On Sun, 2 Nov 1997, Michael Gurstein wrote:
> A report on the conclusions of the Conference will be
> presented to the plenary on the final day of the Conference.
> Participants will also enter into a "social contract" which
> will commit them to reducing and/or eradicating poverty.
>
A contract is a contract. Here in Canada we have a high unemployment rate
and therefore high poverty plus there are the 'working poor.' The
politicians bandy about phrases like social contract without having to get
down to the nitty gritty of what a REAL, BINDING SOCIAL CONTRACT would be
like. Let's try it out with the False Creek Model Sustainable Village
here in Vancouver. It is being planned for 5,000 people. Not just poor
people of course. But I would think that a number of groups of 5,000
could be organized before it is done...and in all income levels. All have
a stake in a sustainable future.
Specifically with respect to the employable urban poor why not draft a
real social contract which would enable them to buy a complete "habitat
package" paying with the benefits they receive from various programs:
unemployment insurance to welfare to pre-employent programs? That habitat
package would include worker-owned industries, a pollution-free
environment, housing etc. And the contract would be real-the kind that a
court would uphold, not political hot air.
FWP.
(Financial Agent, Labour Welfare Party. A registered B.C. Political Party.)
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