Yesterday I found myself at the Bank of Ideas, a space claimed by Occupy London to discuss and imagine and plan for a fair, sustainable future.  I was there to take part in some discussions about the future of our economic system. 

As was to be expected there was some staunch anti-capitalist sentiment in the room and although named “Beyond Capitalism” I think it is fair to say that amongst the myriad of ideas there were also advocates of a system built upon ideas of capitalism.

A common criticism towards those – of whom I count myself among - was that we were unable to see beyond the current system.  The feeling amongst the anti-capitalists was that capitalism is rotten at the core and any expression of the ideas and system will be exploitative.  And so the evolution of the system, policy or regulatory changes would all fall short. It is time to scrap it all and start again.

I hope to evaluate the truth of these claims over the coming months.  It was interesting to me that no viable alternative was presented.    There were many aspirational ideas such as scrapping money and politics, underpinned by the belief that we could all pull together and work for each other.  Aspirations and hope are important but I could not see how these things were possible.

I have experienced anarchist spaces – they are fun when you are young but it can all get a bit chaotic – thinking festival carnage. Looking at some of the collectives and communities that started in the 60s and 70s, they flourish to begin with but it seems that things do not always last as the realities of human relationship and issues often related to power emerge.  These were only small communities so I cannot see there being scope for this working on a very large scale.

But I thought the space set up at the Bank of Ideas for dialogue, the cross pollination of ideas and imaginings can be a fruitful one and I think it is important within that to hold onto our diversity.  The things that connect us are our values and I hope they continue to be greater than our differences.  We all want a society that is fair, where no one slips through the gaps.  One that allows all people to fulfil their potential.  Recognising the root of the issues are usually within ourselves we want to live in a society where greed and power lust are tempered but there is freedom to create, express, pursue dreams and live well.

I felt energised to think outside the box.  To think about the changes that should happen over the next few years but to also dream about what world my grandchildren might be living in.