Comments on: USSF 2010 and a Resilient Detroit http://f4dc.org/2010/07/ussf-2010-and-a-resilient-detroit/ Fostering authentic democracy in North Carolina's Piedmont and beyond Sun, 01 Apr 2012 23:17:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Dave Reed http://f4dc.org/2010/07/ussf-2010-and-a-resilient-detroit/#comment-23 Dave Reed Fri, 02 Jul 2010 22:59:21 +0000 http://f4dc.org/?p=140#comment-23 The examples you discuss here transcend the current political rhetorical battles between a "free market" system and some evil "socialist" one that looms on the not-too-distant horizon. One business loaning directly to another and paying their employees a living wage may strike some as "socialist-like" but these acts have a very real effect within a capitalist system. More local businesses in an area increase the consumer traffic and patronage for all of them. Paying people a living wage gives them more disposable income. Locally owned businesses promote a stronger local economy by keeping money "here" rather than seeing it immediately leave to some corporate headquarters out-of-state. This kind of economic activity may become the "bridge" from our current economic system to whatever may develop in the future. The solidarity economics F4DC is exploring right now is exciting stuff. The examples you discuss here transcend the current political rhetorical battles between a “free market” system and some evil “socialist” one that looms on the not-too-distant horizon. One business loaning directly to another and paying their employees a living wage may strike some as “socialist-like” but these acts have a very real effect within a capitalist system.

More local businesses in an area increase the consumer traffic and patronage for all of them. Paying people a living wage gives them more disposable income. Locally owned businesses promote a stronger local economy by keeping money “here” rather than seeing it immediately leave to some corporate headquarters out-of-state.

This kind of economic activity may become the “bridge” from our current economic system to whatever may develop in the future. The solidarity economics F4DC is exploring right now is exciting stuff.

]]>