Thorwegian ❄️ on Nostr: i can see why people would describe cooperatives as socialist. but... the biggest ...
i can see why people would describe cooperatives as socialist. but...
the biggest ones in Scandinavia very much operate like businesses, including advertising and using various incentives to attract customers. you don't look at them and go "this looks socialist".
it's more like "shop with us and get cash backs and discounts"
the difference is more on the upper levels. no shareholders. the people who join the co-op are the "shareholders" and the amount you trade for determines your share of the profits.
it's not like you walk into the Coop grocery chain or get insurance from SpareBank1 and the flag of the Soviet union is waving there.
the biggest ones in Scandinavia very much operate like businesses, including advertising and using various incentives to attract customers. you don't look at them and go "this looks socialist".
it's more like "shop with us and get cash backs and discounts"
the difference is more on the upper levels. no shareholders. the people who join the co-op are the "shareholders" and the amount you trade for determines your share of the profits.
it's not like you walk into the Coop grocery chain or get insurance from SpareBank1 and the flag of the Soviet union is waving there.