What's economy got to do with it?

Continuing with my economics metaphor: Business Essentials, by Ebert & Griffin, say there are 3 types of economic systems: planned economies, free market (capitalistic) economies, and mixed economies (pp.8-10) We operate within a free market economic system, where the the needs and wishes of the consumer to demand goods and services, and the ability and willingness of producers to supply goods and services, is what determines the price we must pay for those those goods and services. The so-called "equilibrium price", the price paid in the marketplace, is where the demand for goods (how many people want a product) meets the supply (how many "manufacturers" will/can produce what's wanted).

My analogy is this: I conclude that a Union membership's DEMAND for new services from our Branch, or new ways of providing traditional services (such as leadership, defense, education, or community), is what is going to determine what we receive from our Branch. And the willingness and ability of our leaders to SUPPLY innovative and traditional services is going to determine the price we're willing to pay. That is, if we're fed up, we'll put more effort out (this is the price we must pay) to improve our Branch, and if we're content, we'll continue with a low or silent demand for new goods and services.

I know this metaphor is awkward, and feels "heavy" - but sometimes it helps to look at things in new ways, and to "stetch" ourselves with how we learn & communicate. So, please permit me a little more leeway with this analogy.

Private enterprise (and free market economies) depends on 4 things (p. 16):

1. Private property rights - your time and your money, your house and "stuff" belong to you; you decide how you spend, save, protect, or invest it;
2. Freedom of choice - you can work for whom you want, HOW you want, for how long, and where; you can even move on, or zone out;
3. Profits - you get to keep the benefits of your labor; and, you can try to "get more" out of life by assuming greater "risk" - doing things out-of-the-ordinary; creating or building where and what no one before you has;
4. Competition - this exists when 2 or more enterprises (or entrepreneurs) try to use the same "resources" (time, money, or machinery) to market their product to the same "consumers".

In a Union, we are both producers and consumers. What we get OUT of the Union is determined by what we're willing to put INTO it! And we will only PROFIT from our Union if we're willing to pay the price. So - what are your demands? What are you willing to supply? And what price will you pay to profit today, and hopefully prosper tomorrow?