Economic Democracy vs. Parecon
[Editors’ note: on February 10, 2007 the Open University of the Left hosted a debate between David Schweickart and Mitchel Szczepanczyk at In These Times in Chicago. Following is Schweickart’s critique of Parecon. An article by Szczepanczyk can be accessed online]
Let me begin by saying what Michael Albert, Robin Hahnel, Mitch Szczepanczyk and I all agree about. We agree-That capitalism is a deeply flawed economic system that needs to be replaced by a more humane social order. Capitalism gives rise to obscene inequalities; it is ecologically destructive; it is undemocratic.-That the Soviet model of central planning is not the answer. Even if democratized, the system would not be desirable. The model itself, as an economic model, is fundamentally flawed. (more…)
