Private Coop?

Miscellaneous General
1

This is an interesting case where an abandoned factory was allegedly re-started from the bottom up by workers, rather than from the top down from an entrepreneur. Marxist may hold this as a victory for a worker owned and democratically run coop. I see this more as the market at work, since it was spontaneous collaboration between the workers. There may have been a worker-entrepreneur that got the ball rolling. However, there seems to be a disdain for private property.

Can a democratically run coop exist in a libertarian world of private property and free markets? Can private property be deemed public property? Or can private property be democratically divided between workers, by the same token democratically aliened from a worker.

“Workers want to work, to feed their families. Some of the most powerful new working-class leaders in Argentina today discovered solidarity on a path that started from that essentially apolitical point. Whether you think the movement’s lack of a leading ideology is a tragic weakness or a refreshing strength, the recovered companies challenge capitalism’s most cherished ideal: the sanctity of private property.”

http://www.newstatesman.com/south-america/2007/08/argentina-workers-movement

2

If it is entirely voluntary sure. As for it being declared “public property” the question is public in what sense? You can open your house to anyone you like, even anyone who asks if that is your desire. It is still your house.

3

What exactly makes an entrepreneur less bottom-up or more top-down than a bunch of workers?

4

The entrepreneur is in charge and hires his workers. Whereas the workers vote for the mangerial role.

5

I don’t see how coops are anti-market. They’re voluntary associations.

6

Shareholders vote for managerial roles in a corporation as well. That does not make their control any less top-down.

What happens after the managers fire all the lazy workers in the coop?

7

Rightly so. I use the top down, bottom up for pedogogical reasons. There is a plethora of combinations including shareholders, entrepreneurs, mangers, workers, some playing multiple roles.

I would conjecture if the managers fire all the lazy workers, if the lazy workers outnumbered the mangagers, they can democratically fire the managers.