I ran across a comment recently that made me want to make a point, but I didn’t feel that it would make any impact in this “drive-by” comment culture, and my thoughts were lengthy and not suited to a comment. So I decided to gather my thoughts and write a little article, not so much to enlighten you, my dear reader, but to have my thoughts gathered for future reference for myself, and my endeavors.
So now, on to the comment:
"Socialism is a collective controlling goods and resources. I doubt any person could be elected by saying they planned socialism as a governing strategy. To state a plan to impose socialism would certainly ensure a change in the next election.
Who am I talking to? I am not sure. I think most people on this thread are violently opposed to the way I think and what I believe in, so I am just putting it out there as another POV"
This is a fairly normal “drive-by” comment that can be read (and ignored) everyday on any social news site on the Internet; but the word that stuck in my mind is the word “impose”.
In college I happened to take a class on Darwin the semester before I took a class on Marx. I immediately understood that one was connected to the other, that while Darwin was writing about past human evolution, Marx was talking about further evolution. Marx was quite aghast at the “communist” revolution, and my favorite quote of Marx is when he said, “I am not a Marxist,” meaning he didn’t support violence and that he was writing of slow evolutionary changes.
And that’s how I always thought of socialism, a slow evolutionary change, definitely not somehow imposed on people, which doesn’t really make any sense whatsoever…
Now, let’s move on to some things I have been researching lately.
First, North Dakota Mill “The mission of the North Dakota Mill is to promote and provide support to North Dakota agriculture, commerce and industry. Provide superior quality, consistency and service to our customers. Grow the business and provide a profit to our owners - the citizens of North Dakota. Conduct our business with the highest integrity so that our employees, customers, suppliers and owners are proud to be associated with the North Dakota Mill.”
From https://www.ndmill.com/history.cfm “The North Dakota Mill receives no funds or financial assistance from the State of North Dakota to subsidize the milling operations. Selling value- added milled wheat products to bakery and pasta customers, as well as retail and food service suppliers, generates all operating funds. Over 90% of sales revenues are derived from customers outside the State to create value-added income for the State of North Dakota. The North Dakota Mill supports the local economy with a payroll of $7 million annually.
The North Dakota Mill and Elevator Association has contributed in excess of 50% of its profits to the North Dakota State General Fund for more than 35 years and continues to be a valuable asset to the State of North Dakota.
The North Dakota Mill and Elevator Association is the only state-owned milling facility in the United States. The North Dakota Mill and Elevator Association has, over the years, worked cooperatively with state agencies in promoting North Dakota and its high quality products by participating with and hosting international trade teams and serving as a resource center for training, research and testing.”
I emailed them and asked about other state-owned corporations and the reply said they only knew about the Bank of North Dakota,
“BND’s longstanding mission nor its roots in Bismarck, North Dakota, as the only state-owned bank in the nation, has changed. Our mission, established by legislative action in 1919, is to promote agriculture, commerce and industry in North Dakota. In this role, the Bank acts as a funding resource in partnership with other financial institutions, economic development groups and guaranty agencies.”
Hmm, and I poked around some more, and found this:
More States May Create Public Banks “By 2011, only one state will have escaped the credit crunch that is pushing other states toward insolvency: North Dakota. North Dakota is also the only state that owns its own bank. The state has its own credit machine, making it independent of the Wall Street banking crisis that has infected the rest of the country.
Now, several states are either studying the prospects of a state-owned bank or are considering legislation to make one possible.
Five states have bills pending—Massachusetts, Washington, Illinois, Michigan, and Virginia. ... Candidates in eight states are running on a state-owned bank platform: three Democrats, two Greens, two Republicans, and one Independent.” (Contrary to the “drive-by” commenter’s POV.)
Furthermore, when a rural friend had complained that he had to drive quite a distance now for supplies, I encouraged him, with the help of the community, to re-open the local convenience store, and then I found this:
Build Alternatives to Big Boxes and How to open a community-owned store (PDF) “Citizens in a number of towns have formed community corporations, raised capital through local stock issues, and opened their own department stores”
Yes, apparently, quite a few communities have created their own stores.
They get people to buy shares at and then they have equity in the stores and control of their own future. If you poke around that site and find the map you will find that there are 19 community-owned stores listed there, but other websites cite many more.
Other articles:
- What is a Community Store? "Community stores are locally owned by community members in contrast to the distant, corporate shareholders of national retailers. Community-owned stores are designed by residents to meet specific local shopping needs at fair prices. Everyone in the community is given the opportunity to invest in the store by buying shares. Buying shares is voluntary and the store is open to everyone, whether they are share holders or not.”
- Community-Owned Stores Provide Alternative to Chains
- Radio soap spreads word about community-owned stores
Yep, it seems the socialists are on the move, possibly infiltrating your very own state, or your community, or your country! And it doesn’t seem that these are imposed on anybody, seems like these are communities or states voluntarily building sustainable futures.
Seems to me these people are evolving into socialists.
