May 17, 2021
Episode109

Mutualism and the Next Economy With Sara Horowitz

The economy has fundamentally changed, and workers have been left behind. To get into why and how, and what we can do about it, I’ve invited Sara Horowitz. Sara is the founder and executive director of the Freelancers Union and author of the new book Mutualism: Building the Next Economy from the Ground Up. After listening, learn more at Sara’s website www.build-mutualism.net.

Praise For Mutualism: Building The Next Economy From The Ground Up…

“Horowitz gives us the model to build our next progressive institutions. Her vision provides a path forward to build the next safety net that will meet the needs of all workers in the next economy—an economy that is already here!”—Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers

“Horowitz, who had the brilliant idea of founding a union for freelancers, explains in this thoughtful book how in an age of huge economic turbulence, mutualism will play a major role in building a fairer nation for every American worker.”—Steven Greenhouse, author of Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor

“In describing a mutualist sector, Horowitz draws on the collective economic development strategies used by cooperative, union, mutual, and faith-based movements. I’m particularly pleased that she includes the critical bridging roles A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin played in connecting these movements during the civil rights era. This book provides wonderful insights for what to do now.”—Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, PhD, economist, John Jay College, CUNY

“Horowitz offers readers an entirely new way to think about our needs as workers and citizens and about the institutions we might build to meet those needs. Here is the guidebook to a language and tradition that America must rediscover in order to thrive in the twenty-first century.”—Oren Cass, director of American Compass and author of The Once and Future Worker: A Vision for the Renewal of Work in America

“In this powerful, deeply encouraging book, Sara Horowitz argues that while neither markets nor governments have been able to reduce inequality or increase inclusion, we have a third option: mutualism—or the creation of organizations that combine commitment to the public good with the ability to sustain themselves economically.”—Rebecca Henderson, economist, Harvard University

Listen:

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Sources for audio clips

Intro
President Biden On Workers' Rights to Organize & Unionize - The White House https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZpUD9KgYc4
Welcome Change: Mutualism and the next economy - Ashoka https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WogKTLwcxh8
Ronald Reagan-Remarks on the Air Traffic Controllers Strike (August 3, 1981) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc8brHWFZMY
Solidarity Not Charity: Mutual Aid & How to Organize in the Age of Coronavirus - DemocracyNow! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y0FsCtqibc
Biden on Unions
President Biden On Workers' Rights to Organize & Unionize - The White House https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZpUD9KgYc4
COVID and economic inequality
How the Coronavirus Pandemic Exposes Economic Inequality | The New Yorker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOxgg09RGM0
Ben Franklin Fire Mutual
Benjamin Franklin: Founding Father and Fireman - Great  Big Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPU0_q5vckA
Mutual Aid Societies
Introduction to Mutual Aid - PraxisU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vtsm6z98gg
Van Jones
Creating an economy that works for everyone: Van Jones at TEDxPresidio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p9rC5DVQRA

Show Credits

Host: Alyssa Milano
Executive Producer: Alyssa Milano
Associate Producer: Ben Jackson
Editing and Sound Production: Natasha Jacobs
Music by: Josh Cooke & Eleisha Eagle