Cooperations or Corporations?

Last night, I went into my food coop to grab some orange juice and apples.

As I was checking out, I looked up at the mission statement that hung over the door.

It said:

The purpose of Wheatsville is to create a self-reliant, self-empowering community of people that will grow and promote a transformation of society toward cooperation, justice, and nonexploitation.

The mission of Wheatsville is to serve a broad range of people by providing them goods and services, and by using efficient methods which avoid exploitation of the producer and environment.

The purpose of the HEB down the street is to maximize its profits for its shareholders with little or no regard for the well being of the community. Its job is to offer food to its customers in such a way that they will return and thus maximize its revenues and in theory, its profit. It would be a violation of its corporate charter to place justice and nonexploitation before the well being of its stockholders.

The mission of the HEB food chain is to serve a broad range of people by providing them goods and services with efficient methods. Exploitation and the environment are public relation department issues.

Which system do you prefer?

We report.

You decide.