MB. wrote:Can either of you elaborate how the social democratic method of production would function, considering that a ballot box/representative system would be out of the question?
Sorry for the delay, but I've been quite busy at work and have had no time to reply.
The point that is important for the continued discussion of this topic is still within the original post I provided at the top of this thread. In order for productivity to be viewed in any form of realistic development, the economic goals of society must be placed within the mindset of
class-in-and-for-itself. This could be developed through an education program or whatever one desires, but the goal is to create a general understanding of productivity within the understanding of
class-in-and-for-itself.
Once this is understood, and keeping in mind we are living under a socialist society that is in transition towards a classless society, we can move forward with what is required in regard to goods and services. Without getting involved with utopian dreams and reductionist goals, productivity could be seen in terms of what is required within the communities of society. We must first remember that without capitalism, a lot of the normal needs, such as the need to go to work at 8:30 AM and leave at 4:30 PM (bus, car, need coffee, etc.) are gone, since productivity is based in the needs of the society & the individual, both being inter-connected, not seperated, as they are under capitalism. Equally enough, why attempt to waste labour when the technology exists to perform them without labour? Labour could be allocated to centralised locations of society where productivity occurs, rather than waste the time and energy to allow individuals to find their own way to each of the locations where their place of employment is located. However, there is no need to seperate leisure time with work time and it would be the goal of developing socialism to attempt to eliminate this seperation between leisure time and work time, to create a combined understanding of the important role both play within society.
It is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their consciousness. - Karl Marx