Is Capitalism the answer?

To get to a place where we have sustainability in macro and micro economics, I believe that we have two choices.

1. Global State control over everything, a total Communal State, otherwise known as communism.

or

2. Global free markets, free from government control but also free from monopolisation.

The problem with this thinking is that we would never submit to Communism, we live in a world consumed by materialism over quality of life. Therefore you can assume we must now rely on market forces. On capitalist economics to rescue us and create a sustainable global economy.

The problem with this, however, is that we already know that capitalism doesn't create equality. or does it?

Could it be possible that the tools we class as our steps of fairness actually crowd out equality. Could it be that free health care for all halts aspirational development. That the welfare state has now served its time and we need to look to fair open market privatisation.

We can clearly see that it isn't working perfectly in areas such as Energy and Media, but we overlook one thing. We are now in possession of more power than ever before. Through the internet we can communicate across the globe, do business across the globe, but we are also reengaging with our communities. We can produce our own market forces, create our own competition.

Imagine a world where micro and small businesses deliver growth. That is where we need to be heading and to get there we need to innovate.

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Is the Green Revolution just Pea Soup

I have been happily talking about the need for a radical shift towards a low carbon society. A greener and fairer society.

This is something I have believed in for as long as I can remember? A world that lives within it's own means and provides for all, regardless of race, creed, colour or status.

Recently the more I read the more I see the immoral taking control of this Green Revolution. Investors and cowboys making quick bucks from an emerging market.

We need to be sure what we want? If we want long term change for all, we need to step back and look at how we go about it. If each community starts to embrace this idea we can protect against the corrupt world we have now. Failing to do so will see the power held by fewer and fewer people for the detriment of more and more.

Let's get fairer and not let the cash cow cloud the reality.

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When the dust has settled...

Last week saw backlash and anger and now the courts have done their processing we may start to move forward.

For all the conversations around punishment and causes and a break down in Society there seems to me to be an elephant in the room. That elephant is the whole of society. Not just a hand full of poor neighbourhoods in a hand full of cities, but the wealthy and privileged are just as much to blame as those committing the violence. Me included and I would never class my self as privileged.

We live in a society driven by consumerism. Our economic growth over the last 20 years has been driven by the expanding middle class spending. Borrowing rose to improve ones possession list. The latest phone, a newer car, the latest fashion, all things we aspire to. Even the most liberal will recognise the growth in local food shops and organic food. This may have an ethical angle but how much of the behaviour is driven by trend and fashion.

So there is a bit of the looter in all of us because we all want better. We all want to improve. Whilst for some of us we are supported and encouraged and shown the right way, some people are forgotten about and it is down to the strength of those individuals to bring themselves out of their predicament. Blame the moral compass but we need to look at where this is pointing. When all we hold dear is ithis and 3D that, there is an underlying problem.

If we want a sustainable society, we cannot all be equals and we need people to have aspirations. However these must be accessible for all. How many "self made millionaires" went to Oxbridge or Eton? How many went to University full stop? Then you look at both front benches in the house of commons. Does that seem a sensible balance?

We are not all the same and therefore what is right for me is not right for my neighbour. Before we decide how to make these communities safer, can we please sit down and listen to these communities instead of telling them what to do. Surely it is that attitude that started the problems.

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Banks and the future

I have been speaking to a range of people recently on the future of money and in particular the future of finance. The media will tell us that banks are a spent force, but it would seem that actually Governments are a spent force. The threat of credit agencies down grading government ratings is not a step that will encourage them to spend.

So as a result where does that leave funding in the economy. Banks, were never going to be the catalyst. My one wish in all this is that we'd stop expecting them to suddenly open a sluice gate. We are just as much to blame as the Banks are. Ultimately they are controlled by their shareholders and always will be. The mutual movement has signs of hope in the retail sector. The sensible businesses that held true to their business models still have a vital role in the mortgage and saving market. The area that retail finance needs to focus.

But the driving question is growth. Growth will come from business and SME's will be dealt with by the Banks. This is their focus, and we shouldn't punish them for that. Good businesses will continue to get support.

But what about start ups, community enterprises, the big society, renewable energy, co-operatives. I heard a story the other day that the Co-Operative Bank had suggested a new business venture avoid using the Co-Operative model as they didn't understand it.

This world is specialist and not very profitable to big institutions. A call centre couldn't support the demands of micro business. They need coaching, mentoring and support, but as recent micro finance schemes show they can be profitable.

So instead of blaming big Banks, shouting at the Government or thinking we are without solution, we need to start thinking about money and finance differently. There is a new age upon us, an age where money will change in its meaning. We will not just look for interest rates, but for the value our savings can add. Let's start mobilising and stop waiting for a clunky overly complicated Government to tell us what to do.

Big Society Bank in Leeds? Maybe just a community focused mutual in Leeds!

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Can we really change?

I was at a climate change meeting yesterday where the challenge was put to the group to shift from a linear to a circular economy.

The challenges were made around market forces driving change and innovation and how cities can develop naturally as ecosystems.

In reality, the will always be a wasteful race. We have always been. Recycling has been around for years but is not in our nature. We are developed beings that will always be wasteful with the resources we have. We will be greedy and take resource from others.

Can we truly change how we behave and live? Do we have the courage to forget about self? Can you change?

Localism - Challenge or Opportunity

There are a whole raft of challenges floating around at the moment in terms of the local offering. Whether this is around LEPs, social enterprise developments around the "Big Society" or even the local stock exchange idea. It seems in politics we are desperate to make changes and put our stamp on a project and retain ownership. The idea of the big society is interesting as is the formulation of LEPs. There is no stipulated framework or booklet of guidelines. As a result we seem to struggle with this as a society. We have been told what to do and how to do it for so long we seem to rely on others to make decisions.
This is a unique opportunity for empowerment of individuals and communities to make a real difference and throw out the rule book. But let's not reform what we are trying to get rid of. We need to start again, build from the bottom up and engage with those looking for the change. We all see areas where change is needed whether it is local authority duplication, disengagement or crumbling communities. Now is the time to make your voice heard, take action and feel empowered. No rule book is an opportunity not only for those in power to make radical changes but for those who feel they have no voice to find one.