How Would You Spend Your Tax Dollars Day Seven: Jobs: Cooperatives might be the answer

Job Cooperatives Might be the Answer ... 

  

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is “what are you doing for others?” --Martin Luther King

Cities across the nation have seen jobs go overseas, while some of these same companies have received tax breaks from the government.

Some communities are seeing that local cooperatives are a way to provide jobs and sustainable economic development, while keeping the profits local.

The main benefit is that the members of a cooperative society are working together for a common goal.  This could be to produce and sell a commodity or to raise funds to build a community facility like kindergarten en or health clinic.  The members have a vested interest not only financially but morally.  The Solidarity usually keeps the project moving to a quick conclusion and establish a sense of community.

Putting democracy to work through cooperatives provides a way for people not only to make a living, but to be invested in their work like never before.

Facts: Military spending robs our economy of jobs created by military spending, education spending creates 240% more jobs, health care spending creates 153% more jobs and clean energy spending creates 150% more jobs.

(source: US Employment Effects of Military and Domestic Spending Priorities ,2011 Update .By Robert Pollin &Heidi Garrett-Peltier , political Economy Research Institute ,University of Massachusetts ,Amherst ,December ,2011.)

Rather than continue to invest in military spending, let’s Move the Money and invest in cooperatives, true job creators!

TAKE ACTION!

Join AFSC and others around the country in our call to Move the Money!

Support local cooperatives, like Morganton, NC’s Opportunity Threads!