The Cooperativist Manifesto

CHAPTER 1: THE NECESSITY OF ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Society requires an economic system that supports the political ideals of freedom and equality for all men and women. In order for democracy to flourish, we must promote the principle of "economic justice", that is, universal freedom and equality within the sphere of economic matters.

There is an old adage that provides that everyone in a capitalist society is as free to sleep at the Ritz Hotel as under a bridge. This truism touts the futility of political freedom when people lack financial resources. The reality is that the true benefits of democracy cannot be enjoyed by people that are deprived of economic justice. The right to vote in political elections cannot satisfy those who are deprived on a daily basis of the right to an equal vote in the marketplace.

Economic justice is based on several principles including the promotion of people's enjoyment of economic freedom and economic equality. In order to enjoy economic freedom, a person cannot be dependent for subsistence on the arbitrary will of others. The abolition of slavery, the advancement of workers' rights through unionism, the evolution of equitable employment laws and the establishment of social security and unemployment assistance programs are only a few of the ways societies have sought to promote economic freedom for its citizens.

Economic liberty, in itself, does not ensure economic justice. A successful economic system must be predicated on the principle of economic equality. Some capitalists denounce the notion of equivalent economic resources as antagonistic to the promotion of personal freedom. In doing so they mistakenly equate economic equality as meaning equality of possessions.

The appropriate portrayal of the principle of economic equality is based on the premise that people need to be provided with equal and unfettered opportunities to enjoy the same economic status as other contributing members of the social collective. The concept of equal opportunity is consistent with the principle that makes financial rewards commensurate with work and ability.

Economic justice is a necessary cornerstone of true democracy. The structure of the economic system must reflect the society's democratic values. Freedom does not infer special rights on citizens that choose to vote -- or not to vote. Economic democracy demands that people be given the choice of whether or not they wish to pursue economic opportunities. Individuals should not be bestowed with wealth merely because of their lineage. Access to productive wealth accumulation must not be limited only to owners of capital.

If we continue the political analogy, we will eventually conclude that economic democracy requires a classless society that promotes universal freedom and equality. Managers must be allowed to ascend to levels of responsibility as a result of their desire and ability -- not as a birthright. Moreover, hard-working and talented individuals should not be precluded from sharing in the gains of their production due to economic powerlessness.