I am writing in regard to the Buzzworm article [“On Haywood: Failure Is Not An Option,” Feb. 21] about the Haywood Road Market. The article states that what the co-op offers is a chance for members (owners) to build a community. Cooperatives are fundamentally much more than that. They are a different model of business from a typical corporation.
Most corporations are built on the premise that those who contribute the most money to the venture—those who put up the most capital—are awarded the greatest power as well as profit (unearned income). Most corporations are structured such that those who have the most money get more money. That is how the rich keep getting richer.
Cooperatives are about keeping money and resources in the hands of we the people. They are about people coming together to create an institution that will serve our needs … [and] create an economy that is based upon democratic principles. As owners, members of cooperatives have equal voice: one person, one vote. Member-owners vote for the board members who run their cooperative and vote on important decisions such as was reported in your article, where the member-owners of the Haywood Road Market voted on whether to keep their store open.
The money you spend at your local food cooperative stays in your community. Cooperatives are not-for-profit corporations. … Your local co-ops need you to patronize them as well as to join them and become an owner.
Cooperatives are ultimately about creating a world economy that is based upon serving the needs of we the people … . If people everywhere will educate themselves about these basic facts and choose to support and create cooperatives … an entirely cooperative economy could be created.
In the Basque region of Spain, Mondragon is a network of cooperative enterprises that serves the needs of communities based upon the needs of the people. …
If you are concerned [about] the grip that large corporations have on our economy [and] … the negative influence that corporations have over the ecology of our planet, or if you want to see local control of the distribution systems that bring food to your dinner plate and serve your other needs, you can do something about it by joining local cooperatives, including Blue Ridge Biofuels and also many credit unions.
Take a stand for your local economy … . Buy your groceries at a local food co-op: French Broad Food Co-op, Haywood Road Market and Hendersonville Community Co-op.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.