If socialists ran a supermarket

[iamaboringperson]

There would be too much of what people don't want, and not enough of what they do!

[PMC]

WTF?

[bloodline]

IIRC there is actually a socialist supermarket... it's called the Co-Op, though the words "market" and "socailist" are by definition mutualy exclusive... But anyway iama's expression is wrong.

To make it correct, one should say: "For every product someone takes from the store*, that person must provide the store with one or more different products. All products must be necessities, not luxuaries. *Addendum; the product removed must be approved for removal, so no one takes more than they need."

Not as much fun as your local capitalist market though...  ;-)

iamaboringperson wrote:
There would be too much of what people don't want, and not enough of what they do!

http://www.cooponline.coop/about.html

What is a Co-op?

Definition
The International Co-operative Alliance defines a co-operative as -

'an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically controlled enterprise.'

In other words, co-ops are in business to provide what their members want, and they are controlled democratically by their members.

Co-ops compared to plcs

    * A co-operative is set up to meet mutual needs whereas a plc exists to make a profit from being able to satisfy a need that exists.
    * A co-operative belongs to its members. A plc belongs to its shareholders/ investors.
    * A co-operative is run democratically on the basis of one member, one vote.
    * In a plc the number of shares owned determines votes.
    * Co-operatives share their profits with their members (the dividend) whereas plcs return profits to the holders of their capital.
    * Shares that members have in a co-operative are of fixed value and withdrawable. Shares are non-withdrawable in plcs and their value fluctuates.
    * Co-ops are constituted under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act whereas plcs are constituted under company law.

*
   *

Try again iama.

[Cyberus]

I'm a member of the Co-op. I paid £1 for membership, and am a real fan of it. The first supermarket in the UK to use biodegradable carrier bags, the first to stock fair trade goods I THINK, the only one of the supermarkets targeting lower income households (the other being Somerfield, Asda and Morrisons) to actively seek to promote healthier eating....

Yep, I am a real Co-Op fan. I like it when someone proves to the big boys that you can be conscientious and economically viable, when the first thing they scream is always that it doesn't make economic sense.

Also, the co-operative bank does not invest in non-ethical companies (defence companies, etc)

Cyberus wrote:
I'm a member of the Co-op. I paid £1 for membership, and am a real fan of it. The first supermarket in the UK to use biodegradable carrier bags, the first to stock fair trade goods I THINK, the only one of the supermarkets targeting lower income households (the other being Somerfield, Asda and Morrisons) to actively seek to promote healthier eating....

Yep, I am a real Co-Op fan. I like it when someone proves to the big boys that you can be conscientious and economically viable, when the first thing they scream is always that it doesn't make economic sense.

Also, the co-operative bank does not invest in non-ethical companies (defence companies, etc)

I'll make a socialist out of you yet Cyberus! :-D

[Wilse]

Glad to see IAABP is still around.

How's it hanging? Still homophobic or was that just a silly
phase you were going through? ;-)

Wilse wrote:
Glad to see IAABP is still around.

How's it hanging? Still homophobic or was that just a silly
phase you were going through? ;-)

Maybe he's come through it and embraced his own homosexuality now? ;-)

Maybe he even got laid?

[Cyberus]

You mean, "Have a nice \^/@|\||< ?"

;-)

[Speelgoedmannetje]

mdma wrote:
Maybe he even got laid?

NOT BY ME!

Speelgoedmannetje wrote:

mdma wrote:
Maybe he even got laid?

NOT BY ME!

:roflmao:

Maybe he went on holiday to the Dam and visited one of those state-run whorehouses? ;-)

Cyberus wrote:
You mean, "Have a nice \^/@|\||< ?"

;-)

Maybe it was Vietnam then?

"Ten dollar fooky, five dollar sucky, three dollar wanky.  Me love you long time!" ;-)

[iamaboringperson]

@bloodline (& others)

I've used at least one (and am a member of a) co-op.

But believe me, it's definitely not socialist.

But my theory is certainly not wrong, however. Well, not entirely, anyway.

Thoughout the past 100 years or so, socialist "supermarkets" or food shops really did not have much that people wanted. But they didn't have an awfull lot of what people didn't want, either (except perhaps, empty space...).

 :-)

But believe me, it's definitely not socialist.

They are run by the members, for the benefit of the members, and all profit is distributed to the members.

Please tell me how this is not socialist?

[iamaboringperson]

mdma wrote:

But believe me, it's definitely not socialist.

They are run by the members, for the benefit of the members, and all profit is distributed to the members.

Please tell me how this is not socialist?

Well firstly I don't get so much as one cent from the co-op of which I am a member. One reason for that is that it is "not for profit".

A coop is normally a private organization. And if it is, then according to the definition of socialism, it is not socialist.

And that is why I say it's not.