[Ecommerce] A model for consumer cooperative e-commerce

[Richard Auld]

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Somebody or something will Control the network.  Be sure it's consumers!
  The WISdom Network's member participative design will try out e-Liberate =
for on line documentation of Roberts Rules deliberations and decisions.

  The WISdom Proposal at WISdomProposal.tripod.com presents the outlines of=
 a virtual private network service model to support a nation to world wide =
internet consumers' cooperative.  This network's content and services would=
 be controlled by the member/owners, and each member's private information =
would be maintained in an encrypted MINE for members' privacy protection an=
d for extensive personalization of all network services.

  The WISdom Co-op's Network makes available a directory and catalog of all=
 consumer goods and  services, with offering information details required f=
rom producers and providers made client resident in "Virtual Specialties Ma=
rkets" for fast Search, ReSearch, Analysis, and immediate response.  All of=
ferings may be fully compared by features, ingredients, member ratings, pri=
ces, etc, etc.

  Responsible production and consumption is to be promoted on this network.=
  Recent research indicates that we affluent Americans shop for the experie=
nce, not for necessities.  This trend is countered by the WISdom Network.

  The WISdom Network can be developed and distributed as Open Source subscr=
iption services, and this possibility has been suggested to Sun, Novell, Re=
d Hat and others, but these developers require evidence of prospective memb=
er interest. The WISdom Foundation and/or Co-op needs to be formed to direc=
t network consumer services.  Widespread participation of prospective and/o=
r actual members is needed to assure that this proposal represents the valu=
es and aspirations of all consumers.

  There are many issues that must be resolved by prospective members and fr=
anchisees.
A few of these are:
    * Is member control of all WISdom Network content necessary and practic=
al?
    * Is an encrypted MINE necessary?
    * Would the WISdom Network and Co-op protect consumers by its monopsoni=
c  ordering procedures and by exerting consumer pressure on corporations?
    * Is the proposed WISdom Prospector feature set adequate and inclusive =
of long term goals (WISPER, etc.) for this consumer network interface?
    * Why would local providers cooperate with the WISdom Network when it w=
ill be disintermediating much of their supply and all of their demand?
    * Are the proposal's facilities for Participative Design adequate?
    * Does the WISdom Proposal present a attractive, viable and sustainable=
 cooperative business that, because it is a trustworthy cooperative, can pr=
ovide highly personalized services that consumers will not trust to for-pro=
fit providers?
    * Does the proposal contain enough protection from local area franchise=
e monopoly abuse?

  Active WISdom Working Group members will decide the future of Internet co=
nsumer services.

  Richard J Auld
  Richard_Auld@sbcGlobal.net