It Begins

It's official, ReCapitalism has launched its first project.  Our first endowment project will be directed at educational arts and athletics programs, at schools where these programs have been lacking funding, beginning in the Long Beach, California community.  ReCapitalism will set up sustainable funding models across several financially neglected aspects of society, but we will begin with education.

The future of our society, American, global, human...however you'd like to look at it -- is largely dependent on our ability to educate and advance ourselves to a level in which we can sustain our prominence...or existence, depending on perspective.  The US government has taken the approach to focus on STEM education; while this is a good thing, it comes at the expense of the arts and athletics.  Since development in these neglected areas aids creativity in individuals, we argue that this can harm innovation; a key American identity.  It is also counter-indicative of the emphasis on individualism, and providing support for all areas of interest.

So we see that an investment in the arts and education on the whole is a benefit to society.  Now, where do we direct that investment?  The schools seem an obvious choice, but which schools?  And how?  Answering the first question, ReCapitalism will begin its program in the Long Beach, CA community, and direct its investment towards funding arts and athletics programs for elementary schools with the lowest median income per family.  Why elementary schools?  To begin positive influences and support growth in all areas of learning early in children's lives.

To the second question of how we will direct the investment.  The ReCap endowment for this initial project will distribute 3.5% of principal on an annual basis to support the programs at the chosen schools in Long Beach.  With this level of distribution, the endowment's target is not only to maintain but to grow principal on annual basis.  This will support larger funding levels for programs over time, creating a truly economically sustainable funding source for the arts and athletics programs in places where they are most effective in transforming lives.

But enough strategery, on to the big (stop laughing) unveil....

We Got a Zazzle Shop

Oh yeah!  We'll follow up with a "talent request" post, and would be delighted if you could refer any help.  As you can tell, ReCapitalism is truly a grassroots effort, and has a nonprofit Mission, so we need all the help we can get to make the greatest impact that we can.

Proceeds from purchases at the Zazzle Shop will flow directly to the ReCap LB project.  The breakdown of the proceeds for each product will be displayed in the product description, but will typically be broken down as such: $0.50 for ReCap operations, $0.50 for the designer (submissions welcome if you'd like to make a few bucks, and help the kids in the process), approximately 15% of the retail price for the endowment, and the rest is ReCap's COGS to Zazzle.

This is just the beginning of our plans, but you've got to start somewhere.  Help us kick off our new, entrepreneurial approach to giving back within the community by making a purchase at the storefront, or submitting a design for the storefront!  We'll be posting updates with sales totals and fund balances, etc. in the interest of complete and full transparency as an organization, and will be updating the store with more products, so keep checking back.  Please also share the link and help spread the word; we can't foment change without your help in inciting a digital riot! ;-)

So Here's The Plan

Recapitalism (the brand) will be a business model based on giving back to local communities through an endowment-like process, with an initial (and likely ongoing) focus on education and infrastructure. Given that the business and idea are marking their beginning in Long Beach, this will be our first community project focus. We expect to increase our analytic sophistication with growth, so that purchases and contributions made from other locations can be directed into community-based projects that are local to the activity.  This will increase the visibility of the Recapitalism project and demonstrate tangible impact of partnering with the program.

In addition, the project aims to be highly transparent so as to encourage feedback and participation. The better our margins, the more the community benefits, so we want to share our successes and challenges in a way that is visible to everyone.  From capital raised to margins to who gets paid what, to the endowment and exact community contributions, all information related to Recapitalism operations will be shared publicly so that our customers and partners remain aware of their sustainable financial impact on society.

I'm fully aware that very little of what I've been writing makes little sense to most people at this point.  Recapitalism is still a theory without a practice, and is a complex adaptation on the current capitalistic paradigm. And I'm using big words with no tangible operation with which to relate them.  That stops with our next entry, as we roll out our first product entries, our income and community reinvestment structure, and begin reporting our progress.  We'll also need the community's assistance in many areas of the operation, and of course we'll need everyone's support of the program in order to grow our vision.  Buy into the movement, support the community, and have some SWAG to show your support.

We'll unveil the grassroots storefront shortly!

Another Weekend Thought...

Again piggy-backing on the previous entry, here's another quick thought for the weekend.  Given the momentum of income inequality in our current system, how can we make the following statement/mantra true without constraining legislation?

"Together, everyone wins!"

Re-Capitalism is undertaking the task to make this a reality.

It's Even in the News...

To follow up on my previous post, this little gem was in the LA Times today...

Discovery, Chipotle, CVS top list of highest CEO-to-worker pay ratios

And not to demonize these companies, but it's a reality of today's corporate world.  And is this really the direction that we want to be headed as a society?  Again, not promoting legislative change, rather an examination of internal fortitude.

A Note on Income Inequality

I'd like to begin by stating that there is nothing wrong with obtaining wealth and being successful. Financial reward is part of the beauty of capitalism, and when innovative individuals and businesses create better and more efficient products, services, and processes, this should absolutely be rewarded.

As a civilized society with means in addition to moral and ethical values, we have collectively decided that there is a limit to how unsuccessful someone can be.  This is where the social safety net comes into play in many cases. Again, there is nothing wrong with helping one another to try to reach a minimum standard of living; in fact, it's quite a noble endeavor.  And we may not be able to reach everybody in striving for that minimum standard, as I am always acutely aware when I stroll through downtown Long Beach.

Yet, if that moral and ethical imperative didn't exist, capitalism, for better or worse, would take on a Darwinian effect of removing the most unsuccessful from society.  These people would not be able to afford or obtain such basic necessities as food or healthcare and be removed from society's equation.  Again, not that our current model perfectly avoids this fate in all instances, but we try through social programs, outreach services, and in our general internal moral imperative to help those in need.

That Darwinian effect would exact a devastating human toll, one that I think we can agree is unacceptable.  But hypothetically, if implemented, would lead to far less wealth inequality than currently exists.  Those with the means of production would be more reliant on their workforce to succeed and survive in this model, therefore reducing that infamous CEO-to-workforce pay ratio.  Herd mentality is strong, and in a world of survival of only the most fit, that segment would naturally band together in each area of the economy to increase odds of survival.

Out current model bounds the low end of subsistence, yet provides no reigns or incentive of human reinvestment on the upper end of success.  With consciences clean of metaphorically leaving anyone to fend against the wolves (or so we may convince ourselves), it's no wonder that income inequality is an issue that is only gaining momentum.

So how do we address and reverse this trend within the constraints of our current model, and not legislate the change, which would be politically unpalatable?  Stay tuned....

Today's Soul-less Corporate Environment

Not to (overly) condone the 3 martini lunch, but when did a more open working environment and corporate generosity just disappear? It was certainly before my time; I've known nothing but the callous and demanding corporate culture in which much of America currently works. In a world where C-level management is compensated at a higher ratio compared to the overall workforce than ever before, today's "front-line" employees are not only paid less, but are provided with a much less inviting environment with less leniency, fewer perks, and a much lower level of autonomy in completing their jobs.....and they're required to be ever-more efficient. This equation and the direction and momentum of it's change has never made sense to me. Yes, it is the way things work (currently), but this is not one of those things that needs to be axiomatically accepted. "God grant me the serenity," and this requires the wisdom to understand the difference; that a change is possible. Not with laws, but with the purchasing power of our own wallets. We can truly "be the change [we] wish to see in the world." More to come...

Weekend Thought...

As I share more about Re-Capitalism, I want to drive the conversation and evolution of the brand's movement with meaningful slogans and mantras.  I see so many inspirational quotes on social media these days, it only seems fitting that we create some of our own.  That said, this weekend's mantra...


"Re-Capitalism: Exclusively Inclusive."


Discuss.