Distributism Basics: The Science of Economics

There seems to be a theory, popular among the critics of distributism, that distributists either don't understand the science of economics, or that we don't believe economics is a science. To listen to them, we don't accept the laws of supply and demand, scarcity, the theory of diminishing returns, or the many other aspects of the science of economics. This, of course, is nonsense.

Distributism Basics: Distributism vs. Capitalism

"Distributism is just like capitalism, except that we differ on the nature of man, the purpose of economic activity, usury, the maximization of token wealth, the role and legitimate exercise of the state, empirical economics, the meaning of subsidiarity, subordination of economics to the higher sciences, our ends, our means, what money is, what wealth is, what a free market is, production and consumption, regulation, free trade,
the moral and divine law in the social and economic order,
and, yes, what liberty means."

- Richard Aleman

Distributism Basics: Distributism vs. Socialism

In the late 19^th and early 20^th Centuries, three alternatives were proposed to alleviate the conditions of the working classes under capitalism: distributism, Keynesian capitalism, and socialism. Distributists are sometimes accused of being socialists, or at least quasi-socialists. This article will examine the nature of socialism and how it is completely incompatible with distributism.

Distributism Basics: A Brief Introduction

For those people who have just heard about distributism, whether they are just curious, or doubtful, I would like to present a few articles that run through the basics in simple terms. I'd like to be able to answer some of the claims presented by our detractors, but those answers must be understood by what distributism actually is, rather than what our detractors claim it to be.

Guilds and Distributism

Here is an interesting discussion about Guilds and Distributism

Another Look at Mondragón

From time to time, some of our readers have suggested that we should not use the Spanish cooperative corporation, Mondragón, as an example of distributist principles in action. The main point of this suggestion is that Mondragón has grown too big to truly be an example of distributism in the world today. I have always agreed with this point, and have responded that it would not be so big in a truly distributist society. However, because of the principles that guide their business operations, I have always felt that it does serve as an example of how distributism can work with larger scale industrial types of businesses. With the news of Mondragón's largest cooperative, Fagor, filing for bankruptcy, it is time to discuss a harsh reality with our readers.

No Mo' Mojo

The “Great Recession” officially ended in June of 2009. However, the last four years have provided precious little to show this. If you count those who have given up looking for work, the unemployment rate is still near where it was when the recovery supposedly began. How exactly can you claim an economic recovery has occurred when the economic situation of the populace at large has not seen it?

Creating a Life That Reflects Your Values and Satisfies Your Soul

By Bill Watterson, the creator of Calvin and Hobbes.

Creating a Life That Reflects Your Values and Satisfies Your Soul

Distributism and the Franchise

Back in April, McDonald's announced it was considering offering their breakfast menu all day. What has this to do with Distributism? It reveals an incompatibility of the franchised outlet with the distributist model.

Behind the Government Shutdown

The shutdown of the U.S. government on 1 October, 2013 is a real problem. The problem is not so much the shutdown itself, but what it represents and what it reveals about our government and those entrusted to exercise its power. Whether you blame the Republicans for insisting on tying portions of the Affordable Care Act to funding the government, or you blame the Democrats for being willing to shut down the government rather giving the average citizen as much consideration as they gave corporations, the problems go deeper than that. They reveal a fundamental disconnect of both parties from those they claim to represent, and some of the consequences for allowing a government to get so bloated, so encroached into so many aspects of our lives.

Consequences

This article was originally published by

The Distributist Review

on 23 July, 2013

Almost no one denies that there were serious problems with getting sufficient access to health care services when the president’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, frequently referred to as “Obamacare,” took over the political scene. The consequences of not addressing these problems were dire, we were told, and something needed to be done. There was much criticism from all sides about the solutions offered, and the willingness of one side to negotiate and compromise with the other. While the Democrats promised us that the results of this secret bill, the details of which we couldn’t see until it was passed, would be wonderful, Republicans, Libertarians, and the pundits who promote their ideas, spent most of their time criticizing Obamacare rather than explaining how their own proposed solutions would help the common American subject.

Practical Distributism and the Zombie Apocolypse

This article was originally published by

The Distributist Review

on 20 February, 2013