We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debt, as that we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our calling and our creeds…[we will] have no time to think, no means of calling our miss-managers to account but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow-suffers…And this is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from the principle in one instance becomes a precedent for [another]…till the bulk of society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery…And the fore-horse of this frightful team is pubic debt. Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression – Jefferson 1816
I use the name cooperativist, because I believe that solutions to problems can best remedy where both parties win. I am moving to the Shire because I would like to implement those beliefs. I organized a cooperative association in Washington state whose mission was to lower the cost of living or the cost of doing business for members of the community through the use of not for profit cooperatives in the areas of finance, insurance, employment, communications, housing, child and health care. I feel these are the basis of a community.
In 1999 I had started utilizing temp workers to cut down on the amount of paper work dealing with hiring employees under the federal scheme of DBA. I found that a humbling experience most of the men I hired were tired, hungry, unclean, and being paid minimum wage. I researched the temporary labor industry and found in the year s 2000 that the industry reportedly grossed over $60 billion in revenues, with 3 million workers.
In 2000 I opened the Washington Cooperative Support Center which was the admin, for the following not for profit associations, TLC was our not profit temporary labor company whose mission was to lower the cost of living for our members. TLC provided a meal if the member went out on assignment, a ride to and from work, a higher wage. By 2006 though the use of our second not for profit A HAND UP CONSTRUCTION, whose mission was employment, training, helping low income families maintain their homes. This not for profit was a partner with South Sound Habitat where WCSC was instrumental in allowing Habitat to develop a 7 acre site where some 20 low income cottages were constructed.
By 2006 WCSC had revenues of over $485,000 was employing over 250 persons annually and had moved into larger office space which was to allow us to provide laundry and shower services to our members and develop our “capsule” hotel. Unfortunately one person’s greed brought an end to this dream.
The largest numbers of workers in America now work as temps. There are over 60 temporary labor companies in the Manchester area. I would like to organize another temp cooperative there to show the rest of the country that these services can be better provided thought the use of a cooperative association whose members have a resource which will help them to get back on their feet.
I am also interested in the idea of a cooperative state bank, and county cooperative banks where members pay little interest, that their homes and assets are pooled to help all members instead of helping the money lenders.
Welcome
Hi
When are you moving? I love your ideas for a business and cooperation.
Able