On June 9th, at the Strategies for a New Economy 2012 Conference, a historian and political economist discussed the urgent need for new institutions. He argued that the current system is

On June 9th, at the Strategies for a New Economy 2012 Conference, a historian and political economist discussed the urgent need for new institutions. He argued that the current system is politically stalemated, economically stagnant, and decaying, despite managing the wealthiest nation.

He emphasized that public awareness of these systemic failures creates an opportunity for fundamental rethinking. As an example, he cited the Cleveland experience, which successfully integrated profits into the community, supported by existing purchasing institutions.

Gar Alperovitz, a political economy professor at the University of Maryland and co-founder of the Democracy

Gar Alperovitz, a political economy professor at the University of Maryland and co-founder of the Democracy Collaborative, delivered the Green Party convention's keynote address, aired by Democracy Now. Emphasizing "we," Alperovitz stressed the importance of third-party politics to challenge a corporate-run society.

Author of "America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth, Our Liberty, and Our Democracy," he argued that systems are defined by wealth control. He highlighted that "the top 400 people own more wealth now than the bottom 185 million Americans taken together," calling it a "medieval structure."