its not just private ownership of productive assets that are the problem. while state ownership is better at building up industries it does nothing intrinsically to advance the democracy of society or the liberation of the working class.

private enterprise’s problem is not just that it is inefficient, but that it is exploitative. as is true for market allocation. markets are inefficient and exploitative and those who live in market systems are more than wage slaves, theyre market slaves. what determines whether agriculture is used for food, feed or fuel? markets. whether we grow tobacco or food? markets? whether we have singlepayer or mass public transportation? markets and they are geared towards private consumption and away from public and certainly away from democratic decision-making.

we dont need “separation” from the private sector. we need it and markets abolished. society should own and democratically manage productive assets via workers and consumers councils/assemblies.

this also requires us to address how labor is divided and structured? we could abolish private enterprises and market allocation and keep corporate divisions of labor but that will make our progress a sham since a minority will monopolize the skills and information needed to make sound decisions. as is, 20% dominate skills and information needed to coordinate the economy. that means 80% of us just obey orders and are too tired at the end of the day to participate in making decisions. we need to balance out workplace tasks to equitably distribute them on the basis of what one wants to do, is qualified to do and is available to do. this may require putting extra attention on training and education but if we want to have a formal and functioning democracy then people must have the skills and information needed to participate in formulating options and choosing what they feel is the best solution.