ey ILLES

Let’s Go Socialist Crez

Brady Ehler, OP Opinions Editor

I love Canada. This is one of the best places
in the world to live. Canada is a first world
nation and a democracy to boot! The envi-
ronment here is as beautiful and as diverse as
its people. We have social programs, good
education and a wealth of opportunity.
However, as much as I love Canada, there is
one crucial aspect of it I detest: capitalism.

Recently, I have been studying industrial-
ization in my history class. We are learning
about how the agricultural revolution freed
up the hands that were needed for the indus-
trial revolution. Once Britain got the factories
rolling, there was more than enough food for
everyone, more than enough clothing for
everyone, and more than enough land to
house everyone. The power of the British
economy increased tenfold, yet for many peo-
ple, most notably factory workers, the stan-
dard of living actually decreased.

People who would have previously been
working on farms, with or in close proximity
to their families, were now stuck in factories
for up to 15 hours per day, and they didn’t
have much to show for it. It was the factory
owners who profited; they became disgusting-
ly rich while factory workers slaved night and
day merely for enough money to sustain
themselves. Thus began the age of capitalism.

It’s true that even by the mid-nineteenth
century, unequal distribution of wealth was a
millennium old practice, but with the rise of
industrialization came such a massive infusion
of capital, that everyone should have been
able to live comfortably. However, because a
few decided to horde the wealth, the masses
were robbed of relative luxury.

The industrial revolution would not have
been able to bloom without improving trans-
portation infrastructure. With building of
canals, and later, laying railway, goods were
able to flow freely, which in turn allowed the
money to flow freely. It was this increase in
the flow of cash and goods that got the
industrial revolution off the ground. People
had greater access to the things they needed,

 
   
 
    
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
     
  
    
     
     
  
    
     
   
    
  
  
  
  

and for a cheaper price.

Unfortunately, even today there remains a
huge block on the flow of goods and servic-
es; the rich and ultra-rich, who have amassed
ridiculous fortunes. If the money which the
tich have amassed was redistributed evenly
amongst everyone in society, the flow of
goods, services and cash would get a serious
jump-start. Certainly, it would increase the
average standard of living. The prices of
goods would go up, but we would have plenty
of money to spend abroad!

What if we provided free housing for
those who have none?-Certainly we have the
space. Consider the squatters of the down-
town east-side. If we created free (or low-
incoming) housing, wouldn’t have such prob-
lems. This would clean up our streets, because
the down-and-outers would have a place to
go, instead of sleeping on sidewalks. Perhaps
from there we could point them in the direc-
tion of social rehabilitation and, where need-
ed, drug counselling. After all, it’s a lot easier
to find work when you don’t have to panhan-
dle all day to try and scrape up enough
money for a hostel room.

More social programs would be great, but
I think we could do one better than that.
What if we shared assets more freely? What if
a neighbourhood had community vehicles to
share, for example? The vehicles would cer-
tainly get more use, and more importantly,
people would be much more apt to carpool.
What if real estate was more affordable?
Many Canadians spend their entire lives trying
to acquire a single piece of real-estate, while
landlords and banks line their pockets. The
result is often landlords buying more real-
estate? As far as I’m concerned, rent should
not exist; often, homeowners can pay their
mortgages by simply renting out their house.
It’s pure capital!

Now, maybe I’m being completely ridicu-
lous here, but why don’t we just give away
everything for free? Lets give away houses,
cars, clothing, computers television sets, and

electric guitars; anything and everything. Then
everyone would be much happier; they would

have all the material items they want and
need. The only problem with this model is
getting people to work enough to sustain our
society with our current standards of living.
Here is a possible solution: create a tier sys-
tem based on effort. Once you have worked x
amount of hours and gained a certain
amount experience in your field, you get a
promotion and then receive better free stuff
that is afforded to you. This would mean
social standing would be based on personal
merit, and how much you put into society.
Careers paths could be bolstered by education
in this way as well. For example, a third tier
citizen would have to take training on top of
their experience in the field to graduate to the

second teir. As a result, maybe he gets to li
in a house instead of a condo, and maybe
gets to drive a nicer car, etc.

I love Canada, this is truly the land of
opportunity. This country has been good t
me so far, and I’m sure it will continue to }
good to me for many years to come. It’s nq
perfect, we’re pointed in the right direction
Equal distribution of wealth is still a fairly
new concept, but I think the reality of it is
possible. We are almost at the point where
everyone is fed. I hope someday soon, we q
make sure everyone has a roof over their
head, or even their own property (even if i
communal). After that I hope everyone hag
access to education. And eventually, I hope
the goodies can be distributed a little more
equally.

 

 

We should get to know each other.

www.campusresearch.ca
(Get it? It’s a research study. And you could win up to $2500 for participating.)

Fine print: Prizes: One $2500 grand prize, one $1500 second prize, one $1000 third prize and twelve $250 extra prizes.
Contest is only open to students currently enrolled at a Canadian post-secondary institution. The good news is it’s availabie for a very limited time, so your odds of winning are awesome.

This survey is sponsored by your campus newspaper and Campus Plus, a division of Canadian University Press. All personal information provided is private and confidential and will be
used for research purposes for the improvement and advancement of campus newspapers in Canada. View our privacy policy online at www.campusplus.com/privacy.aspx.

  
 
    

 

 

   

6 THE OTHER PRESS FEBRUARY 155 2007