Organized Money: Powering the Next Progressive Era

Mestrich, who runs a socially responsible bank, and Pinsky, an author and editor who led the community development financial institution industry, outline a progressive strategy to organize money so that the progressive movement can influence the mainstream financial system and policymakers. Noting that conservatives have a strong influence over organized money, they propose a market-scale, full-service progressive financial network to organize the wealth that progressive people and enterprises hold, including banks, insurance companies, credit unions, venture capital and private equity firms, impact investors, community development financial institutions, socially responsible investment managers, and individuals. They emphasize the idea that public gains need to balance private ones, a principle that has been undermined by the conservative and libertarian pursuit of self-interest towards greed shaped by market fundamentalism, and focus on a strategy that allows for private gains along with inclusive and sustainable social, economic, environmental, and political outcomes. They discuss the conservative roots, causes, sources, and influence of financial power, as well as trends that can create a path to the next progressive era, and how progressives must organize money by increasing progressive ownership of financial institutions. Annotation ©2020 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
Two leading figures from the world of finance show how progressives can take their money away from conservative financial institutions and put it to good, lasting social useThe U.S. financial system may be working for some people, but it isn't working for most of us who care about progressive causes. In fact, our financial system taps your money to pay for a conservative agenda. It's a heads-they-win, tails-you-lose game when the fees you pay to use your credit card finance fossil fuels even when you buy green products. Conservative "money muscle" shapes our culture, society, politics, and public policy.In this bold call to action, two leaders from the world of progressive finance propose a strategy to challenge this conservative dominance of the financial sector: organized progressive money. It's a $10 trillion plan for a full- service, market-scale progressive financial system. Mestrich and Pinsky explain how progressives can take control with financial institutions of their own and products that align with progressive values.Organized Money warns that until progressives organize their money, they will lose again and again while conservatives will keep winning. It's a crucial message for the next progressive era, starting with the make-or-break 2020 election cycle, where American voters will be presented with a choice between conservative market fundamentalism that leaves them out or inclusive restorative capitalism that is good for people as well as profits.Written in clear, engaging prose for non- financial readers and finance leaders alike, Organized Money is required reading for everyone ready to confront the excesses of conservative power and influence.