From: nmonagha@nyx.cs.du.edu (N.O. Monaghan)
Subject: The Distributist League
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 92 18:52:32 GMT


The following article appeared in the October 1992 issue of
Candour. It illustrates how Distributist ideals can be put into
action, albeit on a small scale.

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                   The Distributist League

The Distributist League has been formed to provide people in the
Third Position and then people in the wider patriotic community,
who wish to set up their own business, with the possibility
to do so outside the slavery of usury. The philosophy behind
the League is the one outlined by G.K. Chesterton, Hilaire
Belloc and other Distributists. Its purpose is to recreate order where
disorder and exploitation are dominant to give individuals and 
their families freedom from debt and the rights of ownership where now 
the state, big business and the banks monopolise.

It is necessary to build trust and solidarity first
among people in the movement, then among people in the
community, where greed and envy are commonplace. Evil in society
is producing itself through a chain, the links of which
include moral, economic and political issues.
Abortion and the destruction of the family are often
the result of economic exploitation and usury. If we
are to win we have to break this chain.

                  The Distributist League Scheme

This comprises two parts 1. economic help, 2. marketing and advice.

A proposer first sets out his plan for a business. The business has
to be morally and politically acceptable. This plan is
presented to the Distributist League, which is made up of people
who already have businesses and are in the movement, for
advice and consideration. Among the conditions for the 
acceptance of the plan are the viability and
substance of the business. It must have the potential to
produce more than 2,000 pounds a year after expenses.

If the plan is accepted, the proposer then receives
up to a maximum (at present) of 500 pounds from the Distributist
League. This can be in various amounts [...]. The proposer 
has first signed an agreement which commits him/her to spend 
at least thirty hours a week for ten weeks (of course, this
is a minimum and many more hours may be needed!) to
ensure the success of the enterprise.

If the business is successful, the proposer repays the
loan _without interest_ over an agreed period
of time and then makes a donation of 50 pounds to
the Distributist League, thereby joining the
scheme and giving others the same chance that he has had.
If the enterprrise is not successful, the proposer will 
be given sufficient time to pay back the loan, but repaid it
must be. All the businesses in the League will help each other and
provide services to each other at cheaper rates than usual.

This is the theory, so what about the practice?
Already more than twenty individuals have donated 50 pounds
each to the Distributist League in the three months
since the scheme was launched. The League is funding and
helping with advice two new businesses, one in
Ulster and the other in Shropshire. Several more applications
are being considered.

Are _you_ prepared to help get these new businesses going
now and not in months or years? If you are prepared to help
young family men and women free themselves from
the vicious circle of usury and the endless
bureaucracy of the banks, please send your donation of
50 pounds to the Distributist League. If you prefer, this
could be in the form of two donations of 25 pounds over a month or so.
Those who help the Distributist League put ideas into
action will be sent reports on progress and new initiatives as they
happen. Please make cheques payable to THE DISTRIBUTIST LEAGUE and
send them to BCM ITP, LONDON WC1N 3XX

[from Candour, October, 1992 Vol. XLIV No 10]
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