99% of the Future

Whether it`s citizenship or whether it`s morality, things that you want to change in the world have to start inside yourself. You can`t just acquiesce. You can`t be at the mall with a fannypack on, scratching your nuts, buying sneakers with lights in them. You have to be thinking. You have to be resisting. You have to be talking." George Carlin

Sometimes I wonder if 'resistance is futile" but then along comes a protest that never seems to end? Sure the efforts of some of this 99% movement seems less focused than it might but the seeds are being planted and the protests could soon separate the usual economic evangelism from some truth? It could inspire enough pressure to frame a voice for "fair and just economics" that resonates on a global level so fervent that the 1% might consider more prozac and less tax breaks for their angst?

Can non-violent protest move us out of this Corporate crazy casino economy before we drown in a neo-feudalism or environmental catastrophe? Will modern liberalism finally grab the ball and champion equality before its too late? I don`t want to sound a desperate rant from Canada where we seem to believe that we are immune and that our government does it better, but I think these World Wide Occupy protests could be just in time for all of us!  Canada is sitting on a time bomb of consumer debt and growing income inequality that seems to easy to ignore? But are we not an economic model for the world?

Even the staidly conservative Conference Board of Canada is raising the alarm. The median income of middle class Canadians has risen 5.5% over a 33 year stretch through 2009. That`s less than nothing with inflation adjustments while the wealthy are doing so much better (looks like that stat is probably duplicated around the developed World). And surely these moneyed folk deserve it more than most? Hence why else would Canada`s income gap between the wealthy and poor be rising faster that it does in America?

We`ve all heard the story of CEO`s who make 400 times an average employee (which 30 years ago was 40 times the average grunt) or the extravagant bonuses paid to even those executives that fail. Hence more wealthy folk who are "to big to fail". There must be some strategic value to this that our Politicans understand and that we just don`t get!? After all they always look so competent in the veneer of Corporate suits and experience?

While our Government and Consumer debt have been rising like Wall Street bonuses (Bay Street over here), some cracks are showing in that governing Corporate veneer! The elderly poverty rate is rising steadily since the 90`s (Conference Board of Canada) , many of our Canadian Native population lives in 3rd world conditions,  1 in 7 Canadian children live in poverty (Conference Board of Canada) and that stat has risen steadily since the 90`s. Tie the cost of these problems together with the recent National Roundtable Report that predicts an adaptation cost of $5 billion per year for Global Warming and we are likely looking at a fiscal balancing act that can`t really afford the 1% perks!

That`s what I like about these Protests of frustration. It gives us a chance to openly debate and makes it difficult to ignore some truth. We are failing as "Our Brother`s Keeper`s" and we can`t afford to make the changes that will right these ships of State without some comprehensive reform to the way we do Government for the people. That`s including 99% of the people! If we truly believe in Democracy as "Government for all the People" then we need to raise tax revenue and stop unnecessary spending. Yeah, I know this is not new ground breaking rocket science but it is a bitter truth.

For example, could we all spend less on our "War Machines" and "Penal Colonies" (Canada is looking to spend Billions more on Prisons we don`t need?) and look to more cost efficient solutions in these areas. We can all guess how much we can save here? Enormous dollars! Meanwhile how about "handling the truth" that we need to raise tax revenue to fund a "good society". The rich can pay more in income tax, capital gain tax and dividend tax. Ask Warren buffet? We need a Carbon Tax to fuel our energy future and we need significant tax cuts for the poor and middle class so that equality in opportunity becomes more than empty politics. And plenty of smarter people than I have more to offer in a plan for this "Good and Just Society" that I insist is still possible?

The point of this blog was inspired by the words of one of my favourite free thinkers, George Carlin, but the heart of it is rising in the streets through the Occupy Protests of Frustration going on world wide.  Don`t pay attention to the media crap from Elitists protecting their collectives asses by calling the protests pointless and aimless. These money people are very worried and are starting to realize that they broke a trust. A trust to at least at minimum be their "brother`s keeper". They couldn`t even maintain a minimal trust while they gorged on Bonuses and Bailout money!? I just hope Canada can avoid the absolute political denial of our good neighbours who keep spending without consideration of the need to raise tax revenue to balance budgets. We can`t accept more politicians who won`t or can`t "handle the truth!" These protests are a "candle in the dark"!! A Beacon for a Just Society!

"Society is like a stew. If you don't stir it up every once in a while then a layer of scum floats to the top" Sage