Abstract
Recently American TV viewers had the opportunity to see and hear the outstanding work that a Father Daniel McClellan was doing with the Indians in Peru through credit unions. It was a story of cooperation in action - a story of how desperately poor illiterate people had virtually lifted themselves by their bootstraps from economic degradation to pride in ownership of decent homes, rewarding occupations, and entire community improvement. | This illustration in modern times depicts what dedicated, intelligent, and persistent leadership can do in showing how people can aid themselves through mutual help, despite the sniping and corrosive influence of Peruvian Communists and detractors of self-help activities. | This story is similar to that of achievements of the fishermen and farmers in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, except that its setting is south of the equator instead of north of it. However, if is not necessary to go abroad to find outstanding successes among cooperatives. In practically all sections of the United States, success stories may be found among marketing, farm supply, and farm service cooperatives on a local and regional basis. | In the free-enterprise economy of the United States of America today, the cooperative has been, and is, a potent factor in retarding the rapid march of this country toward socialism and a government-manipulated economy. Cooperatives are no longer operating on an experimental or pilot plant basis but instead are well-established, going concerns that are an integral part of the business community and are therefore making a great impact on rural areas.