RE: Slightly extended (was Re: [Futurework] David Ricardo, Cavema n Trade vs. Modern Trade

[Cordell . Arthur]

Title: Re: Slightly extended (was Re: [Futurework] David Ricardo, Caveman  Trade vs. Modern Trade

So what if all the righteous middle class people stopped sending their unused canned goods to the food banks?  Well the hungry people might just vote in a government that promises radical change.   Right now everyone wins: political parties promise change and don't; middle class feels good about sending food to the food bank; working poor can supplement their foodstock by heading to the food bank.  The system may be quite stable.  Maybe there really is no wish to change.   arthur -----Original Message----- From: Ed Weick [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2003 9:08 AM To: Thomas Lunde; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Slightly extended (was Re: [Futurework] David Ricardo, Caveman Trade vs. Modern Trade Thomas, very good posting.  Ontario has just raised the minimum wage from peanuts to peanuts.  Many of the poor are working full time and even double time, but are still unable to meet the rent or buy enough food, let alone get their kids the kinds of in toys ("status goods") that are going around.  They can try eating freedom and justice, but they don't taste very good when you can't make ends meet.   Ed ----- Original Message ----- From: Thomas Lunde To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 3:36 AM Subject: Re: Slightly extended (was Re: [Futurework] David Ricardo, Caveman Trade vs. Modern Trade   They don't need money, Thomas. They need justice and the freedom to enjoy it.   Harry   Thomas: In a way, you are right.  Being poor and working with the poor as customers and neighbours let's me see the many ways the poor are lacking justice.  A recent article in the paper made the outstanding statement that 37% of workers in Canada are not covered by the Labour Code and laws.  When wages for the poor are kept artificially low, then the only way to compensate to maintain a survival standard is to work more.  Of course, there are about 4 to 5% who are mentally incapable, or physically disabled or in the case of single mothers, family challenged.  However, the work more solution has only produced the working poor, who still have to use food banks and subsidized housing, if thet can get it.  Not only that, as you suggest, they do not even have the freedom to enjoy what little they have.  I would agree, that justice and freedom would go a long way to compensating for money - or as you might suggest, make the earning and spending of money a by product of an effective system of justice and the freedom and thereby create a surplus to enjoy. Respectfully, Thomas Lunde