in the commons, and it is no tragedy.

The list of artists used is in the outro.

Introduction - 0:00
The False Dichotomy - 0:50
The Tragedy of the Commons - 4:47
Feudal Foundations - 8:23
How to Manage the Commons - 10:31

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Music:
Sun (prod. salmon the ghost)
outro music: Cedar Womb by joe zempel
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Sources & Resources:
Governing the Commons by Elinor Ostrom

[__-vbht]

"The Tragedy of the Commons" is the peak of critiques of communism that are actually just talking about capitalism. "People would overexploit the ecosystem for personal profit" Yeah, imagine if that suddendly happened

[javi]

Looking at studies that test the "tragedy of the commons" idea, the biggest thing that stood out to me was that the "tragic" scenario only happens when people are not allowed to talk to each other. As soon as the group starts communicating information and decisions are no longer anonymous, the human social instinct takes over and people QUICKLY make collective agreements that result in positive outcomes for all. Alienation is no joke, it's a red flag to always look out for.

[josephhernandez]

I really hate how all the horrible, destructive behaviors created by the incentives of private ownership and capitalism are commonly understood to be “human nature”.

If humans naturally behaved the way the fantasy of the the tragedy of the commons assumes we do, we would’ve died out before discovering fire.

[EphemeralTao]

"The Tragedy of the Commons" is a self-fulfilling prophesy. When you teach people that a resource is only worth what you can exploit it for, and individual enrichment is the highest value, then people will try and exploit it to enrich themselves with no thought to others or the long-term viability of the resource. The Cliven Bundy incident was essentially that exact tragedy.

[Deondre_Clark]

Just found this channel. Best YouTube discovery in years

[NPRoberto]

Andrew has a way of making his videos so engaging. It doesn't feel like a lecture or a sermon. The way Andrew breaks down the information makes it easily digested and understood, I feel like I'm honestly learning with every video.

[satyasyasatyasya]

I cannot express how vital, nourishing and how educational it has been to watch and listen to people who are not like me. Learning from different faces and different voices is the only way we can attain a better world ^.^

[Kizyr]

It's pretty maddening how even when I got my degree (in econ) that "tragedy of the commons" was, and likely is, still taught in intro courses as if it's a natural law and needs no explanation. When it's really just a thought experiment that presupposes what it's trying to prove, and has so many counterexamples that by rights it should be regarded on the same level as creationism.

[something-from-elsewhere]

"The _real_ tragedy of the commons is the loss thereof to the elite few" is one of those things that I think we need to be saying more, for as long as such a significant portion of the population holds the myth to be fact (a i can't write rn)

[tongueofswords]

🇧🇸 big ups from the Bahamas bro. As a fellow Carribean communist, I was just wondering if you had a reading list I could dig into. I'm a firm believer that we as a Carribean have no need to follow the failing paths of the super powers in our vicinity. I'm just looking for literature that I could use to assist and educate those that I am in contact with.

I love what you do and was considering getting into creating. I'm a chef moving into food sciences and agriculture (with a strong peek into mycology) I'm not sure what your primary issues are in Trini but for us in the Bahamas I see food as one of our primary issues. I don't have all the answers but I'd like to assist where my expertise allows. People like you are driving me to do what I do. Keep up the good work.

[jits]

as someone who studies environmental economics, the tragedy of the commons is akin to the theory of the history of money (that people used to trade etcetera). these gets taught to first-year students in order to make a point that land ownership isn't neccesarily natural or self-evident, and get them thinking about these dynamics. however, it is of course total folklore, like how people used to tell stories about why the seasons change. i don't know how, but economics has mythologized in the same way. it doesn't matter that it's false, you need to know it, in order to understand the framework and talking points people use, to be in on the conversation. there are pleanty of theorists who denote how communal management can be highly succesful for environmental conservation, but their work is much harder to present, because they refuse to stick to a singular narrative.

[ForeignManinaForeignLand]

Lawd this hit hard after I impersonate you for the Chinesefication of the Caribbean section in my last video 😮‍💨 the discourse here has important insight into foreign direct investment for diplomatic means in former colonial countries. Excellent work as always bredda 🙏🏾

[rmeddy]

Wrhat I like about this dude is that everytime I think of some issue, he has a video ready and waiting addressing my concerns.

Very concientious👍🏾

[BriarLeaf]

Yeah so without turning to hyperbole this video presentation really drove home how close we are ideologically and I feel genuinely positive about that fact. I've been on the platform since the beginning in one form or another and I've never encountered someone so willing to speak openly about ideology while simultaneously putting forth a vision of a better world rather than just critical analysis. This has always been my biggest criticism, crucially outside of internet spaces, and you've really gone ahead and tackled that head on in a really impactful way and I frankly really appreciate it comrade. Take care.

[jingbot]

Each time I think your last video is your best one, your next one comes out.

Keep it up, your last three videos especially have been incredible!

[ericrae]

I've just starting working on a theatre project/social experiment where, through discussion during a "play", the audience redesigns society from the ground up. Your videos and resources are helping immensely with the ton of research I need to do to be remotely qualified to pull this off. Thank you!

[crayonsmmmm]

In regards to the lie of the tragedy of the commons; I am currently reading a book about the drainage and destruction of the English Fens, much of which was common land. The Fennish commons had lasted centuries and were carefully managed by the local residents, with no formal limit on the amount of grazing animals necessary. In Frampton, a limit was only introduced in 1575 after a lord of the Manor imported 200 cattle to the region from the north of the country, which he then sold on to the London cattle market (Multiple days travel away). It is the elites who are responsible for selfish and destructive use of common resources.

[AtheistEve]

When people call for renationalization of our infrastructures, like rail and energy, it’s essential that the renationalization places ownership directly in the hands of those working in and using the services of each sector. That way, capitalists and their tory politicians won’t be able to sell them off to one another again.

[SarahMaeBea]

another great one. well put together. well explained. motivational. thank you so much

[Anja_Pearson]

Great video! So interesting to think about ideas like this; I'd love to hear more about this topic!