WHAT'S A COOPERATIVE?
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Even though COOPERATIVES have been around for about 175 years, most people are unfamiliar with them.
There are many worldwide, operating in all areas of business (banking, energy, food, manufacturing, healthcare, housing, etc).
There are many worldwide, operating in all areas of business (banking, energy, food, manufacturing, healthcare, housing, etc).
These two short videos, featuring economist Richard Wolff, do an excellent job of explaining COOPERATIVES.
And the documentary 'Shift Change' is a great documentary to watch to
familiarize yourself with COOPERATIVES.
Here's its trailer.
familiarize yourself with COOPERATIVES.
Here's its trailer.
CORPORATIONS have 1 greed-inducing-mandate ... to make a profit.
In contrast,
COOPERATIVES have 7 life-enhancing-principles guiding them:
1. Voluntary and open membership
2. Democratic member control
3. Member’s economic participation
4. Autonomy and independence
5. Education, training, and information
6. Cooperation among cooperatives
7. Concern for communities
All 7 are explained here in these beautiful posters
created by Cooperation Texas.
(Be sure to scroll through all 7)
created by Cooperation Texas.
(Be sure to scroll through all 7)
The following list describes some of the differences between COOPERATIVES and CORPORATIONS.
COOPERATIVES = jointly owned and democratically run by its members who all share in the benefits and profits.
CORPORATIONS = owned by shareholders who are the only ones who share in the profits.
COOPERATIVES = like owning your own home ... you have pride of ownership.
CORPORATIONS = like renting ... you have no personal stake in your work.
COOPERATIVES = mandated to 'make a living' for its many member/owners.
CORPORATIONS = mandated to 'make a killing' for a few shareholders.
COOPERATIVES = set up like a democracy, where the many member/owners have a voice in how the business is run.
CORPORATIONS = set up like a dictatorship, where a few owners at the top control (and often exploit) the many employees
at the bottom.
COOPERATIVES = jointly owned and democratically run by its members who all share in the benefits and profits.
CORPORATIONS = owned by shareholders who are the only ones who share in the profits.
COOPERATIVES = like owning your own home ... you have pride of ownership.
CORPORATIONS = like renting ... you have no personal stake in your work.
COOPERATIVES = mandated to 'make a living' for its many member/owners.
CORPORATIONS = mandated to 'make a killing' for a few shareholders.
COOPERATIVES = set up like a democracy, where the many member/owners have a voice in how the business is run.
CORPORATIONS = set up like a dictatorship, where a few owners at the top control (and often exploit) the many employees
at the bottom.
Just think how wonderful it'll be once the obstacle of corporate greed is removed from our system.
All that good energy used to resist and fight corporate exploitation will be freed up to use in implementing
solutions that have been sitting on our shelves all along.
All that good energy used to resist and fight corporate exploitation will be freed up to use in implementing
solutions that have been sitting on our shelves all along.
As we begin our COOPERATIZE movement, here's a lovely song to inspire and guide us.
"Bridges" written by Bill Staines
performed here by
Sylvie Davidson
performed here by
Sylvie Davidson
"There are bridges, bridges in the sky
they are shining in the sun,
they are stone and steel and wood and wire
they can change two things to one.
They are languages and letters,
they are poetry and awe,
they are love and understanding
and they are better than a wall.
Now there are canyons, there are canyons
they are yawning in the night,
they are rank and bitter anger,
they are all devoid of light.
They are fear and blind suspicion,
they are apathy and pride,
they are dark and so foreboding,
and they are oh so very wide.
So let us build a bridge of music,
let us cross it with a song,
let us span another canyon,
let us right another wrong.
And if someone should ask us
where we're off and bound today
we will tell them building bridges
and be off and on our way."
they are shining in the sun,
they are stone and steel and wood and wire
they can change two things to one.
They are languages and letters,
they are poetry and awe,
they are love and understanding
and they are better than a wall.
Now there are canyons, there are canyons
they are yawning in the night,
they are rank and bitter anger,
they are all devoid of light.
They are fear and blind suspicion,
they are apathy and pride,
they are dark and so foreboding,
and they are oh so very wide.
So let us build a bridge of music,
let us cross it with a song,
let us span another canyon,
let us right another wrong.
And if someone should ask us
where we're off and bound today
we will tell them building bridges
and be off and on our way."
Millau Viaduct in France | designed by Norman Foster | Buckminster Fuller was a mentor to him