There have been several political efforts promoting this philosophy for the last several decades since the 1979 bipartisan "Ownership Campaign", with Norman Kurland as the Presidential Candidate and Harlem organizer Ennis Francis as his running mate. Around the turn of the 21st century there was an effort called the American Revolutionary Party. Then The Unite America Party was formed in 2012, and officially registered a state party in Kentucky. Help us organize nationally and in every state. The Economic Democracy Act Network is a 501c4 that raises funds to advertise and promote the Economic Democracy Act, and as a part of that mission may support candidates who endorse the proposed legislation, and the Unite America Party. The best place to organize regarding elections, candidates, ballot initiatives, and other political efforts is here: uniteamericaparty.org
About The Movement
The proposed Economic Democracy Act legislation was originally developed by Louis Kelso, who invented ESOPs - Employee Stock Ownership Plans. His Washington DC counsel, Norman Kurland, promoted Kelso's work and merged those widespread ownership philosophies with the "social justice" teachings of Father William Ferree. This became known as the "Just Third Way", because it is focused on justice as the primary goal of social tools. Another label is "Economic Personalism" designating sacredness of the individual person as a primary principle and paradigm of thought, especially as expressed through the inalienable human right to personal ownership of productive property. This, in turn, provides the basis of social justice. So are we SJWs? Well...yes. By our definition. That phrase is often misused and inaccurately equated with redistribution. But we define it as a particular virtue whose object is the common good of all human society, rather than, as with individual justice, the individual good of any member or group. It is one of the basic social virtues in the field of social morality. Social justice guides humans as social beings in creating and perfecting organized human interactions, or institutions. It is the principle for restoring moral balance and harmony in the social order.
We can empower individual persons within a more constructive society without socialism. Actually redistributive policies have been a big contributor to disruption of order, yet they seem to grow in size and scope. Despite those efforts, wealth disparity continues to expand as well. And even in places where capitalism prevails most there is increasing wealth disparity and persistent suffering by the poor because money tends to concentrate. We believe a better path is to think of how true free markets should work, empowering all instead of a few, reducing the need for intrusive government. This is why a monetary and economic system based on the Economic Democracy Act would be better than (and resolve the conflict of) capitalism and socialism. Help us grow the movement by doing one tiny thing.
The Center for Economic and Social Justice is the all-volunteer (since 1984) 501c3 organization that serves as an educational resource for our movement. Donations to CESJ are tax deductible. Learn more here: cesj.org
Justice University provides a free, ten-session course to learn details about the Just Third Way, the Economic Democracy Act, and other programs to empower all through ownership of productive capital. Lean more here: justiceuniversity.org. Please take the course and share the Justice University site with anyone you know seeking knowledge on issues like economics, banking, justice... and a way to end poverty, war, racism and any discrimination. Knowledge is power so you can earn Justice University Certification upon completion of the course, to give you the confidence to carry a true force for good into the world! Start your journey now at: justiceuniversity.org
The Descendants of American Slaves for Economic and Social Justice is a 501c3 established with the philosophy that the reparations needed are repairs to the economic system to have sound money that empowers every human person with ownership incomes from birth to death as an inalienable right. Other reparations conversations usually fail to answer a key question: Where will the money come from? DAS4ESJ was founded by Gene Gordon, a St. Louis activist who was instrumental in getting the first Just Third Way legislation passed in decades. The State of Missouri passed bipartisan Senate Bill 772/House Bill 2400, sponsored by Democrat State Senator Karla May and signed by Republican Governor Mike Parson, toward the establishment of a Citizen's Land Development Co-op. (A similar bill was almost passed in Illinois decades earlier, sponsored by Rep. Wyvetter Younge.) More effort is needed for implementation of the Missouri CLDC. You can learn how to help and more about this groundbreaking organization here: das4esj.org. Donations are tax-deductible.
A forward-thinking Canadian citizen is leading an international effort to advance the Just Third Way throughout the world. More information here: globaljusticemovement.org
Educators who have taught this and very similar principles: Robert Ashford, JD of Syracuse, Professor Rodney Shakespeare, Ralph P. Hall, PHD, Rev. Dr. Virgil Wood, Jane James, JD, and Sidney Greenfield, PHD.
Michael Greaney, CPA has an extensive blog with much money and banking history, including discussions of how the Just Third Way is consistent with philosophical and religious teachings here: just3rdway.blogspot.com please subscribe and share!
Rick Osbourne's Substack called "Economic Democracy" is also spreading the word. Find it here: economicdemocracy.substack.com and please subscribe and share!
Gary Reber's Website has many informative posts and offers a new book Own. Find it here: foreconomicjustice.org
Crypto-currency systems, or more broadly "distributed ledger" systems could be key in building a transparent, all-empowering money and banking system. A Just Third Way economic system will likely involve this kind of technology, but instead of using scarce assets like Bitcoin, it would provide elastic currency that matches the needs of businesses while empowering all unique individual wallet holders with dividend incomes... without inflation or deflation. "Distributed Autonomous Organizations" can be built using the banking principle and bills of exchange can be digital smart contracts. If this is important to you, help us build a community by providing your email address to the Paradime Crypto project here: paradime.org
The social media presence of the movement has a long history, we try to use accounts on leading apps to direct people to a self-hosted social site, because we have experienced shadow-banning and are vulnerable to losing the ability to communicate with our network. We built our own social media site at: capitalhomestead.org because the EDA proposal was previously called the Capital Homestead Act. We need volunteers to re-brand, rebuild and promote this social site, and help implement an upgrade with the software provider, Ning. Please consider volunteering and in the meantime connect with these social media accounts:
For Economic Justice Facebook Group
Our mission
To pass The Economic Democracy Act