Progressive Social Change SP10

Economics -> American Capitalism and Social Justice Spring 10

There are many groups working toward progressive social change, or the creation of a just world. These groups believe that the current economic system of American capitalism can no longer maintain equality, liberty, and meaningful democracy. In fact, they argue that capitalism is a system that creates and feeds off of inequality and domination. One group must always exploit another in order for this system to function. The majority is exploited while the power elite maintain control over the means of production and profits. It is a vicious cycle in which those with power become more and more powerful, and the voice of the majority is lost. There are billions of people living below the poverty line because of this economic system and the inequality gap continues to increase. The groups working toward progressive social change are working to fix this disparity, and to improve the quality of life for all people. Some of these groups include: Community-Wealth.org, the Positive Futures Network, the Real Utopias Project, AlterNet, and the Vermont Progressive Party.

<ref>Image borrowed from progressohio.org </ref>

Models for Change

These groups work toward community and economic development, increasing the voice of the majority in politics, and social justice in general. Their goals include closing the inequality gap, decreasing poverty, and increasing the employment rate. They support those working for change by providing examples of alternative ways to distribute profits such that they benefit the entire community. They provide databases connecting to various companies and communities that have successfully organized themselves as sustainable alternatives to the current system. They also provide statistics about the economic value and contribution of these companies and communities. These groups work to inform people about the problems that exist and inspire them to do something about it. Generally, they work toward deep social change so that we can live in a world in which quality of life is more important than money.

Community-Wealth.org

Community-Wealth.org is an organization that seeks strategies for democratic, community-based economic development. The website that they have created contains directories, breaking news, and examples of cutting-edge intiatives from cities, states, community-development corporations, employee-owned firms, land-trusts, non-profit organizations, co-operatives, and universities. It provides information and links to many companies that are using different community-based economic development strategies.

These diverse institutional strategies have two goals:

1)To change the nature of asset and wealth ownership in a manner which serves the community.

2)To offer new ways to provide and maintain local jobs and to finance community services.

Community-wealth.org hopes to serve several purposes. First, it hopes that the website facilitates conversation and collaboration among the field and encourages support for these new community wealth strategies, policies, models, and innovations. Second, it aims to broaden and deepen information about this field, and includes many statistics including the number of institutions, their economic value, their actual and projected growth, their contributions to democratic practice, etc. Next, it hopes to explain how communities (especially low-income) can address the economic challenges they face. Finally, the organization hopes the website will lay the groundwork for policy changes. <ref> http://www.community-wealth.org/about/vision-mission.html </ref>

Positive Futures Network

The Positive Futures Network is an organization with the belief that we need deep change if we are to avoid the breakdown of society and the natural world. It was founded by David Korten and Sarah van Gelder. It works to raise awareness for an emerging society in which life, not money, is what is important.

This organization publishes YES! Magazine, a nonprofit, ad-free magazine that is printed on recycled paper and archives all of its articles online. Each issue of the magazine focuses on a theme of social justice, working to show possibilities and practical steps people can take for change. There is also YES! for Youth, which is designed to inpsire and empower students. This magazine is widely distributed and encourages all of its readers to become part of a global community of change-makers.

The Positive Futures Network has also published two books that discuss possibilites for social transformation. The organization focuses on sustainability and social and economic justice. <ref> http://www.yesmagazine.org/ </ref>

The Real Utopias Project

Overview

AlterNet

Vermont Progressive Party

Vermont Progressive Party, or VPP for short, attempts to assert itself as a major third-party in the United States Democrat-Republican political system. The VPP claim to be the most successful third party, having more than half of the current third party elected legislators come from their party. <ref> VPP welcome page </ref>

The self-stated purpose of the VPP is "to promote economic, social and environmental justice and sustainability through electoral and other democratic political activities, and to become the majority political party, while protecting minority and individual rights and opportunities." <ref> VPP purpose statement </ref>

The VPP pursues social justice and takes a specific stance on the following issues: universal healthcare, livable wages, progressive taxation, sustainable local economies, and affordable housing. "We fight for labor rights, environmental protection, safe power, reproductive rights and marriage equality." <ref> http://www.progressiveparty.org/2010/welcome-vermont-progressive-party</ref> They outline exactly what the VPP goals are in their platform.

The main focus of the VPP is to help Vermonters, however they believe their small party model can be used to lead a nation.

Theories and Reforms for Social Justice in the United States

Gar Alperovitz

In America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth, Our Liberty, And Our Democracy (2005), historian and political economist Gar Alperovitz argues that in order to have equality, liberty, and meaningful democracy in the United States, there needs to be fundamental and radical systemic change, or as he puts it, "evolutionary reconstruction." <ref> Alperovitz, Gar (2005). America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth, Our Liberty, And Our Democracy. Jon Wiley & Sons, Inc. pp. 235. ISBN 0471790023. </ref>

Alperovitz proposes the Pluralist Commonwealth model as a way to address issues standing in the way of reclaiming wealth, liberty, and democracy. For greater equality, there needs to be new institutions that hold wealth.The conditions of smaller scale, local democracy needs to be nurtured in order to rebuild the country's overall democratic system. There needs to be radical decentralization to handle the 400 million and growing population of the United States. Lastly individual economic security and greater amounts of free time need to be attained and that neither can be without a change in the ownership of wealth.<ref> Alperovitz, Gar (2005). America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth, Our Liberty, And Our Democracy. Jon Wiley & Sons, Inc. pp. 233-34. ISBN 0471790023. </ref>

Reclaiming our Wealth, Liberty, and Democracy

"How does what they are trying to accomplish mesh with the reforms and ideals advocated by Alperovitz? In what way will they help us to reclaim our wealth, liberty, and democracy?"

G. William Domhoff

Michael D. Yates

Michael D. Yates, an economics professor and labor educator whose earlier books focused on workers' legal rights (Power on the Job, South End, 1994), seeks to cover a much broader canvas in his novel, Why Unions Matter (2009). He explores how labor unions work, the victories they have won on the battlefields of sexism and racism, and provides an argument for unions as the sole means by which working people can obtain dignity, equity, and power. <ref> http://www.amazon.com/dp/0853459290 </ref> Yates analyzes the continuing decline in union membership and density, the growing importance of immigrant workers, the rise of worker centers, the impacts of and labor responses to globalization, and the need for labor to have an independent political voice. <ref> Yates, Michael D. (2009). Why Unions Matter. Monthly Review Press. ISBN 9781583671900. </ref>

The Tasks Ahead

Yates explains that unions have always been features of capitalist economies, given the inherent conflict between workers and employers. He writes that "unions provide workers with a more permanent and formal power at work." <ref> Yates, Michael D. (2009). Why Unions Matter. Monthly Review Press. pp. 185-87. ISBN 9781583671900. </ref> He continues by explaining that unionization has a positive independent effect on wages and benefits of employees, and gives employees a voice in workplace decisions. He states that unions actually benefit all workers, not only those who are organized, because higher wages stimulate the economy and lead to higher rates of employment. Also, unions reduce inequality in incomes and work toward unemployment compensation and universal health care, which benefit all workers. Next, Yates states that unions that use aggressive organizing models can build strong unions despite laws that make it difficult to organize workers.