Maine Public Schools May Begin Co-op Ventures

One of the hallmarks of a Distributist state is the spread and support of cooperatives. In the state of Maine, several public schools have formed cooperatives to both save money on supplies and share costs on training and transportation. Now a bill has been filed which will give other Maine schools the same opportunity to go co-op.

As written by Matthew Stone in the Kennebec Journal of March 31st, the bill LD 1049 gives school districts the ability to form regional education cooperatives. All, of course, with prior approval of the state's Education Department. You may read Mr. Stone's article HERE.

This is great news. The schools can form co-ops from the bottom-up, not forced upon them from the government. And the government, in turn, gives them the support they need without Socialist micro-management. Costs are cut, burdens are shared and children get better opportunities to expand their education. Combined with private, religious, alternative and home schooling, Maine students can see potential benefits up the road ahead.

If this can be replicated elsewhere in America and Canada, then it should be done as soon as possible. This is a good way to promote Distributist principles in public education. Good job, Maine!

P2P Blog On Co-Op Manufacturing

This report, posted March 15th, comes from the blog of the P2P Foundation. Written by Michel Bauwens, it talks about the Distributist powerhouse that is Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy.

A masterpiece example of Distributism in action, it's small businesses, co-ops and small factories have made this area the richest in all of Italy. Co-ops produce 45% of the country's GDP.

If it can work there, it can work anywhere else. Read the article HERE and apply what you read to your neck of the woods.

Keep Crooks Out Of Co-ops

Far too many are leery of cooperatives. Not just from lack of familiarity, but from their way-too-close association with the darkness of Socialism. When a co-op's members or a co-op itself is involved in anything illegal, it only stains it's reputation for their entire movement.

Three recent examples will show why this vital part of a Distributist economy and state must be wary of all taint. (All reports were dated February 23.)

1: According to an article from the “progressive” newspaper Seattle Weekly, the state of California allows co-operatives for the buying of so-called “medical marijuana”. Even though the negative effects of marijuana are well-known, those pushing to legalize this drug are using these type of co-ops for such a purpose.

2: According to a report from the news website allAfrica.com, the deputy head of the Zambia Cooperatives Federation warned of fake co-ops getting government provided fertilizer. He demanded total obedience to legal guidelines for operating co-ops, and not cheat it's members of their dividends and benefits.

3: According to an article from The Jakarta Post of Indonesia, police on the island of Bali had to shut down a co-op suspected of running a Ponzi scheme. The police chief said the co-op was illegally running an investment firm, promising members a 150% rate of return. The Post reported that 62,000 investors could get at their money when police shut the co-op down.

As the old saying goes, “With great power comes great responsibility.” As part of a Distributist State, co-operatives have the power to change an economy and social structure for the better.

But bad actions on a co-op's part will only hurt their image. It will give ammunition for it's rivals in the Capitalist and Socialist camps. So it must continue to weed out those that would break the law and blacken it's reputation. Let the co-operative movement be a model of both innovation and moral righteousness.

NEW FILIPINO CO-OP LAW SIGNED

One of the hallmarks of a Distributist economy is the preservation and expansion of cooperatives. A new law recently signed by the president of the Philippines has done just that and more.

According to the magazine BusinessWorld Online, the new law allows cooperatives to give its members better access to training, as well as better educational and financial services. It also requires more attention to detail of a cooperative's accounting practices, as well as expanding the areas of business where cooperatives may be created.

This is positive news for the Philippines, which has for many years been on the cutting edge in promoting Distributism to the Third World. Congratulations are due to the Philippine government, and may other nations follow their example.