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
