Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Shagman

(135 posts)
Thu Jul 19, 2012, 01:08 PM Jul 2012

Idea for a Stimulus Plan, no congress necessary

Somebody may shoot this down, but I'd like to see it made workable.

Suppose you've lost your accounting job. You sign up with a local organization I call a business co-op. You provide accounting services to other members of the co-op on an hourly basis, that is, whoever needs your services pays you by the hour. If your services aren't needed on a particular day, you don't get paid, but part time is better than nothing. One goal is to have as many skills as possible in a co-op (some people can have multiple skills).

Now suppose you want to start a business, say, making cupcakes. You go to the co-op, where you can get services to write a business plan, research recipes, locate suppliers, create marketing strategies and advertising, track your expenses and sales, deliver products, and so on. How do you pay for all those services, when the banks won't give you a loan?

That's the catch. We want to cut the big banks and corporations out of this system, in effect, create a parallel economy for real people instead for of the 1%. Where does the capital come from? One option, the co-op is also a bank and can loan you money based on prospective sales. A variation of that option, two co-ops loan each other money (yes, it's creating money from thin air, but banks do it every day).

1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Idea for a Stimulus Plan, no congress necessary (Original Post) Shagman Jul 2012 OP
Good ideas. That's why there lots of groups pushing re-localisation: local food, local currencies, Blue Meany Jul 2012 #1
 

Blue Meany

(1,947 posts)
1. Good ideas. That's why there lots of groups pushing re-localisation: local food, local currencies,
Thu Jul 19, 2012, 01:16 PM
Jul 2012

local buying and support of locally-owned businesses. Basically, all of the large businesses and financial corporations are funelling wealth from our work to the 1%, who have no committment to local communities or residents. Buying from locally-owned sources keeps the money local and acts as an economic stimulant. Local currencies can also expand the money supply, providing a second form of stimulus. BTW, during the Depression, lots of towns issued scrip (now known as Depression Scrip) because they had no money to pay bills; this was then circulated in the local economy and kept things moving.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Economy»Idea for a Stimulus Plan,...