Human nature
Is it in human nature to participate?
You may find some of the ideas contained in participatory economics a bit odd at first. And by no way is it a flawless, closed, system. Parecon is a growing and developing idea, and its participatory quality opens it up to scrutiny and criticism. Much of the criticism leveled against Parecon, even from the left, relies on the notion that people are fundamentally greedy and it is in their nature to grab all they can. Sure people are capable of terrible things, but they are also capable of great and beautiful things. Most of the atrocities perpetrated around the world are brought on by circumstances that force people to act out of their natural character, which is generally good. We are educated, in the west anyway, to believe in the opposite. The reason for this is that, in order to accrue large armies, corporations, and protectionist business practices, we need to be frightened by peoples "human nature" which is "to steal all that they can get their hands on"
If this were true, why then, are we not out in the streets stealing all that we can get our hands on? Because we do not normally go about doing these sort of things. Some people do, but most of us don't; and this includes all peoples from other countries and cultures.
In order that businesses, corporations, and powerful states can do what they want - blow people up, form massive armies to kill people, and steal their gold, possessions, land or what ever else they fancy,the need our complicity
We, who give warmongers the money to do it (through taxes) need to believe that these people who "we" kill at their behest, and who, it must be remembered have the same genes and human nature as me and you: by nature are bad; want to steal everything we own -therefore need killing to protect us from them?
What in our human nature allows us to believe this bunk? Or DO we believe this? I think not.
Circumstances
Create a set of conditions that are equal to the task and people will act accordingly.
If you wish people to kill,then train them well, feed them well, pay them well; use laws, God, and Mammon in persuading them to hate the enemy of your creation and that part of human nature will serve your needs.
If you wish to do the opposite, encourage and facilitate cooperation and tolerance, respect for others' cultures and traditions, fair trade and common need. You will create the conditions that appeal to the good part of human nature. Which is reasonable to believe - is the strongest part .
The species, Homo sapiens, has survived for so long on the planet through cooperation, whereas the stronger and more powerful of other species have died out. It is also fortunate that all the great empires have followed the same fate. And hopefully the one we are challenging now will be no different. We need to create a vision for a future that will encourage the participation in its downfall.
I believe Parecon will be a useful tool in rebuilding this future.