Re: [Futurework] Local living economies

Fri, 13 Jun 2003 15:17:24 -0700

Well, glad to see there was some talk.
 
Now... As far as Loblaws being the "fairmarket pricing store" (as I understand some of the last few mailings), in London, On. Loblaws has some of the most expensive items (and located in the most upscale of neighbourhoods) in the supermarkets of London. Yes, they are somewhat less than a local Mac's or 7-11 franchise as those are now what pass for local neighbourhood stores. But most of the underpaid, poorly paid, minimum wage serfs have to shop at stores like Pricechopper or Food Basics, where most items were 10 to 20% less and where the fresh produce will last barely 50% as long in the fridge. But this is all they can afford.
 
That and the ubiquitous coupons mentioned a couple of months ago manage to keep many of the people in eats of some sort.
 
And, I agree, these stores are easier to shop at IF you can get to them in the suburbs where they are generally located as many of the lower strata now endure life in the "core" due to the prevailing slums that allow them cheap enough rent. These are not bums or derelicts. These are hard working families simply trying to make ends meet. Those at the fringe of lower and middle class and who are being pushed deeper under the grinding wheel of commerce.
 
But, for clarification, my "masses" incorporate not only the fringes of society that are growing faster than any other group within the population due to many of the consequences of "economic growth" that have been heretofore mentioned through various mailings of this list, but the upwardly mobile middle class suburbanites who are now also feeling the pinchers of corporate well being.
 
But, food is only one (although a necessary item for life) of the reasons for my comment. McDonalds and Wendy's are not Loblaws, neither are "higher class" restaurants. As to the stores in the mall hiring locals, maybe, unless it is more attuned to "self-serve" and even if it is not, the pay will only be minimum which is not a "living" wage in this country as it has not been allowed to keep up with inflation for more than 50 years. This, of course is one of the things that helps keep prices low and economists happy.
 
When one considers the vast rise in profits for the owners of businesses (corporations are worse) over the same time period (incomes rose from ~40% of the average wage earned to ~1000% of the average wage earned within the company -- as near as my memory can offer), one can see which demographic group will be growing the fastest.
 
And, as much as I agree with Karen about the possibilities of a balancing act, I feel there is only one direction, under the present conditions, that the middle class will go and that is to be splintered and "trickled down" to the lower class strata.
 
And, yes, I do know some "affluent" middle class as in my brother who is a pharmacist and their friends who, as "born again Christians" all believe GeeDubya is doing the world a great favour and should take it to the next level of "crusade".
I'm sure they would happily usher in a new dark age without even knowing what they were doing.
 
Aside: As far as the "political clout " of farmers, Ed (you see I'm jumping around here in order to get caught up), it is the behemoths like Cargill and ADM that have the clout, not the farmers I ever worked with. If you had any idea of the cost of production in this country, Britain, the U.S. of our foods, I'm sure you would not enter there. The main profits go to the "middlemen" in the system, the pesticide/GM companies like Monsanto, Bayer, and Ciba Geigy, the shippers/packers and then the grocery store conglomerates like Loblaws and A&P. Most farmers achieve a bare existence.
 
Thank you Karen ..."it is about land use laws, economic diversity, integrating existing and planning new infrastructures towards better managed growth, projecting into the future with more precautionary approaches instead of “go for broke we have to do this or else” attitudes.  I do not wish to return to the last century (in most instances) either, but "helter-skelter" is not the answer.
 
 
Darryl
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Ed Weick
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 5:38 AM
Subject: Re: [Futurework] Local living economies

Arthur, if we differ it's not by very much.  We get a steady stream of milk, eggs and newspapers from a local convenience store.  I go there most mornings.  The owner knows the neighborhood well and, being from Lebanon, knows a lot about the Middle East too.  I enjoy shopping there.  My wife and I also spend a lot of time at the local (Parkdale) farmers' market.
 
When I was a kid, there were many general stores that sold everything that is now available at large supermarkets.  Like your friend Bob, they knew the community and the neighbourhood, and I too mourn their passing.
 
The reason I wrote what I did was because I was somewhat provoked at Darryl's reference to the "masses" once again showing their stuff.  He does seem to want to indulge in rhetoric.  The point I was trying to make is that the masses really don't have much choice.  I too would rather shop at Mr. Gerber's general store.  But to do that I would have to drive some two thousand miles west and some fifty or sixty years into the past.  Shopping at the local Loblaws is ever so much easier and allows you time for other things.

Ed Weick
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2003 3:28 PM
Subject: RE: [Futurework] Local living economies

Ed,
 
I think we differ here.  For years I bought gasoline at a station owned and operated by a local.  His name was Bob. He pumped the gas, did some cursory checks on the car and was a fixture in the community.  His presence close to a busy street meant that someone in trouble, a lost child, a bullying drunk---would be observed.  Help could be summoned.  His presence conferred an externality on the community.  He was part of social cohesion.  As I noted in earlier posts the company pulled his franchise and offered him a station in the suburbs, a self serve station with many pumps.  More turnover, more people pumping their own gas.  Savings for individuals, more profits for the company--but the externality that was the watchful presence of Bob.  Well Bob also didn't do well in the new large anonymous station---he died of a heart attack.  His old station was shut down and is now a  parking lot.  Desolate.
 
Loblaws does deliver high quality at low prices and I shop there as well.  I am willing to shop more locally just to keep the community alive and am willing to pay more in my grocery bill since I believe that in this way I am "buying" community.
 
The Box Stores are there for one reason only: return on investment.  The buildings are meant to last 15 to 20 years.  Then?  Then they are torn down, remodelled (if the neighbourhood can support it)  or otherwise abandoned.  It is all about short term gain.  About making profits and moving on.
 
arthur 

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