What's participatory economics, you might ask? And why do I equate it with hope in my post? In short, it has something to do with the next vancity boards of directors election, and a project that could help change the economy as we know it.

The very model of how we make
decisions likely needs to change when we see that we still can hardly make
decisions to make minor reforms on imperative issues, like getting behind
minute reductions in green house gases. . 
This is why we propose that we transition to the model of participatory

For me there is no change until there is systemic change.  As long as we have the corporate, fiat/fractional reserve monetary system we will only chase the horrible crashes (eco, economic, social) that are inevitable when everyone has a car (uses that systems).  Our current economic ideological economic appartuses, which are predicated on exploitation, competition and greed will never imbue direct democracy, social justice and sustainability.