Proutist Universal: Sustainable Socio-Economic Model for the Future

1. Proutist Universal

2. Prout is the abbreviation for the Progressive Utilization Theory - a new socio-economic model for a sustainable future. • It espouses and is based on: - economic self-sufficiency; - cooperatives; - environmental balance; and • - universal spiritual values. Proutist Universal

3. Growing Recognition “Prout’s cooperative model… sharing the resources of the planet for the welfare of everyone, deserves our serious consideration.” – Dr. Noam Chomsky, MIT “An important contribution to re-thinking the disastrous course of the current economic globalization.” – Hazel Henderson, economist Proutist Universal

4. Spiritual Base Consciousness Matter • All life is on the same journey • One origin - consciousness • One destination – consciousness • One family Proutist Universal

5. Neo-Ethics Lays a foundation for balanced progress in material and spiritual sphere. • The Macrocosmic Entity (Pure Consciousness) should be accepted as the ultimate goal in life. • There should be a happy balance between material consumption and psycho-spiritual consumption. Proutist Universal

6. Rational Distribution • Based on model of extended family • Guaranteed minimum requirements of life • Use remaining surplus as incentives for the meritorious to encourage greater social service • Fix reasonable ceilings on individual accumulation • Adjust minimum and maximum income upwards as economy improves • But constantly try to reduce the gap between incomes Proutist Universal

7. Our Present Distribution System? • Apple Computers paid CEO Steve Jobs $872 million, 30,000 times what the average Apple employee is paid each year! • The wealth of the world’s 200 richest people more than doubled during the last few years. • Question: Are you two times richer today than you were four years ago? Proutist Universal

8. Fairness = Productivity Ratio of Maximum to Minimum Income: • Mondragon, Spain: Three to One • Economist - Ravi Batra: Ten to One Proutist Universal

9. Private Cooperatives Key industry Three Tier IndustrialSystem Proutist Universal

10. Small Scale Private Business • High motivation • Efficient and adaptable management • No threat to society Proutist Universal

11. Medium Scale Cooperative Enterprises • Worker owned and managed • Democratic environment for healthy personal growth • Security of employment • Benevolent use of technology reduces working hours • Promote social and economic equality through decentralization of economic power • Today more than 100 million people are employed by cooperatives Proutist Universal

12. Large Industries Run by Local Government • Only local government can put into effect decentralized industries – block level planning • With key industries to be operated by local government • Brings work to the people (instead of people to work) • Provide essential infrastructure on no profit-no loss basis • Can adapt quickly to local needs and conditions • Keeps economy and vital resources in hands of local people • Environmentally responsible • Prevents concentration of economic power (state or private) Proutist Universal

13. Integration of Three Tier Industries Artists and fashion designers Textile cooperatives Public utilities produce nylon and cotton thread Proutist Universal

14. Economic Democracy Requirements: • Minimum requirements of life must be guaranteed • Increasing purchasing capacity must be guaranteed • Local raw materials will be used to create local industries to ensure full employment • Power to make all economic decisions in hands of local people • Commodities produced and distributed on basis of collective necessity • Outsiders must be strictly prohibited from interfering in the local economy Proutist Universal

15. Self-Sufficient Socio-Economic Zones Proutist Universal

16. McWorld -Negative Globalization • Domination by a few • Temporary prosperity occurs wherever conditions suit capital investment • When conditions change capital moves elsewhere • Successful economies rise and fall with increasing speed - some never rise at all Proutist Universal

17. Federation of Self-Sufficient Zones -Positive Globalization • First bring an end to negative globalization by creating self-sufficient economic zones • form zones on basis of economic, geographic and cultural similarities • e.g. Sarkar proposed 42 separate zones for India • Reunite the zones into federations after achieving economic parity • Ultimately one world federation can be formed Proutist Universal

18. Principles of Self-SufficientSocio-Economic Zones • Prout promotes self-sufficiency in the essentials of life • Trade in raw materials is a sign of a weak economy • Minimise imports of essentials – food, medicines • Avoid dependence on tourism – fickle • Avoid export of raw materials - value add before export • Export surplus and specialty goods • Barter trade wherever possible • Establish trade blocs between equally developed countries Proutist Universal

19. Semi-permeable trade border imports exports balance An Economy is a Living System • Self-sufficiency in the essentials of life • Regulated trade • Maintain internal economic balance despite fluctuating global economy Proutist Universal

20. No country has ever developed using free markets and free trade • Joseph Stiglitz, 2001 Nobel Prize, Economics, author of "Globlisation and its discontents". • "I have always been struck by the divergence between the policies that America pushes on developing countries and those practised in the US itself." • "Those in Mexico, Brazil, India and other emerging markets should be told a different message: do not strive for a mythical free-market economy which has never existed. Do not follow the encomiums of US special interests ...." • "The Guardian" London, 29/10/2003 Proutist Universal

21. Benefits of Self-Sufficient Zones • Economic security • Freedom from war • Maximum utilization of human and natural resources • Minimum impact on environment as a result of decentralization and diversification Proutist Universal

22. World Government • Needed to help form and protect self-sufficient economic zones • Initially only a law-making body • Limited executive power for maintaining peace • Controls world militia • Structure • 2 Houses • Lower house according to population • Upper house according to country Proutist Universal

23. Ideal Leadership ? • The world needs leaders with moral force, spiritual vision and courage to fight injustice and exploitation. • Prout calls such leaders “sadvipras”, a Sanskrit term which literally means “those with subtle mind”. • Those who have developed the positive qualities of all four psychological classes (worker, warrior, intellectual, merchant). • Anyone can become an ideal leader by setting a personal example of honesty, self-discipline, sacrificing spirit and dedication to the welfare of humanity. Proutist Universal

24. Sadvipras and Social Cycle • One psychological class always dominates • Each class succeeded by next class • Each phase begins with relief and innovation, ends with stagnancy and exploitation • Sadvipras act to shorten phase of exploitation, lengthen phase of benevolence Proutist Universal

25. Political Centralisation • Prout separates political power from economic power. • Political centralisation, economic decentralisation. • Political power is vested with ethical leaders .... • But .... economic power is vested with local people. • Government sets the rules and enforces them .... • But .... local people plan their strategy and play the game! Proutist Universal

26. Myth of Democracy • Myth: “Government of the people, by the people, for the people” • Reality: Government of the people, bythe millionaires, for the millionaires Proutist Universal

27. The Real Issue • Democracy is too weak to control the capitalist class • Democracy is unable to preserve fair play in economic and social life • All states are actually governed by groups Proutist Universal

28. The Real Issue Is the group benevolent or oppressive? Proutist Universal

29. For Now – Democratic Reforms • No political parties, all candidates are independent • Right to vote based on education and awareness • Candidates legally bound by election promises • Candidates chosen on basis of education, moral standard and service spirit • Independence of powers between legislature, executive, judiciary and audit/treasury • Directly elected strong executive head • Constitution should be amended to provide guaranteed purchasing power to all citizens Proutist Universal

30. For the Future –Government by Sadvipras • To establish and sustain economic democracy political power must be concentrated in benevolent hands • Needs to be powerful, knowledgeable, decisive and fair. Like a referee in a game of football • Not a one-man dictatorship – government by moralists • Independence of powers – independent executive, legislature, judiciary and audit/treasury • Greater protection of human rights (including social, cultural, economic) than political democracy Proutist Universal

31. The Fullest Expression ofFiner Human Qualities • Humanity’s existence is based on morality • Prout returns the moral element to our economic and political institutions • Healing the conflict between inner and outer • Giving scope for “the fullest expression of our finer human qualities” Proutist Universal

32. End Proutist Universal