The Resilience of "We the People": Finding Solutions in Community and Cooperation
Joe Holtz, General Manager Park Slope Food Cooperative
The Shockwaves of Political Upheaval
The profound sense of uncertainty that swept the nation following Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss in the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump was immediate and jarring. The shift in leadership sent shockwaves through the U.S. and around the globe. The first weeks of what many called "Trump 2.0" felt devastating. American democracy, as we knew it, seemed under threat, and the media's constant narrative of the "political new normal" only amplified the anger, frustration, and sadness in our communities.
Yet, in moments of chaos, I believe in solutions. My search for a way forward led me back to what I know best: the power of community, and specifically, the cooperative model.
The co-op model is where democracy isn't just an abstract concept; it is lived and practiced every day. It embodies self-reliance, mutual support, and solidarity—a way to show up for one another even when the broader systems seem to be failing. This post is about building that solidarity and making a tangible difference from the ground up.
Direct Democracy in Action: Lessons from the Park Slope Food Co-op
I was joined by Joe Holtz, General Manager of the Park Slope Food Co-op in Brooklyn, New York, since 1973. His co-op exemplifies the worker-member model, built on democratic governance and shared responsibility.
Joe and I discussed the co-op's origins in the early 1970s—a time of similar national upheaval driven by disillusionment over the Vietnam War, racism, and distrust of centralized power. The co-op movement was a reaction, a call for self-help and better choices, particularly regarding the food supply.
This environment birthed a unique form of governance: micro-democracy. As Joe explained, the founders, deeply distrustful of leaders, adopted a model akin to the New England town meeting. Every member who shows up gets to be heard and vote on policy.
"A lot of very wise decisions have been made by that ever-changing group of people that come to our general meetings, and a lot of not-so-good decisions have been avoided and voted down. This is kind of like direct democracy."
The co-op’s structure ensures that power is not centralized. Its bylaws require the Board of Directors to receive the "advice of the members" on all matters, cementing a culture of transparency and member empowerment. If leaders make a mistake, there is a clear pathway for members to hold them accountable. This constant, direct engagement is what makes a co-op a society—a community where people feel connected, heard, and seen.
The Vulnerability of Democratic Norms
Joe highlighted the critical lesson for our larger society: democracies are vulnerable when leaders lose respect for their norms. Just as a co-op leader must know when to share decision-making power, a national leader must understand the limits of executive power and the imperative of governing for all people.
In a democracy, we need leaders schooled in democratic ideals who will not lead in a "partisan, prejudicial, non-democratic way." The risk we see today—putting someone in charge of our democracy who is not particularly pro-democratic—is what endangers the system.
The core of democratic resilience lies in its moral foundation. The famous quote, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but bends toward justice," reminds us that while progress may feel like "five steps forward, six steps back," the long arc has seen real progress through the civil rights, women's, and environmental movements. We must not give up hope.
The Co-op Under Pressure: A Test of Unity
The difficulty of maintaining democratic norms becomes painfully clear when external conflicts introduce deep divisions.
Currently, the Park Slope Food Co-op is facing a serious democratic challenge centered around the Israel-Gaza conflict. A group of members, citing moral opposition to genocide, is proposing the co-op join a targeted boycott of certain Israeli products, aligning with the BDS movement. Another group of thousands of members finds the targeting of Israel as a nation unacceptable, feeling unwelcome and alienated by the proposed action.
The co-op's democratic structure is being tested: How does a cooperative—dedicated to welcoming all members regardless of political belief—navigate an issue that threatens its foundational unity?
This internal struggle mirrors the challenges facing our American democracy. When deeply held beliefs clash, how does the losing side continue to feel welcome and committed to the larger community?
Reclaiming the "We the People" Narrative
Our path toward normalizing democracy starts by shining a constant sunlight of transparency on what is happening. While parts of society are siloed, we must keep trying to get people to realize that more democracy is always better.
The first line of the Constitution is "We the People." It's an aspirational phrase, calling us to reach beyond our individual limitations and towards a collective vision. It's time to shift away from the "I" narrative of individualism and back towards the "we" narrative of collective action and shared growth.
Whether through a food co-op or a local community group, engaging in democratic practice allows people to find their voice, feel heard, and realize that even if they don't agree, there is a way forward.
In these dark ages for national democracy, we must use the tools we still have—a robust freedom of press and the right to organize—to elect leaders who respect the system. Most importantly, we must continue to build together within our communities, proving that the cooperative, democratic spirit of "We the People" remains the most powerful force for change.
Listen to the full episode of Let’s Talk Democracy with Joe Holtz (https://letstalkdemocracy.alitu.com/episode/34d21cf9-0c96-460c-9ef5-fb86bad696fa), and join the conversation about reclaiming the “we” in democracy.
