How do we feel about social businesses?

[Aimless]

We're not very different, you and I: like me, you're keenly aware of the state of your society; and, like me, you can think of several changes you'd like to see in your society.

It's more than likely that we have several common goals pertaining to the betterment of our societies--and of the human condition in general. We probably differ, however, in our views on how to bring about those changes. What politics, and how? What's the ideal role of government? What's my role? How free should the free market be, and why? We can (and will ) fight about these questions forever.

But I find myself wondering: how do you feel about social businesses as means for bringing about positive social changes?

[Being]

Will you start us off with an example of a social business you feel is, or could be, successful?


edit: Are we talking about businesses that follow the seven principles?

These [1] were developed by Prof. Muhammad Yunus at the World Economic Forum in Davos, January 2009

• Business objective will be to overcome poverty, or one or more problems (such as education, health, technology access, and environment) which threaten people and society; not profit maximization

• Financial and economic sustainability

• Investors get back their investment amount only. No dividend is given beyond investment money

• When investment amount is paid back, company profit stays with the company for expansion and improvement

• Environmentally conscious

• Workforce gets market wage with better working conditions

• …do it with joy

[Aimless]

The first example that comes to mind is that of Grameen Bank, although I'm certain there will be no shortage of posts explaining why it is either not a social business or why it is a failure

[GGT]

The first example that comes to mind is that of Grameen Bank, although I'm certain there will be no shortage of posts explaining why it is either not a social business or why it is a failure

Didn't we already try this discussion on micro-lending with social purposes, at the other place?

[ar81]

Didn't we already try this discussion on micro-lending with social purposes, at the other place?

Current crisis can't be solved with lending, since there is scarsity of customers.

While it may be freaky (and I certainly think so), that might no longer matter. We've silently yet succinctly passed the barrier of man-made morality; we are no longer in any coherent way in charge of technological advancement. We've unleashed a self-propagating system of tech innovation that no one really controls anymore, inside or outside the system.

What began as consumerist R&D under the banner of REASON SERVING THE PLEASURES has evolved into something we can't really comprehend with values inherited from the baby boomers, or before. What is proper Facebook behaviour? People are making it up as they go along, and naturally many are trying to make money in the process. Technological advancement has out-paced legal adaptability, and we're stuck in a perpetual virtual Wild West until such time that gov'ments begin clamping down on Internet China-style in an effort to safeguard intellectual properties and propaganda. And that may well be immoral or amoral too.

It is to be expected that small-time businesses try to make money out of it while the going is hot, but they're a small sub-set of a much vaster phenomenon unfolding around us.

It is called unplanned unsustainable self-designed anarchy system, or in other words social improvisation with no vision in mind.

But the China example sort of highlights how even nationalist dictatorships can struggle to control information.

The entire world goes a bit in the direction of controlling information.

Spain is now struggling to control information too.
Spanish Presidency leading Europe towards Digital Inquisition?
IP law will be used to control people.

Brits are under tighter surveillance.
Britain is 'surveillance society'

Venezuela to outlaw violent video games, toys
Parents praise bill, but critics say it's more crucial to deal with real violence.

China: Blaming video game fails for murder defense
Lawyers for man convicted of killing police officers cited ‘Grand Theft Auto’

[Being]

Does a consumer cooperative qualify as a social business?

[Being]

In the U.S. we could use a socially structured infrastructure renovation business.

[Aimless]

As in businesses that fix roads etc? How would such a business relate to governments working with public funds? What obstacles are there?



Re. definitions, I'd like to keep it fairly open: businesses whose primary goal is to bring about some sort of social change rather than to increase dividends for shareholders.

[Being]

As in businesses that fix roads etc? How would such a business relate to governments working with public funds? What obstacles are there?

Working with public funds aspect wouldn't change. The contractors hired to do the work would not pocket any money other than their wages which would be market value. Any profits would be put back into the business or be used to lower future bids. The concept would be to provide services and jobs at lower rates supported by not paying dividends to investors. Investor's return is improved infrastructure, more taxpayers, happier society.

Re. definitions, I'd like to keep it fairly open: businesses whose primary goal is to bring about some sort of social change rather than to increase dividends for shareholders.

So the seven principles stand?

[Loki]

Such businesses can't survive without funding generated from individuals or businesses that run for-profit operations, which is not to say that for-profit businesses don't bring about social change.

[ar81]

If you have a sense of community and you improve it, it may seem small but it is more effective. If you donate, donate your time. If you donate money, people involved with your will go after your money. Not letting money to be involved, makes people to have sincere involvement.

Poor people need:
1.A job (job skills).
2.Food
3.Shelter
4.Mental health (poverty is usually a result of poor family dynamics or lack of healthy mental habits)
5.Motivation (being poor is depressing, they ned to be inspired to overcome obstacles)

[Dreadnaught]

To throw something else into the mix...why can't a social business be something that mines large data sets from social networks to bring people relevant products, political causes and possibly new real-life friends? A la Facebook? Is that a violation of privacy? Freakish? Progress?

[Nessus]

To throw something else into the mix...why can't a social business be something that mines large data sets from social networks to bring people relevant products, political causes and possibly new real-life friends? A la Facebook? Is that a violation of privacy? Freakish? Progress?

While it may be freaky (and I certainly think so), that might no longer matter. We've silently yet succinctly passed the barrier of man-made morality; we are no longer in any coherent way in charge of technological advancement. I'd place the watershed somewhere around the Manhattan project, others might disagree on the specific moment in time, but that's utterly irrelevant for our purposes. We've unleashed a self-propagating system of tech innovation that no one really controls anymore, inside or outside the system.

What began as consumerist R&D under the banner of REASON SERVING THE PLEASURES has evolved into something we can't really comprehend with values inherited from the baby boomers, or before. What is proper Facebook behaviour? People are making it up as they go along, and naturally many are trying to make money in the process. Technological advancement has out-paced legal adaptability, and we're stuck in a perpetual virtual Wild West until such time that gov'ments begin clamping down on Internet China-style in an effort to safeguard intellectual properties and propaganda. And that may well be immoral or amoral too.

It is to be expected that small-time businesses try to make money out of it while the going is hot, but they're a small sub-set of a much vaster phenomenon unfolding around us.

[GGT]

Google Democracy you mean.

[Dreadnaught]

Has technology ever been really controllable? Could morals and governments alone ever really stop the development of more technology?

[Being]

Has technology ever been really controllable? Could morals and governments alone ever really stop the development of more technology?

There is an ongoing experiment about controlling social technology.

Google quits censoring search in China

Let's see how China fares.

Mainland China service availability

[Being]

Let's see how China fares.

Mainland China service availability

Gah! We should have taken a screenshot while it was still in English.

[Nessus]

Has technology ever been really controllable? Could morals and governments alone ever really stop the development of more technology?

Maybe it's a combination of my illNess and romantic view of old mathematicians doing ballistics calculations, but before the 20th century the best minds were recruited by courts to serve courts, or consumed mostly by alchemic ambitions or similar follies.

[Dreadnaught]

There is an ongoing experiment about controlling social technology.

Google quits censoring search in China

Let's see how China fares.

Mainland China service availability

That's interesting! I hadn't seen that dashboard, that's kinda neat. I didn't realize the Chinese were banning photo sharing.

But the China example sort of highlights how even nationalist dictatorships can struggle to control information.

Maybe it's a combination of my illNess and romantic view of old mathematicians doing ballistics calculations, but before the 20th century the best minds were recruited by courts to serve courts, or consumed mostly by alchemic ambitions or similar follies.

Was Johannes Gutenberg recruited by courts?

[Nessus]

Was Johannes Gutenberg recruited by courts?

No, but the Twitterers of his generation were also kept in line by prohibitive costs. He's lionized for his part in bringing the New Testament to the masses, and that's cool, but it's not really comparable to a global system for generating smaller iPods. IMO, of course. I could well be wrong, Finagle knows I'm biased!

[Being]

Okay then, back to social businesses. Dread's idea might not be sustainable. Sustainability is one of the 7 principles.

[Being]

My idea kinda resembles the CCC.