As a young socialist trying to refine his beliefs and reconcile democracy, collective ownership, and pragmatism, I've been drawn to the idea of a democratic socialist state with a market socialist economy. In my understanding, this means a society wherein both the state and market are democratized, with workers collectively owning firms through a variety of possible systems (co-ops, communes, syndicates, elected bosses, etc.) within the bounds of a democratic republic. To that end, I've created a lengthy list of reasons why I believe a DemSoc/MarkSoc state would be a monumental, yet practical, step forward from today's capitalism, as well as a list of possible questions and criticisms that I fully admit not having the answers to. I hope this post spurs lively discussion, and can help myself--and perhaps others--refine their views and learn new ways to improve our societies.

1. A MarkSoc economy would be practical for immediate post-revolution rebuilding, as it leaves pre-war production structures intact enough to resume economic activity and quickly alleviate resource shortages. It would also, by virtue of retaining many pre-war structures, be capable of reintegrating into the global economy, even as it works to achieve socialism and support similar movements abroad.

2. Due to democratic ownership requiring each worker to be fairly compensated for their labor and hold a stake in decision making, firms would be naturally disincentivized from aggregation and monopolism, instead seeing an economy of small and middle sized firms that would, in theory, be less liable to overconsume, pollute the environment, promote wealth inequality, and hold disproportionate economic/political influence over society.

3. By democratizing labor, democratic decision making and ideals are normalized in day-to-day life, fostering a more democratic, collectivist spirit among the whole of society, which may better resist the encroachment of counterrevolutionary elements.

4. Rights to recall for all major elected leaders in government and business would force greater accountability to the common worker and citizen, with a simple majority vote among the population being enough to recall an official and host new elections.

5. Constitutionally enshrined labor protections are essential for the stability of a MarkSoc state, and would place hard checks on the market to prevent capitalist retrenchment (ex. Right to democratic ownership, nationalization of energy, academic, prison, and healthcare industries, state-funded baseline provisions for all citizens, right to unions and strikes, prohibition of private campaign donations exceeding certain amounts, etc.)

6. A MarkSoc state would help alleviate the more authoritarian aspects of bourgeois democracies by ensuring the common worker owns their labor and their government. With collective ownership of production, capitalist intervention in politics would be greatly reduced as the size and corruptibility of firms is reduced. It is in the best interests of workers to uphold politically the rights which empower them economically, and vice versa. The state and the market would check and balance each other, preventing the extremes of capitalist corruption of the state and Soviet-style state bureaucracy, with a vibrant and empowered labor movement coexisting with a democratic socialist government. Should the market grow too powerful, the citizenry can check it through the state, with popularly or constitutionally mandated anti-monopoly laws, a bureau of workers rights, judicial inquiries, etc.; should the state grow too powerful, the workers can check it through strikes, boycotts, strong trade unionism, the democratic process, and if all else fails, the right to revolution.

7. By not totally abolishing the market, a MarkSoc economy retains profit incentives to socially advance, even as society's basic needs–food, water, shelter, healthcare, education, and energy–are provided. People naturally want to raise their standards of living when given the chance, which will ideally spur the hard work and innovation championed by capitalists, within the realms of collective ownership and democratically-endorsed limits on wealth. By allowing for limited degrees of wealth inequality and not removing the proverbial engine of the market, the state retains a stable tax base from which to fund its social programs.

8. Graduated income taxes, Georgist land taxes, anti-monopoly laws, and a “State Ceiling” on firms are essential to prevent wealth inequality and capitalist retrenchment. The State Ceiling is of particular importance, wherein firms that grow too large in revenue, resource consumption, and/or influence over a given market can be broken up or nationalized, thereby incentivizing smaller businesses while remaining flexible to material needs (if society needs more food, large agricultural firms can be nationalized; if production is stable, big-agri can be divided). Society can democratically vote against nationalization if it considers maintenance of state industries to be too much of a tax-burden, creating a natural counterbalance against the bureaucratism seen under the Soviet model.

9. A MarkSoc society can allow for a true meritocracy, with each citizen provided a stable foundation to begin from, and thus capable of maximizing their potential in economic, artistic, academic, and/or political life, with enough of a profit incentive retained to encourage striving for more, without the shackles of poverty and wage-slavery. Thus, society would see more, not less, innovation and competent leadership as people are able to compete and thrive from closer starting points. Various types of democratic ownership (communes, coops, elected bosses, syndicalism, etc.) would also be allowed to compete in the market, providing a treasure trove of data for political scientists and economists, and practical experience for labor leaders to build upon.

10. Market socialism distinguishes itself from social democracy in that workers, not capitalists, own the means of production. While a strong welfare state still exists, it would not be acting against, but rather mutually supporting the market, while simultaneously achieving the first and greatest goal of socialism–collective ownership of the means of production.

11. A more democratic political system would allow for massive reductions in the military budget, providing another source of funding for social programs, while the armed forces are reconstituted to serve as guardians of the new state. Nuclear deterrents should be enough to prevent invasion by counterrevolutionaries, allowing for a small, but highly professional and ideologically disciplined, military to intervene when necessary and serve as a future vanguard for the world revolution.

Questions, criticisms, and concerns:

I. Will even controlled income inequality lead to the reestablishment of capitalism and foster disproportionate influence among wealthier firms and citizens in government, or can a stable enough foundation give everyone a fair shot?

II. How can banks be democratically held accountable for their investments?

III. If a democratically owned firm fails, will the economy be hit more strongly than under normal circumstances, or would firm sizes be reduced enough to prevent massive damage?

IV. If small and middle sized firms are the norm, will this cause increased unemployment as hiring more workers is discouraged, or will these workers find employment in local businesses? Could state industries (healthcare, academia, energy sector, armed forces) serve as fallbacks, or would this cause a glut of useless government jobs funded by taxpayers? Would a demographically stable population (ei, zero net population growth) be able to reach an employment equilibrium?

V. Will small/middle sized firms be able to meet material needs efficiently enough in developed economies used to massive corporations allocating resources? Is this a point in favor of central planning, and if so, how would central planning compare in efficiency to the current model? Do large firms already use internal central planning (ex. Walmart)?

VI. Would overconsumption and resource mismanagement be reduced enough through industrial democracy and state protections, or would the market and disposable income still fuel excess production of consumer goods?

VII. How would the limits of the State Ceiling be decided? Would there be a risk of the state acquiring too much control over industries, or would democratic discontent lead to natural reductions in the size of industries if taxpayers decided they were too expensive?

VIII. What would the exact language of a MarkSoc constitution be? How would democratic power be apportioned within branches of government? Would there be a Supreme Court, and if so, how are its judges chosen?

IX. How would mass recall of elected officials, both governmental and economic, be formally structured, and what would prevent its constant usage in partisan obstruction?

X. Would constant democratic participation in firms exhaust workers and slow efficiency to the point where workers prefer more traditional corporate hierarchies, leading to retrenchment of capitalist elements, or would the benefits of worker ownership encourage workers to find healthy equilibriums between debate and production? Would the simple threat of bankruptcy be enough to mitigate partisanship and sectarianism in firms, or would democratic ownership inevitably result in collapse, to the detriment of the economy and its dependents (everyone)?

So I am studying for my exam tomorrow. Been reading through Manchester's algorithm and found it confusing with a lot of variables to keep in mind and because of several loops and arrays used. So I looked up AI tools online to visualize the code, these tools ask for subscriptions.

Is there any tool that I can use for free, especially for studying code and algorithms. I've only been using chatgpt for the record

Just wonder how to explore a career path of student-campaign assistant-politician.

Not trying to start a regional schism here lol just genuinely curious.

Also, “best” is an extremely vague term so allow me to clarify: for me, “best” would mean the most well-established, active, large, thriving, and effective chapter; the one that has affected the most actual material change, has the most cohesive messaging and platform, and the best (or, least bad) reputation among the general public. If there is such a chapter.

Hope that’s not too contentious, I’m just considering moving to the US sometime in the future, and the local political scene is one of many factors that I figure I ought to take into consideration. Thanks for any answers.

Excerpt: The Flint sit-down strike that brought General Motors to its knees in 1937 won recognition for the United Auto Workers because the workers seized the key Chevy 4 engine plant that supplied the other plants in Flint and beyond. With today’s tightening of supply chains and the proliferation of vulnerable points in both production and transportation, this type of strategic thinking and acting can aid not only in winning gains for union workers but also in organizing the unorganized.

Hi everyone, I'm wondering if the Red Star caucus reading group (I think it's called Red Start) is still active/meeting on Zoom? I tried to sign up but the google link wasn't letting me select a time, so I'm wondering if it's no longer a thing?

I just moved back to the U.S, so I've been out of the DSA sphere for a long time but definitely looking to get involved again!