The struggle between Progressives and Corporate Democrats currently rages.
We live in what is often described as a free enterprise system, loftily described as free market. However, any examination reveals that we don’t do much free marketing in this country. There are many barriers to economic entry, a host of monopolistic segments of the economy, a horde of anti-capitalist non compete agreements and the list goes on an on. And then, of course, we could talk about a litany of economic villains evading the free market using government subsidies, tax breaks and regulatory capture besides the constant illegal dumping of pollutants, tax evasion and direct law breaking.
It is a wonder that you can look around at the American Business landscape and wonder how any intelligent human being could describe it as a free market.
But they do.
And now we come to the idea of a government, in this case, a city run grocery store. Shouldn’t we depend of the free market for groceries and much else?
Yeah, that would seem to be the general rule.
But what if capitalism, the free market, isn’t functioning correctly? One of the tenets of the free market is that when there is a need, the free market will adroitly jump in and fill it. Many people especially economists who are very often paid to maintain a fierce defense of free market principles. That is, they get paid to write free market propaganda and they often owe their jobs to the contributions and influence of the corporate elites and our corrupt and incompetent ruling class.
The truth of the matter, the facts of the matter, is that the free market fails on a regular bases in many areas of need and of necessity and generally speaking the powers that be don’t care.
Many parts of New York are “food deserts.” Large areas with no access within a reasonable distance to buy nourishing food.
Zohran Mamdani wants to change that. He wants to create number of stores where residents of the city can buy good food and a wide variety of food for themselves and their families. He wants to step in act on behalf of his constituents, the people of New York. He wants to help protect them from malnutrition and make sure they have a healthy diet. He wants the people of his city and their children to live long and fruitful lives.
Working for the people that elected you instead of your corporate donors is a very radical idea in the Democratic Party. And Mamdani has attracted the ire of what are very kindly called Corporate Democrats. I prefer other descriptive terms.
Is it a good idea? I think it probably is but as a man of some experience a lot depends on how the program is done, and the quality of the people creating and running it.
When I was a young man, I often wondered why a great program worked at the original site but no one could duplicate it. And then I understood. One visionary leader with capability and confidence can take what in hindsight is a not very good idea and make a roaring success of it. I’ve seen it done. Leadership and energy determine many things in this nation.
This sounds like a good idea. And when you have an innovative idea and young and energetic people willing to run it, it stands a good chance of success.
For a more in-depth view of this city run grocery idea, here is an essay linked to below.
In an article entitled: Here is everything you need to know about New York experimenting with city-run grocery stores, author Katalin Nagy discusses the Mayoral candidates idea for city run grocery stores.
In a recent interview with News 12 New York, Mamdani outlined the vision for a pilot program that would include launching one store in each of the city’s five boroughs. He also mentions that the plan would potentially be supported by $60 million in public funding.
These stores would be strategically placed in areas known as “food deserts.” These are neighborhoods where access to affordable, fresh groceries is scarce. The stores would primarily sell essential items at wholesale prices to help counter rising food costs.
Mamdani’s proposal is designed as a public option for groceries that would frame access to healthy food as a basic right. In campaign videos and public comments, Mamdani has stated that these stores would operate like a civic institution, similar to a fire station or public library, and would ideally eliminate middlemen to lower grocery prices.
Zohran Mamdani might be one of those leaders we so desperately need to replace the old tired face of the Democrats and to lead a better America where the wants and needs of the people come first.
James Pilant
Pilant's Business Ethics Blog 
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