Cooperative Disagreement

This election season, many are asking what relationship should exist between religion and government. Ironically, Democratic candidates seem to have lost their fear of faith, and are talking about this more than Republicans. Some observers believe that even the Evangelical vote is up for grabs. This gives some hope that we are moving out of our division around religious values, but we need ways to build reconciliation. Cooperatives provide such an opportunity.

The Bible emphasizes the social issues commonly associated with the political left more than the sexual morality that has driven the Religious Right. But is it any better to push liberal Christian values on society as a whole? Many—including some liberal Christians—would say no. While many Evangelicals are adopting issues that have often been seen as liberal, this does not mean that they are becoming liberals.

Even so, there are a number of issues and values around which there is a growing consensus across political and religious boundaries. In some cases there is a difference in language and end goals, but this does not lessen the compatibility of the intermediate goals and the public policy required. Both “environmentalism” and “creation care” seek to find ways for us to live on the Earth in a less destructive way. Both “social solidarity” and “caring for our brothers and sisters” demand a society that takes better care of its unfortunate members. It is appropriate for government to regulate such cases of general agreement.

However, regulation becomes tyranny when there is strong disagreement. Here, government should encourage the development of cooperative enterprises among people with common ethical backgrounds. This resembles ideas around privatization or encouragement of business development, but with a very important distinction: these firms must be democratically controlled by those who use their services. Cooperatives can capture the ideals of community and social justice within a market economy. They contain the best of both worlds.

The US has a thriving cooperative movement, but the full potential of the model can best be seen in Italy. That nation is home to several different systems that provide jobs and services to millions of people. They each have different philosophies ranging from socialist to Catholic, but they are all cooperative in nature. The largest of these is the Confederazione Cooperative Italiane, which has nearly three million members and 400,000 employees, and accounts for more than a tenth of the Italian financial industry.

We have much to learn from the Italian models: Rather than trying to cram our ideas down the throats of those who have different values, we should be building with those who do share our values. The Italians show us that it is possible to create values-based systems which are large and complex, voluntary and separate.

We already have to agree to disagree, and tolerate certain practices which we believe to be wrong. In a cooperative scenario we would at least be freed from the twin burdens of supporting objectionable practices with our taxes while struggling to outlaw them.

We must move beyond the divisiveness that has plagued us, and find ways to work together cooperatively with those who share our values. We have to let go of forcing our wills on each other, and get back to the spirit of liberty that got people excited about American independence in the first place.

For more information on co-operatives and for details on a conference considering this topic, please visit www.west.usworker.coop.