Last week, we mentioned how the UK Labour Party is not only planning to embrace mutualism, but is thinking on how to apply the idea to public services.

In the same article’s comments field, we find a challenge to that idea:

“Mutualism and the co-operative movement have always had my respect and support as democratic, humane and sensible ways to run commercial operations.

That is where I draw a firm line. The ‘bright thunk’ of applying mutualism in any shape or form in the public sector is appalling, not appealling. It assumes that what works in one set of conditions can apply it totally different circumstances. Beware the Law of Unintended Consequences!

Part of the appalling legacy of Reagonomics and Thatcherism is this tendency to see every subject through the lens of commercialism.

Public bodies do no, should not, and will not effectively function subject to commercial thinking, mutualism or not. Citizens are NOT redefinable down to mere ‘consumers’ or ‘customers’ The relationships of citizen to public servant, to public representative, to electorate. are not those of customer to shop assistant to manager to shareholder. Confusing two vastly different set of power, control, motivation, situational and operational relationships is crass naivety.

Assume you mutualised/ disguised privatised your local council garbage sector. Motivation prompts the members. to cut costs and boost earnings by changing to shiftwork collections – unintended consequences – roaring trucks outside your house at 3.00am! Hostile voters, conflict all round, Stasis. Death of mutualisation idea.”