Darryl, we may not be too far apart. The following excerpts
from an email I sent to a friend this morning might reveal something of my point
of view:
I too mourn the passing of the left. People like J.S. Woodsworth,
M.J. Caldwell, Douglas, Stanley Knowles and the Lewises played a huge role in
shaping the universal public services that Canada has been noted
for. With the demise of the left and the ascent of the neo-cons, these
services are deteriorating, lending credence to the neo-con argument that they
should be privatized. Minimizing government intervention and staying out
of the way of business has become more important than ensuring that all
Canadians, rich or poor, have an approximately equal chance to be healthy, to
be educated, to be properly housed and to have enough food for their
kids. Many of the things that people like Douglas insisted were the
duties of a modern state to its citizens are being left to NGOs and the
churches, which, despite noble efforts, simply can't afford to do very
much.
I don't know if you've been following the situation in the US, but it's
far worse and more blatant than here. Bush's tax cuts have favoured the
rich and will do virtually nothing to stimulate the economy. They will
lead to huge budget deficits, probably meaning huge cuts to services like
Medicare and Social Security on which many millions of Americans depend.
Transfers to states will be cut as well, meaning that state governments will
not be able to afford good schools and many of the other services they
operate. What we may see in the next decade or so is a huge increase in
the American underclass, people who are not very healthy, undereducated,
underemployed and, of course, because the American myth is that everyone
can make it to the top if they but try, vilified for it.
I must say, however, that I don't like the term "masses". I
thought that kind of went out with the death of Stalin and Mao. It
suggests that everybody should jump up, flag or banner in hand, and march off in
the same direction. But to what? Pol Pot's killing fields?
Stalin's gulag?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 6:19 PM
Subject: Re: [Futurework] Local living
economies
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 -----
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
