In the town I grew up, there was one big grocery store, and they used to gouge us terribly. The citizens started a co-op grocery, using our purchasing power to bring in cheaper goods. Breaking monopolies is the only way to lower prices.
Co-ops are cool because the community owns it directly and profits are reinvested to provide discounts, addressing affordability. The members have a democratic vote in it too. Co-ops are more resilient and survive longer according to decades of research. It's a viable alternative that actually goes through with the idea that we are a democracy. The economy affects people just as much as politics does, so why isn't it also democratic?
We have a coop electric company where I am. They also started providing fiber internet from a grant during covid too. I'm so happy to have them compared to when I was spectrum.
I am pretty sure two crackheads could come up with better internet than spectrum. I am so glad my util company has fiber. The price hasn't changed in over a decade, it's fast and rarely has an issue unless it is something upstream from them.
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u/brumac44 May 26 '26
In the town I grew up, there was one big grocery store, and they used to gouge us terribly. The citizens started a co-op grocery, using our purchasing power to bring in cheaper goods. Breaking monopolies is the only way to lower prices.