Why I am NOT proud to be British
Manipulated by media, blame is being laid on groups perceived as outsiders, immigrants and overseas minorities. It makes me very sad and very angry. Understandable outrage at lack of jobs is being twisted into hatred against groups that have very little to do with the issue.
Published on 16 May 2013
Both the left and the right harken back with nostalgia to days when things were better for the middle class. Were things really better for everyone? If so, what can be done to regain what both the left and the right feel has been lost?
They said, 'We can't win the race to the bottom.' The bottom were the deaths in Bangladesh.
Cannot cut wages in half, as Caterpillar demanded, then they closed the plant.
Then they closed a non-union plant.
Bailouts for banks and the auto industry.
Monte McNaughton, PC MPP: Lambton-Kent
Finn Poschmann, C.D. Howe Institute
Charlotte Yates, McMaster University
Jim Stanford, CAW
Manipulated by media, blame is being laid on groups perceived as outsiders, immigrants and overseas minorities. It makes me very sad and very angry. Understandable outrage at lack of jobs is being twisted into hatred against groups that have very little to do with the issue.
Monte:
Create an environment where businesses expand, the private sector will hire people and we have to start by balancing books.
They began by quoting MPP Randy Hillier, back off government and all that: he wants back to the good old days.
Forty years ago, Ontario's skies shone bright with endless opportunities.
Ontario is responsible for 40% of the Canadian economy.Society is stronger when everyone has a chance to participate.
Income tax collected proportionally. Income transfers, direct public service in social programs is enhancing the life of citizens.
Ratio of the top 5th to the bottom 5th of incomes. 53:1. Once you add in transfer payments and income taxes, you get to 9:1, to narrow the gap.
Value of healthcare, and education, you get down to 6:1.
2 comments:
It makes me sad, and makes me feel helpless. I used to belong to the International Typographical Union, one of, if not THE oldest labour union in the world, because of course printers had to be educated people. It no longer exists, having been forced into mergers with other unions like the Communications Workers of America, and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union.
When all the old ITU members are dead (the youngest are 50-ish or maybe 60-ish now) their contribution to the economy as well as the labour movement will be forgotten.
A sad state of affairs.
Where will organized labour find leaders like the late NDP Member of Parliament Joy Langan, herself a member of the ITU?
Things are unlikely to improve under the Harper regime, and I wonder if the middle class will be able to bounce back after he and his cronies have done their worst.
I hope you are well, Jenn.
Luv, K
We have gone too far to the right. there will be correction. With what Harper has done with such an exaggerated shift, the shift back will go too far. we want to stay in a middle ground.
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