Women, slaves, and the poor were excluded from the democratic process.

But anyway, yes something needs to be done about China, after all, it's likely it's going to replace the USA as the main hegemonic power during the following century.

www.ica.coop , then no one needs to be fucked up at all;)

So then, how did that comment have any relevency towards China and it's human rights record, not to mention the global capitalist system which will still exist while you are in your nice little hippy/crusty communes with wool over your eyes and fingers in your ears going "la la la, not listening", eh?

woah, need any help with that chip on your shoulder? i guess it must be pretty heavy?

regardless of whether co-operatives themselves are a useful tool in increasing human rights and dignity and helpful in dismantling the corporate capitalist machine- what solutions are you proposing?

what makes you think that the people who you consider "hippies in communes" aren't fighting to do stuff in the outside world at the same time as living a viable alternative?

with respect, i don't think you really know what you are talking about. i know loads of people engaged in all kinds of projects who are working co-operatively with people of varied backgrounds and nationalities to come together to do things for themselves (for example grow their own food on allotments)- i know this is happening all over the world as well as china.

what's wrong with actually getting on with making a better world?

again, i ask you- what are you doing? what's your solution?

...that "joining a cooperative" is all that is required to ensure that "no one needs to be fucked up at all"

Whether or not that was the intention of that comment, I am sure that a lot of activists reading this will agree it will take a lot more than just that to ensure "no one needs to be fucked up at all".

"what makes you think that the people who you consider "hippies in communes" aren't fighting to do stuff in the outside world at the same time as living a viable alternative?"

I don't think that. The more people on board the better, although at the same time I must raise the issue that the only people who are capable of living that "viable alternative" are those who are at least of a lower-middle-class background, where they can afford to dispense with the evils of capitalism by "opting out", either that or they have middle class family members supporting them. Either way SOMEONE ends up "slaving for the man" on their behalf. At the present time it it just not an option for the vast majority of society, who have to rent their homes from landlords, and work ordinary jobs for compaies which are far from angels when it comes to exploitation of workers and/or regards to the environment. In other words, the world outside of the so-called "activist ghetto".