I think the steps you suggest here are also apropo in guiding a process in agreement re: principles for Occupy.
There are various camps, focus groups on particular areas. I'm trying to look at the common themes among Occupy here and elsewhere in the world. Some organizations have been working on these problems and other groups can be invited to participate. It may not be necessary to "re-invent the wheel". For a Democracy to not be hearing the voices of the 99%, things are broken with that Democracy. I think it's the corruption which needs to be addressed to get our MPs and PMOs working for people, environment both here and abroad (in the agreements happening globally among countries-- there's power there to negotiate a good that serves people equally across the board-- and I'm not saying 'world socialsim', I think healthy capitalism can co-exist but in it's present course, it's not sustainable, and earth and people will be, and are paying a high price, now and into the future, for short-term market-points and I think it's pure madness.
I don't want to see radical revolution, just strong evolution, and creating favourable conditions for healthy evolution. The economic system for the time-being is supporting people's pensions; health care; education; our legal apparatus, our government (so mass homelessness of seniors and disabled is not something I'd want to see). We are facing some economic difficulties and though we haven't got hit as hard as the States, or Greece, we are also at risk still.
Banking here, for example: 2009 (post-2008 meltdown/WS) the federal government did take $70 Billion from the public purse (what taxpayers have paid into for education, health, pensions, basic stability etc.) to bail out the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation and also used the Bank of Canada and other subsidy programs to help the banks for a total of $200 Billion. (source www.dwatch.ca/camp/actcoprsystem.html ), and with no conditions for paying it back. In fact the banks continue to gouge us on top of that. So there are surface reasons for doing this, mitigate against housing bubble, but also, that's come off the backs of everyday Canadians-- that's the 'social contract', pensions, health care at risk, etc. "Social public good"
It is still timely to address these issues, as the federal Bank Act and Insurance Companies Act are under review with proposed changes coming up for 2012. Likewise, the Canadian Business Corporations Act is also undergoing review. (Ibid) Guess who's not invited to participate? These things have impacts on all of us.
What are the ideas for step "a"-- this is a process in and of itself. :) What we are attempting here. . .
Right now, I see things at a 'brain-storming stage" and I'm curious about ways of connect some of the themes?
Just add a quote: "If you have build castles in the air, your work need not be lost, that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them" ~ Henry David Thoreau.
No-one said it'd be easy ;)
But starting from principles and getting the economists and others to work stuff out to support principles. As it stands, it's operated in a crisis mode, business as usual for the politicians, being influenced by powerful big corporate interests. It will take a lot of active people power to re-shift the agenda back to people and environment and advoacy for healthy democractic practices.
Anyway, I'm not a 'super-brain", I'm just bringing these things up for discussion. I've been interested in the work of Democracy Watch (can't remember how I discovered them, might have had to do with "Contempt of Parliament" way back, concerns about undemocratic secrecy in government, abuse of powers, confusion about all the political double-talk-- 'kept in the dark and fed chit" ;) ), but they have some interesting pragmatic resolutions which could help improve things, restore some health to our Democracy. They seem to be getting at some of the core of the problems behind corruption in our government, undemocratically weighted Corporate Influence displacing ruling in accordance to the public good. $ for faulty F-35s (corporate contract), while ripping off widows and disabled/aging Veterans (public good). As they say, "The System is the Scandal". DW is headed by Duff Conacher, some consitututional law background, etc. I've also appreciated Maude Barlow's zeal, as a smart lady, in the know, from www.councilforcanadians.ca. And there's probably many others who would make interesting speakers, who would have some light to shed on the issues, who've spent more time looking in greater depth at issues and resolutions.
I hope the debate remains vibrant and healthy and remains a revitalizing learning process.
I think the steps you suggest
Soumis par Anikha le
I think the steps you suggest here are also apropo in guiding a process in agreement re: principles for Occupy.
There are various camps, focus groups on particular areas. I'm trying to look at the common themes among Occupy here and elsewhere in the world. Some organizations have been working on these problems and other groups can be invited to participate. It may not be necessary to "re-invent the wheel". For a Democracy to not be hearing the voices of the 99%, things are broken with that Democracy. I think it's the corruption which needs to be addressed to get our MPs and PMOs working for people, environment both here and abroad (in the agreements happening globally among countries-- there's power there to negotiate a good that serves people equally across the board-- and I'm not saying 'world socialsim', I think healthy capitalism can co-exist but in it's present course, it's not sustainable, and earth and people will be, and are paying a high price, now and into the future, for short-term market-points and I think it's pure madness.
I don't want to see radical revolution, just strong evolution, and creating favourable conditions for healthy evolution. The economic system for the time-being is supporting people's pensions; health care; education; our legal apparatus, our government (so mass homelessness of seniors and disabled is not something I'd want to see). We are facing some economic difficulties and though we haven't got hit as hard as the States, or Greece, we are also at risk still.
Banking here, for example: 2009 (post-2008 meltdown/WS) the federal government did take $70 Billion from the public purse (what taxpayers have paid into for education, health, pensions, basic stability etc.) to bail out the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation and also used the Bank of Canada and other subsidy programs to help the banks for a total of $200 Billion. (source www.dwatch.ca/camp/actcoprsystem.html ), and with no conditions for paying it back. In fact the banks continue to gouge us on top of that. So there are surface reasons for doing this, mitigate against housing bubble, but also, that's come off the backs of everyday Canadians-- that's the 'social contract', pensions, health care at risk, etc. "Social public good"
It is still timely to address these issues, as the federal Bank Act and Insurance Companies Act are under review with proposed changes coming up for 2012. Likewise, the Canadian Business Corporations Act is also undergoing review. (Ibid) Guess who's not invited to participate? These things have impacts on all of us.
What are the ideas for step "a"-- this is a process in and of itself. :) What we are attempting here. . .
Right now, I see things at a 'brain-storming stage" and I'm curious about ways of connect some of the themes?
Just add a quote: "If you have build castles in the air, your work need not be lost, that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them" ~ Henry David Thoreau.
No-one said it'd be easy ;)
But starting from principles and getting the economists and others to work stuff out to support principles. As it stands, it's operated in a crisis mode, business as usual for the politicians, being influenced by powerful big corporate interests. It will take a lot of active people power to re-shift the agenda back to people and environment and advoacy for healthy democractic practices.
Anyway, I'm not a 'super-brain", I'm just bringing these things up for discussion. I've been interested in the work of Democracy Watch (can't remember how I discovered them, might have had to do with "Contempt of Parliament" way back, concerns about undemocratic secrecy in government, abuse of powers, confusion about all the political double-talk-- 'kept in the dark and fed chit" ;) ), but they have some interesting pragmatic resolutions which could help improve things, restore some health to our Democracy. They seem to be getting at some of the core of the problems behind corruption in our government, undemocratically weighted Corporate Influence displacing ruling in accordance to the public good. $ for faulty F-35s (corporate contract), while ripping off widows and disabled/aging Veterans (public good). As they say, "The System is the Scandal". DW is headed by Duff Conacher, some consitututional law background, etc. I've also appreciated Maude Barlow's zeal, as a smart lady, in the know, from www.councilforcanadians.ca. And there's probably many others who would make interesting speakers, who would have some light to shed on the issues, who've spent more time looking in greater depth at issues and resolutions.
I hope the debate remains vibrant and healthy and remains a revitalizing learning process.