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Originally Posted by Kuhb
Co-ops are still subject to the same market forces. The model might delay the shitification, but ultimately market imperatives will have their way. 'Efficiency measures' will have to be taken. There will be necessary 'streamlining'.
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yes but not necessarily all the way.
i've been a member of a several co-ops wherever i've lived and they manage to balance market pressures while providing good value to their members, while simultaneously practicing democratic management and labor practices, engaging community, supporting neighbors, etc. not always the cheapest deal in town, but often the least predatory one. sometimes even revolutionary.
here 4 maryland food co-ops
the radical one
https://glut.org/ check out theirnhistory and about pages
the bougie one
https://tpss.coop/
the little one by the river
https://www.bethesdacoop.org/ nice after a bike ride or canoe trip or hike ahh those pies...
there are a bunch of other food co-ops around, and they are neither walmart nor whole foods.
anyway it's definitely not and easy feat and it requires members and workers and directors who can keep multiple objectives in play besides profit. sometimes, some co-ops do sell out or get taken over.
rei is a co-op! although it doesn't feel like one:
https://www.motherjones.com/politics...union-busting/
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however in the case of my current bank, which is a credit union (a co-op), i absolutely get the best deal money-wise, in part i think because my deposits don't have to pay for a ceo salary of $30000000 or other stupid nonsense so they don't load me with fees like the other rapacious fucks.
so there's some hope for co-ops--i'm not a total cynic lol. and i enjoy the dilectical process.