About this project
This project is for an upcoming book with a working title of Microcapitalism: A Small Business Manifesto.
The project will run for only 29 days, from the Ides of March to the day before our income taxes are due here in the US.
Microcapitalism is a an economic system based on small property and small government, about keeping productive property - capital - in the hands of as many private citizens as possible. Capitalism, in its current form, allows for the concentration of capital in the hands of a few; socialism places it in trust for the people in the hands of a few government officials.
Microcapitalism is therefore a third way of approaching how we define our economic system.
Read an excerpt from the first chapter draft here!
Click here to see our alternate music video promo!
An April 2009 Rasmussen Reports survey found that Americans under age 30 were split almost evenly when asked about what economic model they preferred. 37% said they preferred capitalism, 33% said they preferred socialism, and 30% were undecided. A February 2010 Gallup poll found that despite divided views on socialism and capitalism, Americans from both ends of the political spectrum overwhelmingly support small business and entrepreneurs. Such results show a need for a new model that better reflects our values, other than the traditional choice of socialism and capitalism.
I have met a number of business owners and employees who define themselves as capitalists, but must quickly differentiate themselves from the exploitive capitalists in large corporations. Microcapitalism is a label that makes such a distinction automatically. It is more socially responsible, for it allows for more responsible, independent, and enterprising citizens.
Here is an article on Microcapitalism I wrote last year.
This isn’t some weighty academic work about what society must do. It’s not a pie in the sky dream of a revolution. It’s not some pitiful plea to boycott Walmart. It’s not some agrarian call for three acres and a cow. It’s not lecture hall material on subsidarity. This is common sense explanation with a call to action to everyone, everywhere – no matter where you are in life or in the economic food chain.
I’ve been working on this book for over a year, but will finish it in the next 30 days. Whether we reach the goal or not, the book will be available on April 15 on the Amazon Kindle. Even if you don’t have an ebook reader, you’ll be able to read it on your pc, Iphone, ipod and Ipad. That’s great, but it is certainly not going to be available to the widest possible audience.
This is where I need your help. If we can raise $2,000 by April 14, I will be a real, physical copy of the book available, a few weeks after the Kindle edition comes out. If we don’t raise the funds by then, I’ll have to delay printing the physical copy of the book until a later date.
If we want this in print by the November elections, we need to raise the money now.
Even if we do raise $2,000, there is another goal. If $8,000 is raised by April 14, I’ll release a PDF copy of the book for FREE under a Creative Commons license. There will then be no excuse for anyone to be unaware of these ideas. If even more than $8,000 is pledged, it will open a great many doors to promoting this book to people everywhere. Your pledge is an investment in our future – far more valuable than a high-finance gamble on the stock market.
If we raise more than $8,000... well, it will open a great many doors to spreading the word via advertising and additional promotions.
I'll be very busy writing the book over the next month, but you can all meet and discuss the idea on the Microcapitalism Facebook page.
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
6
Backers
$112
pledged of $2,000 goal
Funding Canceled
Funding for this project was canceled by the project creator on April 10, 2010.
Pledge $1 or more
Thank you for your support! For donating, head over to the updates section and get download links to the music video in MP4 and DVD ISO formats. Also, find out where to get the MP3 of the background song, "Better than Money" for free!
Pledge $5 or more
For pledging at least $5, you'll receive a 20% off coupon to Eternal-Revolution.com where the book, as well as my other products, are available.
Pledge $10 or more
For anyone who pledges $10, you'll receive the 20% off coupon code and a PDF copy of the book. Unless we reach our $8,000 additional goal, the PDF copy will ONLY be available to backers who pledged $10 or more.
Pledge $25 or more
For anyone who pledges $25 or more, you get the coupon, the PDF, and a signed copy of the physical book when it comes out. This includes shipping anywhere in the world!
Pledge $50 or more
I'm so certain you'll want to share this book after reading it, that for pledges of $50 or more, you get all of the above and and additional copy of the book, for a total of 2 signed copies.
Pledge $75 or more
For pledges of $75 or more, you will not only receive the books, PDF, and coupon, but also a Microcapitalism T-shirt (the same design I am wearing in the video).
Pledge $100 or more
For pledges of $100 or more, you will have your name listed in a special section in the back of the book, and become part of the legacy. Your name (or that of your company or organization) will remain there for as long as my estate controls the copyright of this book, some 70 years after my death. You will also receive a t-shirt, 2 copies of the book, the pdf copy and the coupon.
Pledge $150 or more
Pledges of $150 or more will receive all of the above rewards, and I will send a copy to their representative in the US House, the US Senate, and their Governor (so 3 copies to their government representatives). International backers can choose one head of state or government official in their country to receive a book.
Pledge $200 or more
If you pledge $200 or more, I will personally call you and thank you, and you can have a private question and answer session with me about the book. If you have a group, you can put me on speakerphone. And of course, you get all the other rewards mentioned above.
Pledge $250 or more
If you pledge $250 or more, an additional 3 books will be sent to 3 U.S. government officials of your choice, plus all of the above rewards. If we end up sending several copies to the same representatives, that's a good thing, they have lots of staffers. And just maybe multiple copies will get their attention.
Pledge $500 or more
For a $500 or larger pledge, you get all off the above rewards plus an additional 23 signed copies (for a total of 25 signed copies of the book). This is a great option for a book group, class, or club.
Pledge $1,000 or more
For pledges of $1000 or more, you get all of the above, plus an additional 24 t-shirts (for a total of 25 shirts). This way your group can have matching t-shirts and signed copies of the book! Don't forget, you can also have the group's name put in the back of the book instead of an individual.
Pledge $1,500 or more
For $1500, you will receive an additional 100 copies of the book direct from the printer when they are available! This means they won't be signed, but you will receive your copies the same time I receive mine - so you will get them a bit earlier than everyone else. Give them to employees, co-workers, or hand them out at the unemployment office. This particular reward is only available in the US. You will also receive all the other rewards: 25 signed copies of the book, A PDF copy on the day of release, 25 T-shirts, 3 copies to your US government representatives, 3 additional copies sent to US government officials of your choice, Your name in the book, and a 20% off coupon for Eternal-Revolution.com.
Project By
Connected as Paul Nowak (218 friends)
Paul Nowak is an author, award-winning board game designer, and father of 5 children. His books include "The Inconvenient Adventures of Uncle Chestnut" and "The Way of the Christian Samurai."
