Socialism in Bemidji? (live, vs., store)

[Fossil Fools]

Did anyone hear the MPR story yesterday of a grocery store owner who upon retiring gave ownership of his store to his employees rather than selling out? What are your thoughts on this? Is this just altruism or a type of socialism one would not mind happening?

Northern Minnesota has always had a history of socialism so is this par for the course or something different?

Leuken's Bemidji grocery sells to employees after 46 years | Minnesota Public Radio News

[Beenhere4ever]

An employee-owned and run business is not "socialism". They exist by the thousands. I lost count of the number of TV shows telling the story of another one. United Airlines was once one of them. I think Americans need to be less imprecise in the terminology they use. I once was an owner of North Country Co-op.

[Fossil Fools]

Wiki definition of socialism

Socialism is an economic system characterised by social ownership of the means of production and co-operative management of the economy,[1] and a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to cooperative enterprises, common ownership, state ownership, or citizen ownership of equity.[2] There are many varieties of socialism and there is no single definition encapsulating all of them.[3] They differ in the type of social ownership they advocate, the degree to which they rely on markets or planning, how management is to be organised within productive institutions, and the role of the state in constructing socialism.

1. ^ socialism Britannica ACADEMIC EDITION. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
2. 
   O'Hara, Phillip (September 2003). Encyclopedia of Political Economy, Volume 2. Routledge. p. 71. ISBN 0-415-24187-1. "In order of increasing decentralization (at least) three forms of socialized ownership can be distinguished: state-owned firms, employee-owned (or socially) owned firms, and citizen ownership of equity."
3. 
   Peter Lamb, J. C. Docherty. Historical dictionary of socialism. Lanham, Maryland, UK; Oxford, England, UK: Scarecrow Press, Inc, 2006. p. 1.

[golfgal]

Hy-Vee has operated under this model for many, many years. It isn't an economic system, it's ONE grocery store that is owned by it's employees. They all have stock in the company. It's no different then owning stock in Best Buy, Target, etc.

This man was a friend of my Grandfather's. He is a wonderful person.

[Beenhere4ever]

By that definition, socialism came in with the pilgrims. But when the rightwing waves the bloody shirt, they are speaking of places like China and the USSR. In the USA, we've had a long and honored cooperative movement. Cooperatives are active in Republican states and no one tries to frighten the public about "what those farmers are doing". Rural cooperatives are lightyears from "socialism". They don't run the members' lives.

[Glenfield]

Originally Posted by Beenhere4ever

By that definition, socialism came in with the pilgrims. But when the rightwing waves the bloody shirt, they are speaking of places like China and the USSR. In the USA, we've had a long and honored cooperative movement. Cooperatives are active in Republican states and no one tries to frighten the public about "what those farmers are doing". Rural cooperatives are lightyears from "socialism". They don't run the members' lives.

This is a pretty good post, but you ruined it with the "rightwing (sic) waves the bloody shirt" comment. Who's referring to martyrs here?

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Glenfield

This had the makings of a pretty good post until you ruined it with the "rightwing (sic) waves the bloody shirt" comment. What on earth does that mean and how would it relate to this thread?

Based on some of the comments I've heard down here in Georgia by what I consider ultra-conservative types, the term "socialist" seems to be largely equated with totalitarian regimes like the former USSR, Nazi Germany, etc., even though those governments were not socialist.

It's almost a swear word for some. Even bike paths down here are seen as part of some evil socialist plot to take over the US.

Think I'm kidding? Search for "Agenda 21" and "Georgia".

[Glenfield]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

Based on some of the comments I've heard down here in Georgia by what I consider ultra-conservative types, the term "socialist" seems to be largely equated with totalitarian regimes like the former USSR, Nazi Germany, etc., even though those governments were not socialist.

It's almost a swear word for some. Even bike paths down here are seen as part of some evil socialist plot to take over the US.

Think I'm kidding? Search for "Agenda 21" and "Georgia".

It didn't have to turn into another tiresome left wing vs. right wing thread. It could have gone in a different direction. Too bad.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Glenfield

It didn't have to turn into another tiresome left wing vs. right wing thread. It could have gone in a different direction. Too bad.

I agree, but everything in the country seems to be politically polarizing these days. I wonder why that is?

[dober1]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Hy-Vee has operated under this model for many, many years. It isn't an economic system, it's ONE grocery store that is owned by it's employees. They all have stock in the company. It's no different then owning stock in Best Buy, Target, etc.

This man was a friend of my Grandfather's. He is a wonderful person.

I agree, Leukens good store and good employees. Good for all of them.