From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Thu Jul 01 2004 - 13:12:42 BST
Hi Anthony,
> Ant McWatt comments:
> Anyway, as far as mixed economies are concerned, it seems that the MOQ
> emphasises democratic control at the “flattest levels” possible (as in
> Gav’s permaculture farm experience illustrated recently in his illuminating
> MOQ Discuss posts) irrespective of whether ownership is ultimately state or
> privately based. This is espoused by the American writer Mary Parker
> Follett and the only corporate business promoting MOQ business philosophy,
> Paradigm Research International (based near Washington D.C.). See a joint
> paper by Paradigm’s CEO/Managing Director (Dr Robert Harris) for BP at:
>
> http://www.indigodev.com/BPclim.html#busimod
Other than the reference above, I couldn't find anything on the web (using
Google search) about Paradigm Research or Dr. Robert Harris other than
Harris has a PhD in physics. Do you have, or can you lead me to, further
information about Harris and his organization?
Could you also furnish the full text of the letter from Pirsig to Harris
that you referred to?
> ‘The Metaphysics of Quality does definitely imply that, other things being
> equal, an employee-owned company is more moral than a privately owned
> company for the same reason that a democracy is more moral than a
> dictatorship. Both enhance intellectual freedom within a traditional
> static social pattern and thus are a higher form of evolution. Employee
> ownership also appeals to the old Indian idea of community of equals that
> allows maximum freedom for all.’ (Pirsig, 1991a)
Just in case you're wondering, I think employee ownership of corporations
is a fine idea. But, I ask myself: If such corporations are as financially
successful as companies with traditional corporate organization, why
aren't there more of them? On the list of 100 top companies by number of
employees, only Publix Supermarkets is employee-owned.
Any further information you can pass along would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Platt
MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archives:
Aug '98 - Oct '02 - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
Nov '02 Onward - http://www.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/summary.html
MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net
To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Thu Jul 01 2004 - 13:37:29 BST