To keep this focus, I often pretend that Washington doesn't exist. St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives may be the closest thing we have to Mondragons' CLP in the Upper Midwest, and it's done a great job supporting the New Generation Co-ops here. Put money and time into co-op education. Preferably NOT through the classroom, conference or brochure, but via active participation in local economic development projects. Document successes and failures.
Action research is needed.
Those questions will become apparent through Step 3 above. The co-op model is not etched in stone. I actually am fairly optimistic about the co-op movement, but obviously I'm pretty critical of some things I've seen. By the way, I'm curious what the Canadians think about this.