If one considers just who is doing what , then it can be seen that the conflict is not between people and profit, but between people with the money to control businesses and people without that money. The members of course. So in this light, the members who founded PIFC were seeking a particular kind of profit. And these profits are made in the PIFC through cooperation, and are shared by all. The critical means by which co-ops can provide profit for the people is to remain independent of the capital market.
Capitalists exist because it takes a large amount of money to start a business.
Therefore either the business is owned by the wealthy, or the wealthy lend the money to the business owners who then must pay them interest. In either case, the advantage is always in the direction of those with money. The fundamental purpose of cooperation is to escape the capital market. So Wells Eddleman is exactly right in warning that the PIFC not take on too much debt. Bankruptcy, in very short order.