I'm the first to admit I don't know much about economics, much less economic models, but it does seem to me that Tompkins County has an interesting and somewhat unusual economic institution, Alternatives Federal Credit Union, that has been working for some time on developing a more inclusive financial service for the community, rather than merely catering to the markets and the bottom line.
From other conversations I've been in lately it looks as though AFCU, in concert with some local interested parties, is making a real effort to reshape if not altogether remake the financial envelope in a way that acknowledges the challenges of today, such as climate change, scarce resources, and local needs. It's a pretty localized approach. but AFCU has been at the forefront of change for a number of years and has inspired other banks and credit unions to reconsider their own problems, from what I understand. A confirmed skeptic in most ways, I am nonetheless hopeful about what AFCU and local sustainability leaders are doing together in this matter. Bethany Katie Quinn-Jacobs wrote: > Sure, it's becoming easier for people to appreciate the pitfalls of > growth capitalism, but is there any other viable option ready to step > in? I see the lack of economic savvy as the weak link in the > sustainability revolution. How do we organize markets without growth? > Is there an economic arm to this movement? > > -- Katie Q-J > > > > Margaret McCasland wrote: > >> ekos: Greek for "house;" root of both "economy" and "ecology" >> >> My new "Good Housekeeping" mantra: "What's good for America (and >> Earth) is good for General Motors." >> >> FYI, if you're too young too remember, a rewording of: "What's good >> for GM is good for America," an iconic misquote. See discussion below, >> from a blog which is an interesting in and of itself: >> >> >> http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/writing/newsrls/12-02-05a.htm >> For decades, GM symbolized the U.S. economy. In the 1950s, GM >> President Charles Wilson was reported to have said, "What's good for >> GM is good for America." Although his actual statement was "…what was >> good for the country was good for GM, and vice-versa", the point is >> that the auto industry was one of the largest and most successful >> economic entities in the country. Almost 10 percent of the national >> economy was directly or indirectly tied to the auto industry, and >> American-made cars were the standard around the world. . . . >> >> >> NOTE: I find the balloon analogy interesting, because another possible >> balloon-based-vision is of a "constant growth model" simply >> exploding. Earth needs an economic model--a Good Housekeeping >> approach-- that is NOT based on constant growth. --Margaret >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, >> please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ >> >> RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: >> [email protected] >> http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins >> free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
