Reply To: Words
Hi Alan,
“Is there anything wrong in saying collective or social ownership, rather than always using common ownership? Are there better alternatives?”
This question really caught me. In capital formations, okay, society, normalising judgements attach themselves to word use: deeming one expression legitimate over another. For example ‘collective’ is considered negative in its use- and ‘community’ is preferred over it. ‘Community’ becomes more legitimised in its usage as it fits with social/community as capital. The terms ‘collective or social ownership’ are the villains in capital thinking as any full on liberal associates them with communism, socialism; and so seeks to ‘abnormalise’ (I know that is a suspect spelling) their usage in popular political speech- subordinating them to impolite usage.
I for one use them proudly ‘collective and social’ ownership- my least preferred term that has taken traction is social capital: now who owns that, and do we have to pay to use it!
Regards
L.B
