social inequities in a self-organizing world

[Harrison Owen]

Bui said:" Many people will agree that we live in a self-organizing world
and even (for some reluctantly) that self-organization is the most
"efficient" way of organization. At the same time they will say that this is
also the basis of capitalism with all it's problems: social inequities, 
uncontrolled financial markets and the destruction of the environments. 
They will say that this shows why you can't remove all controls and why 
OST has the potential of just reinforcing power imbalances."


Well functioning self organizing systems achieve that status in part through
clear communications internally and with their environment. They falter when
those communications are muffled and/or distorted. The market along with all
other systems is self-organizing -- but our problem of the moment is that
somebody (or some several somebodies) was trying to organize a
self-organizing systems for their own self interest (lack of transparency
etc). Never works very well, and in our case, it was almost a disaster. 

Not incidentally, I would suggest that Capitalism is only one interpretation
of the market. There are some other interpretations -- but I rather think
capitalism works better than most, flawed though it is. And I also think OST
is a natural corrective to a flawed market (and all other situations where
somebody is trying to organize a self-organizing system). We are given the
opportunity to see how productive and fun it can be in a fully functioning
self organizing system. And it all works well so long as we do not try to
organize it ourselves. So what about all the current efforts to "reform"
(re-organize) the market? I am pretty sure they will ultimately fail and
also be replete with all sorts of un-intended consequences. However, to the
extent that these reform efforts support passion, responsibility and
transparency (openness) -- sounds good to me in the short term.

Having said all of the above, I think it well to remember that everything
under the sun (all systems human and otherwise) has a beginning, middle and
end. They come and go. They live and die. Chaos, confusion, and conflict are
essential to the process -- and in their absence the process (our lives)
reaches equilibrium and it is all over. Doubtless we could have suggested a
better way had the creator of the universe consulted us, but that didn't
happen. Speaking personally, I must say I totally enjoy this adventure, but
I may be a little strange.

Harrison 

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com 
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.ho-image.com 
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Bui
Petersen
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 12:01 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: social inequities in a self-organizing world

Hi everyone,

I have been absent for a while due to bathroom renovations and an 
overload of work and I didn't get around to thank everyone who provided 
feedback to my first Open Space. Thank you everyone.

I did manage to find time to read Wave Rider. Thanks you, Harrison, for 
a very good book. Not surprisingly, I agreed with most of it. I am 
curious though how you would respond to the following consideration.

Many people will agree that we live in a self-organizing world and even 
(for some reluctantly) that self-organization is the most "efficient" 
way of organization. At the same time they will say that this is also 
the basis of capitalism with all it's problems: social inequities, 
uncontrolled financial markets and the destruction of the environments. 
They will say that this shows why you can't remove all controls and why 
OST has the potential of just reinforcing power imbalances.

I like having discussions  but in this case, my argumentation could 
improve. Any thoughts, anyone?

Bui

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