In the 1980s British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said there was no such thing as society. Individuals were the thing. What individuals could grab was theirs to keep. Individuals with shorter arms were out of luck.

That view has pushed us into a more divided society. We’ve lost some of our friendliness. We don’t see ourselves when we look at others. We don’t share their pain. And we are lonely.

Severe earthquakes, COVID-19 lockdowns, hurricanes, floods, even our Olympic success, remind us that we are part of a community. We are happier when we help each other. Joy is bigger when we share it. Community/Society is real and it matters very much.

Sometimes we meet people we don’t much like, but they turn up to help. People with very different values can have good ideas.

So . . . CoOperativeNZ values treating everyone with courtesy and listening with respect. We can encourage others to follow that lead. We can join together to insist on proper health care, schools, parks and libraries for everyone. Amenities that support community!

All Lives have Meaning

What is it in “Social” that we value?

1. Not being alone
2. Being seen (but not judged)
3. Sharing all sorts of things
4. Knowing we matter to others
5. Being able to help others

That’s five benefits for individuals. Social benefits for a group?

1. Courage
2. Voice
3. Power

If we treat each other with respect and generosity we build bridges. Useful bridges which join our voices and our power.

Respecting everyone is easier if each of us sees our personal prejudices (we all have some). Acknowledge prejudice and manage it. Freed from the prejudice handicap we are comfortable meeting with all kinds of people. With our combined strength we can work toward these Social Goals.

Education: Free, from pre-school to post-graduate research. Allow everyone to use their full potential. So talent isn’t wasted!

Health: from life-long health education, to preventive medicine at all stages, to excellent hospitals and clinics, to gentle care for the elderly and the dying; we need excellent free health care. And it costs less when it’s timely and available to everyone.

Cultural resources and Recreation: Parks and sports fields; trusted broadcasting and libraries; dance and theatre; music of all kinds; learning and performing. The Re-creation of our inner selves through leisure.

Police in our community: We’ll enjoy more security by choosing recruits who are ethically fit as well as physically fit; connecting them tightly to communities; walking, biking, and being helpful. Making sure there are enough to do their many jobs. Pay and resource them properly. Our Police are our children, our parents, and our lovers. We care about them. We need them to care about us.

Mental Health and Corrections: School counselling services, clinics offering lots of therapies; support for special needs, humane treatment, and teaching in prisons.

Housing: Affordable, warm, dry living spaces suited to the residents. Housing planned and placed to build communities: neighborhood food shops, schools, green spaces for exercise and play.

Environment: Clean rivers and streams, clean air, effective pest management, national and regional parks for adventuring.

Transport: Reasonable roads, excellent rail, ferries as water taxis, ferries and trains for efficient overnight travel and freight. Safe spaces for walking and biking.

Pipes and Recycling: Healthy drinking water, suitably handled waste water, recycled everything, no more land fills.

Using our joined-together voice we can insist government uses the Reserve Bank and monetary reform effectively to provide for these needs of the community.