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Socioeconomic Democracy Book Announcement by GeorgeCSDS 27 March 2002 20:07 UTC |
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Dear Friends: The purpose of this communication is to announce the existence of, and provide an introduction to, Socioeconomic Democracy. The following items are briefly discussed below: 1. Definition of Socioeconomic Democracy. 2. Description of the forthcoming book Socioeconomic Democracy: An Advanced Socioeconomic System. 3. Book reviewers sought. 4. Teachers to consider using book as text sought. 5. Peaceful, determined, disgusted, and democratic citizen-revolutionaries sought. 6. Praeger/Greenwood (publisher of book). 7. Center for the Study of Democratic Societies introduced. 1. Definition of Socioeconomic Democracy. As originally conceived over thirty years ago, Socioeconomic Democracy (SeD) is a theoretical model socioeconomic system wherein there exist both some form of Universal Guaranteed Personal Income (UGI) and some form of Maximum Allowable Personal Wealth (MAW), with both the lower bound on personal material poverty and the upper bound on personal material wealth set and adjusted democratically by all participants of society. More extensive definitions, descriptions, and discussions exist in numerous places, including the Encyclopedia of International Political Economy published by Routledge in 2001 (right in there with capitalism, socialism, libertarianism, communism, anarchism, and (other) mixed (up) economies). 2. Description of forthcoming book Socioeconomic Democracy: An Advanced Socioeconomic System. The book, scheduled to be published by Praeger/Greenwood in Spring 2002, discusses many aspect of SeD. The book should be of interest to (at least) all those who are seriously concerned about the multidimensional harm (to individuals, societies, cultures, and the planet at large) caused by the extreme systemic maldistribution of material wealth intra- and internationally, and who are convinced that this problem should and can only be resolved democratically and peacefully by an informed and thoughtful citizenry. The Table of Contents is as follows: PREFACE INTRODUCTION 1 SOCIOECONOMIC DEMOCRACY: THE THEORETICAL MODEL 2 UNIVERSAL GUARANTEED PERSONAL INCOME Definition of UGI Forms of UGI History of UGI Unresolved Dilemmas of UGI 3 MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE PERSONAL WEALTH Definition of MAW Abbreviated History Distribution and Taxation of Wealth Possibilities Class Warfare 4 DEMOCRACY Majority Rule Qualitative Democracy Quantitative Democracy 5 SOCIETAL VARIATIONS Limits on Both MAW and UGI Limit on MAW, No Limit on UGI Limit on UGI, No Limit on MAW No Limit on Either MAW or UGI 6 JUSTIFICATIONS Anthropological Philosophical Psychological Religious Human Rights 7 SOCIOECONOMIC DEMOCRACY AND ISLAM Prophet Muhammad Islami Economics 8 INCENTIVE AND SELF-INTEREST Incentive from MAW Incentive from UGI Work Ethic 9 PRACTICAL APPROXIMATIONS Approximations to UGI Approximations to MAW Approximations to Democracy 10 FINANCIAL BENEFITS AND COSTS No Bound on Either MAW or UGI Bound on MAW, No Bound on UGI Bound on UGI, No Bound on MAW Bounds on Both MAW and UGI 11 PHYSICAL REALIZABILITY, FEASIBILITY, AND IMPLEMENTATION Voting Procedure Administrative Technicalities Legal Technicalities Economic Analysis Political Considerations Is It Possible? 12 RAMIFICATIONS Automation, Computerization, and Robotization Budget Deficits and National Debts Bureaucracy Children Crime and Punishment Development Ecology, Environment, and Pollution Economic Theory, Sorry State Thereof Education Elderly Feminine Majority Inflation International Conflict Intranational Conflict Involuntary Employment Involuntary Unemployment Labor Strife and Strikes Medical and Health Care Military Metamorphosis Natural Disasters Planned Obsolescence Political Participation Poverty Racism Sexism Untamed Technology Welfare Conclusion APPENDIX: EXERCISES FOR THE INTERESTED BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX The website of the Center for the Study of Democratic Societies (CSDS) at <http://www.centersds.com> further describes the book and presents a (not too) "Brief Introduction to Socioeconomic Democracy". The site also proudly presents courageous comments about the book by Ikram Azam (PFI), Sohail Inayatullah (WFSF), Philippe Van Parijs (BIEN), Sam Pizzigati (Maximum Wage and Too Much), the late Robert Theobald (Futurist and so much more), and Arnoldo Ventura (Special Advisor on Science and Technology to PM of Jamaica), for which this writer will ever be, and humanity will eventually be, most grateful. 3. Book reviewers sought. It is this writer's belief that this planet desperately needs a new, improved, and fundamentally democratized economic system and he so suggests in the book. Therefore, we seek thoughtful book reviewers from around the world to consider the ideas of SeD and how they might be appropriately applied in their particular "corner" of the world, with its particular mix of needless, painful, and costly politicosocioeconomic problems. If interested, please respond first to this writer and request a review or examination copy from Praeger. We would also appreciate copies of any reviews of the book and where these reviews appear. 4. Teachers to consider using book as text sought. For precisely the same reason outlined above, we seek thoughtful teachers ranging from undergraduate through postgraduate work, to consider using the book as a primary or supplementary text and as a starting point for much needed further research on the subject. Please contact us expressing your interest as well as Praeger requesting a descriptive brochure and an examination copy. The book is appropriate for courses in economics, political science, sociology, political philosophy, utopian studies, futures studies, psychology, and, most importantly, democratic socioeconomic engineering. 5. Peaceful, determined, disgusted, and democratic citizen-revolutionaries sought. Again, for the same reasons mentioned above, we respectfully submit that all thoughtful and concerned people, regardless of present profession, political persuasion, religion, race, sex, or circumstances will find the ideas of Socioeconomic Democracy stimulating, encouraging, and productive. The book is available from Praeger, e-Amazon, and e-Barnes & Noble, and certainly should be available in your friendly local bookstore and library. 6. Praeger/Greenwood (publisher of book). The Praeger/Greenwood address is: Praeger Publishers Greenwood Publishing Group 88 Post Road West PO Box 5007 Westport, CT 06881-5007 <http://www.greenwood.com> 7. Center for the Study of Democratic Societies introduced. The Center for the Study of Democratic Societies (CSDS) is a research and educational institution (founded in 1969) dedicated to the examination and explanation of the properties and possibilities of democratic societies and democratic socioeconomic systems. You are cordially invited to visit our website at <http://www.centersds.com>, where you will find much more about the theory of Socioeconomic Democracy, a description of our book on the subject published by Praeger/Greenwood, an invitation to our Study Programs in Socioeconomic Democracy, and a much needed break from all this serious stuff on our Lighter Side pages. We are also available for a variety of presentations about Socioeconomic Democracy, from brief lectures to extended workshops. If you find any of the material there (or here, for that matter) of interest, we would be happy to hear from you and explore future possibilities with you. We also intend to make a major update to our links page and invite anyone so interested to exchange links with us. If you have friends or e-lists that you think might be interested in this message, please feel free to forward it to them. Thank you. Most sincerely, Robley E. George, Director Center for the Study of Democratic Societies http://www.centersds.com
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