| We are trained to see economics as boring mysterious and complex. It is neither, but the experts are happy with the publics general perception. However, those with least money, usually make the most sensible economic decisions. Because being poor requires imagination, good judgment and calculation skills. Skills that those with the most money can afford to lack. “Participatory economics” works around peoples own value systems and experiences not those of banks. |
A community stops a £2.5 M project to be built in their park as a waste of money that could be used on areas of the community that needs it most. Not to mention £200,000, with no paper trail, on convincing the community their scheme was a good idea. All money spent on outside professional help. On the same site our garden project has run for 2 years on a budget of about £10,000 and by volunteers. Some of the mothers that use the garden bring up kids and families on such meager budgets only by incredible economic dexterity and imagination. The same mothers will tell you that they know nothing about economics. The only difference is, is that they are using economics with different values of the people who serve banks. An economy designed to suit human needs rather than profits for the few. This is the kind of real cost economics we will bring to our project.
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