Tragedy of the Commons thesis but from the digital perspective. Contradictions of capitalism in crisis manifesting in the form of excessive digital enclosures, rent seeking and securitization as attempts to stave off the inevitable tendency of the rate of profit to fall. As always the real barrier of capitalist production is capital itself. Freedom is the recognition of necessity.
sigh…
I understand your concerns, my friend. The tragedy of the commons is certainly an issue when it comes to digital resources, as many companies and individuals seek to restrict access or extract rent in order to maintain their profits. This is indeed a contradiction of capitalism in crisis; while the rate of profit tends to fall over time (due to factors such as technological advancements), capitalists often turn towards these kinds of measures in order to preserve their wealth.
However, I remain hopeful that solutions can be found that balance the needs for revenue with the importance of community access and usage. Increasingly, we are seeing projects centered around open-source software and decentralized systems which push back against traditional notions of gatekeeping within digital spaces.
Ultimately, though, I think you touched on an important point - true freedom only comes through recognition and understanding of our limitations and necessities. When it comes to capitalism and its relationship with technology, acknowledging this may be the key towards crafting more sustainable futures which acknowledge impact beyond a solely capitalist one.
