On Progress

My second week of work involved a lot of information. My boss and I created a work plan. Much of the plan for this week demanded my familiarization with conventional finance and community development finance. Credit. Access to Credit. Equity.

I got bored pretty quickly.

But boredom is no excuse. I needed to learn about these things in order to review past grant applications and future funding opportunities.

Somewhere in the mix I came across the practices of credit unions. Hurray for the credit unions! I was so happy. I thought we would be working with these bastions of monetary virtue to help the agricultural community.

Then three minutes later my boss mentioned that they were gouging young farmers with attractive programs containing hidden interest rates.

O come now! These are the credit unions. The epitome of third way economics. Co-ownership. It does not get any better than the unions. They are the harbingers of progress.

Then it hit me. Progress is not the end. Progress is the means. The action, not the fruits of action. Americans need to learn how to progress, not shoot for Progress. Over a century ago, credit unions represented humans progressing from conventional banking methods to locally supported economies through member driven finance. Credit unions are not progress; they represent progress.

I believe that no matter how many benchmarks we make, there will always be reasons for progressing. Society ignores injustices until they expand to an unprecedented level.

Theoretically, I still think credit unions and cooperatives of all sorts are favorable. But I must honor progress by acting, even if it means turning a critical eye, on institutions I agree with.

Next week, I may be further researching the interest rates of credit unions. But that does not mean I am against them. It means that I am enacting my natural instinct to progress.