Forum Post: Manifesto for a Just Economy

We are tired of being told we are consumers. We are first and foremost citizens. And as citizens of this society – of this world – we demand a more just, humane, and responsible consumer economy.

We want food that is natural and healthy, not laced with petrochemicals and poisons. We want food that comes from our surrounding communities, not food that is controlled by monopoly corporations and that must shipped from thousands of miles away. If we eat meat, we want it to come from humane farms, not from violent factory slaughterhouses. If our food is genetically modified, we want it to be clearly labeled as such.

We want cell phones and computers that are free from conflict minerals. We want electronics that are upgradeable and designed to last, not cynically designed for the dump in order to enhance turnover and boost corporate profits.

We want shampoos and soaps and cosmetics that are free from sulfates, parabens, lead, and neurotoxins. We want bottles and cans free from BPA and other carcinogens. We want biodegradable detergents that clean our homes without poisoning our environment. We want a Food and Drug Administration that protects us from these dangers.

We want clothes and shoes that are made by people who earn decent wages for their work, not by manufacturers who exploit sweatshop labor. We want sweatshop clothes to be labeled as such, so that we know what we’re buying.

We want sustainable electricity and power that comes from the wind and the sea and the sun, not from dangerous nuclear plants or dirty fossil fuels that come at the expense of war and death in foreign lands. We want corporations to pay as much for power as normal people do so that they have an incentive to conserve.

We want affordable public transportation that works, and cities that are designed to facilitate cyclists and pedestrians. If we must drive cars, we want them to be clean and efficient.

We want stores that support our local economies, not big-box megaplexes that drive down wages and force out small businesses. We want living wage laws so that the people who work to create the things that we buy can live decent lives.

We want an economy that facilitates human life and well-being, not an economy geared toward quick profits for corporations. We want an economy that betters our world, not an economy that exploits workers, plunders the environment, and destroys communities.