Seth Godin: Build a new one

Seth Godin says to Build a new one

Entrenched cultural organizations and icons feel more permanent than they are. Network effects, brand power and the status quo can seduce us into believing that we’re stuck with what we have, but things are rarely as permanent as they appear.

…

Nothing much changes until someone cares enough to build an alternative.

Emphasis Mine

Such naivete! There are institutions that have the backing of the State with its instruments of coercion and propaganda. These institutions are essential to the current power structures. One cannot simplify replace without expecting a violent backlash.

Hotels can be replaced by AirBNB. Taxis by Uber and Lyft. These institutions are not essential to the preservation of Capitalism. Capital is merely being reallocated to different sectors chasing higher profits.

What Godin describes is dual power. During the Russian revolution, dual power existed from February until November 1917. Dual power currently exists in Venezuela. As Lenin wrote:

What is this dual power? Alongside the Provisional Government, the government of bourgeoisie, another government has arisen, so far weak and incipient, but undoubtedly a government that actually exists and is growing—the Soviets of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies.

These dual organs of state power in Russia and Venezuela were able to exist because there existed military support that protected them. Dual power institutions without sufficient military support have a very short lifespan.