Our economy is designed to make the rich richer by plundering the earth--this book offers a compelling vision of an ecologically sustainable alternative, neither capitalist nor socialist, that meets the essential needs of all people, not just the 1 percent.
Marjorie Kelly is the Executive Vice President and Senior Fellow at
The Democracy Collaborative. She is the author of The Divine Right
of Capital and Owning our Future, which was the winner of the
Silver Nautilus Award.
Ted Howard is the cofounder and the president of The Democracy
Collaborative. Through cutting edge research and many diverse
programs, The Collaborative works to carry out a vision of a new
economic system where shared ownership and control creates more
equitable and inclusive outcomes, fosters ecological
sustainability, and promotes flourishing democratic and community
life.
“Marjorie Kelly inspired the B Corp movement with The Divine Right
of Capital; now she and Ted Howard have pointed the way toward
what's next. The Making of a Democratic Economy is a must-read. I
am blown away by this book.”
—Jay Coen Gilbert, cofounder of B Lab, the nonprofit behind the B
Corporation movement
“It’s not enough to imagine another world is possible, we need to
feel and taste it. Kelly and Howard give us the concrete stories we
need to truly believe in this new world.”
—Naomi Klein, author of No Is Not Enough, This Changes Everything,
and No Logo
“This book is a timely and important reminder of the urgent need to
democratize our economy. The experiments it discusses provide
inspiration and food for thought for activists and policymakers
alike.”
—John McDonnell, MP, UK Shadow Chancellor, Labour Party
“An insightful, moving, energizing book, just what America needs
now more than ever. Kelly and Howard enable us to see that indeed
there is life—good life—beyond our brutal form of capitalism, and
it is already emerging. Bravo!”
—Frances Moore Lappé, author Diet for a Small Planet and coauthor
of Daring Democracy
“In the face of our climate crisis, dangerous levels of social
inequity, and the loss of unimaginable biodiversity comes The
Making of a Democratic Economy, a critically important book of
hope, possibility, and solutions. Thorough, thoughtful, and full of
essential insights, this timely guide is a must-read for all
concerned about a better future.”
—Jeffrey Hollender, cofounder of Seventh Generation and Board
Chair, American Sustainable Business Council
“Kelly and Howard offer the insight that our democratic principles
and our economic vitality don’t need to be in constant
contradiction. For the future health of our planet and its
citizens, we need to democratize our market-driven economy by
creating ownership structures that, by their very nature, lead to
more sustainable, generative outcomes. This powerful book shines a
light on the practical paths so many are searching for today.”
—Dan Wolf, CEO, Cape Air, and former Massachusetts State
Senator
“We call The Laura Flanders Show the place where ‘the people who
say it can’t be done take a backseat to the people who are doing
it.’ Howard and Kelly bring us dispatches from places like that all
across the United States, where people are democratizing the
economy and shifting power. This important survey, from two who
have been instrumental to much of this work, paints a picture not
simply of a mosaic of experiments but of a newly emerging system
that lies within our reach. Can we change our culture to cherish
people over capital? It won’t be easy, but it can be done. We
need deep long-term thinking and immediate action steps. Lucky for
us, this deeply considered book offers both.”
—Laura Flanders, Host and Executive Producer, The Laura Flanders
Show
“Marjorie Kelly and Ted Howard remind us that it’s not enough to
fight against an unjust and unsustainable system—we also have to
have a vision for the system we want instead and a plan for
building it. The stories they tell in The Making of a
Democratic Economy lift up the hard and vital work of the people
creating the institutions of the next economy.”
—Kat Taylor, cofounder and CEO, Beneficial State Bank
“As champions of worker and community ownership, Kelly and Howard
remind us that economic democracy is essential to political
democracy and a viable human future.”
—David Korten, author of When Corporations Rule the World and
Change the Story, Change the Future
“This book offers a practical path of radical hope for
system change. Models like those here are being copied across the
world. Scores of the ideas here make clear sense, like having the
Federal Reserve bail out the planet the same way it bailed out the
big banks. If you’re looking for a mix of mind-expanding vision
with ideas and models that are working and ready to be tried in
your town, this book is for you.”
—Kevin Jones, cofounder of Social Capital Markets and The Transform
Series
“This is an important book. It builds on growing recognition that
systemic transformation is needed, providing a road map to
understanding that democracy is at the core of building flourishing
economies needed for a flourishing future. We all need to
deeply learn from the many examples and lessons of this book and
work together to create whole systems change. The Making of a
Democratic Economy provides an invaluable guide to how that
can happen.”
—Sandra Waddock, Galligan Chair of Strategy, Boston College
“Marjorie Kelly—a huge influence for me as an impact investor and
activist—has given us another gem, on the critical need for
democracy not just in our political system but in our economy.”
—Morgan Simon, Founding Partner, Candide Group, and author of Real
Impact
“The call for an economy that works for all is heard in Washington
and even on Wall Street—but how will the change take place?
Marjorie and Ted offer a map. They share stories of a different
kind of enterprise—one that puts the human interest at the heart of
success. These community-based enterprises are not only hopeful but
replicable—they illuminate the design for an economy that honors
our democratic ideals.”
—Judith Samuelson, Executive Director, Business and Society
Program, The Aspen Institute
“Marjorie Kelly and Ted Howard have given us the road map toward
economic democracy. But they don’t just show the interstates and
the major landmarks—they show the byways and small towns where real
change comes from. In this moment when greater and greater numbers
of people are realizing that the rules of capitalism must be
rewritten, the stories in these pages, and the strategies that
Kelly and Howard share, will guide our way forward.”
—Lenore Palladino, Assistant Professor of Economics and Public
Policy, University of Massachusetts Amherst; former Vice President
for Policy & Campaigns, Demos; and former Campaign Director,
MoveOn.org
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