Is this the best they've got?: responding to the emerging National divide in the economy

Earlier this month, someone had mentioned they were supportive of the policies of the NDP, but felt that the other parties had a better grasp of the economy and therefore, with a strong economy, we could provide a better opportunity for the marginalized. This had me confused for a while, that there was some mysterious way in which you could possibly support the poor, the working poor, and the exploited by providing greater incentive for those who perpetrate the exploitation. Is that what a "firm grasp of the economy" is?

The Canadian socio-economic landscape is increasingly becoming contradictory, confused, and twisted. While statistics show that more and more Canadians are slipping into poverty, Canadian politics seems to be increasingly devoted to the myth that, "things are working out" under our system; we just need some touch ups on the environment. I'm loosing sleep because I'm wondering if our Nation has lost its ability to respond in a meaningful way to the injustices that are before us. Is the middle class "taking the bait" on free-markets, corporate control, and "upper management"-style government? This new identity of our Nation is much like that of the US; not a society of honest hardworking and compassionate people, but an economy of temporarily embarrassed and bankrupt millionaires.

I think perhaps the Green's recent surge in popularity has spurred on this questioning of the conscience of our Nation. Depending on who you ask, they either have taken the NDP policy booklet and photocopied it, or they have been for years generating the policy from which all of the good ideas the NDP come. Either way, their popularity represents amongst Canadians a sense of urgency to detach the struggle for a more just environment from the idea of a more just economy. I admit, our environment is worth as much to provide even the business and corporate classes a comfortable approach for adopting NDP policies, the Greens provide them that. I do worry that Canadians will be too easy to sell themselves short on the status-quo for the delusion that Green will truly present a progressive alternative to Canada's injustices.

I will admit that I have lost sleep over this issue! So, I decided to check my email, like any rational insomniatic blogger would, and noticed this gem waiting for me at CBC.ca.

It appears that Jim Flaherty, finance minister of the Conservative Government, has decided that pensions can now be considered leverage against the debt. Critics were puzzled, I was irate. I know exactly what this means.

As though it was not enough to render our employment insurance inaccessable and useless, it is now time to begin the campaign on our pensions. I knew exactly what Flaherty was refering to when he pinned our pensions against the Federal debt; he was saying to Canadians "we've won".

As though to completely purge Canada from this burden we once had for an economy that was owned, managed, and operated in the grassroots. As though he was liberating us from archaic barriers to a thriving economy like pensions, employment insurance, welfare, and labour laws. Thank god Jim, why didn't you come along sooner?... Actually most of those so called 'reliefs' came from under the Liberals-- in essence he had. Not to mention the billions of dollars that were given away to corporations under both the Conservatives and Liberals of recent and past years.

The reality is that articles and instances such as this show me a great deal about why it is important now more than ever to have some belief in an economy of people. The Canadian perception of the Liberals, Conservatives, and Greens is that they are 'fiscally conservative', and that's a good thing. Well, this gem tonight (this morning?) has provided me with the insight that fiscal conservatism is still the same thing has been, and will continue to be but more importantly, what it can never be: fiscally progressive. I think it's about time we start to believe not only that such an economy is necessary, but that it can exist. Becaus, frankly, is this the best they've got?! Is Jim Flaherty's attempt to "pass this one by Canadians" the best effort they have for claiming to know what to do with the economy? My friends, we can do better.

As a postscript, I should mention that I had some difficulty coming up with a proper title for this post. I found it difficult to play off the fact that the emerging difference of opinion about the economy, stems from a more fundamental economic divide. This divide will inevitably result in the domination of the quicker-to-vote, affluent have's, unless the have-not's and those who empathize with them begin to make changes.