The Commercial and the Civic
One way of seeing the choice we face in this coming election is a choice between the commercial and the civic. The following chart highlights some of the differences.
| The Commercial | The Civic | |
|
Key value |
Ownership |
Membership |
|
The development of the civic |
When our country was founded, only property owners could vote, the commercial dominated the civic | In time, we changed to citizenship, not ownership, as the criterion for voting |
| The basis of our life together | Property relations | Human relations |
| The role of government | To protect property and property owners | To protect citizens and civic rights |
| The role of public administration | The management of property; guided by the criteria of efficiency | The organization of people, guided by civic norms of reciprocity and moral equality |
| The purpose of business | To make a profit | To provide goods and services |
|
The misery of workers |
Ignores them as belonging to another “world” and focuses on trading of commodities. | Includes them as citizens of same generation |
|
The environment |
Treats the biosphere as property. Ignores what cannot be priced. | Treats the biosphere as a living system that needs protection. |
|
Meaning of citizenship |
Increase property accumulation A ”productive” person |
Participate in civic conversations An “engaged” person |
| View of elections | The advertising of one’s “property” (what I can do for you.) | The advertising of one’s capacity to represent the hopes of citizens (What we can do together.) |
| How to win elections | Similar to selling products: more advertising increases sales | Similar to winning debates: better reasons increase support |
- · See: Civilizing the Economy: A New Economics of Provision (Cambridge University Press, 2010)
