Mexican Freedom, Canadian Oppression
Mexican Freedom, Canadian Oppression
Imagine a land where the government leaves small businesses and individuals alone to operate in what is called an informal (cash) economy; all cash, no taxation or paperwork. This hands-off the little guy economy makes for an extraordinarily free and open marketplace; where, if you can make a decent sandwich or sell a cold soda on the street you are in business.
One advantage of the Mexican cash economy is there is no welfare system as we know it, everyone works at something--except for the few who prefer to beg or steal. While not for everyone, the cash economy does work extraordinarily well for the vast majority of the poor and uneducated, part-time and temporary workers, and entrepreneurs in training. This is a vibrant free market economy with a strong sense of community. It complements, rather than competes with mainstream business.
The main point: it costs almost nothing for a person to get into business and become a productive, responsible member of the community. No need for government interference or hand-outs.
What a contrast! Since returning from 15 years living in Baja California, I have noticed an appalling lack of concern for the rights of the individual citizen here in Canada. While politicians squabble over how to spend millions of federal tax dollars through the poverty machine, homeless people are sleeping (and dying) in dumpsters and doorways for lack of a few dollars in building materials and a locker to protect their few miserable belongings. The homeless don't need much; shelter, security and opportunity; simple, but necessary steps toward a better life.
Poverty is a massive and worsening problem in this country. Government funded solutions always create more and costlier problems than they solve; and don't get me started on drug abuse.
One definition of insanity is; doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. It's time for a change, take the government shackles off the little guy, embrace the cash economy!
It seems to me this indifference to helping the little guy is a side effect of a much more serious problem and that is a lack of accountability of those in power and in uniform. There are far too many innocent people dying from police bullets, tasers, and on the job violence here in Canada. This wall of unaccountability for their actions and to the people they serve, sets the tone for a litany of other misdeeds, crimes and violence against the people.
In my humble opinion, what is missing is strong community action and an Office of the People. It's time for a Revolution in Music (to bring people together) and Cooperation.
For more thoughts on the Transformation of Poverty visit:
http://top-introduction.blogspot.com/
http://top-partone.blogspot.com/
http://top-parttwo.blogspot.com/
http://top-partthree.blogspot.com/
Cheers, Gordon Parnell @ gmail.com
Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.
Paul Valery (1871 - 1945)
Very well said. You're right, it is insane that the government tries to implement and fund the same 'solutions' over and over again. It's time for some creative - but not necessarily complex - thinking. I don't believe there is much chance that we can change the way that the taxation and small business laws work here in Canada, but I do believe that we can help change the way the government goes about solving the issue of poverty.
But let's not completely leave it up to the government either. Let's all do our part to help each other out.
Thank you Chris, for your valuable comment. I, too, believe in the helping-each-other approach, and educating people in our community as a first step. There's an increasing no-care mentality here in Canada, and that needs to be changed. I have the impression, though, that more and more people worldwide are changing gear, promoting peace and human rights - for everyone. If we all do our part, the government will follow.