Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that. -- George Carlin

Let's hope this doesn't apply to Canada. But ...
Maybe Canada as a whole needs a spell of NDP government to learn how bad it can be. We in BC have been burned twice in the last 40 years, Ontario once. The trouble with the NDP is that they are full of aspiring social engineers and academics with minimal business and real world experience. They attempt all sorts of things only to find that they don't work and just end up pissing off everyone, including their own supporters.
Don't be fooled by official platforms as we well know that those policies are but the tip of a proverbial iceberg with political parties.

BTW interesting endorsement by the Globe and Mail


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They just don't get it

They don't get it. They just don't get it. 'Gotcha politics' continues in the close federal race of Vancouver South. The former NDP premier of BC, now Liberal MP fighting for his political life, is pulling out all the stops. His current party is a master at this and they are desperate indeed. But they are putting another nail into the coffin of Canadian politics (which might in fact be a good thing). People get turned off, throw up their hands and disengage. The political elites in power (whether Conservatives or Liberals) secretly like this as it enhances their power. But it is a slap in the face of democracy.

The dirty secret only political junkies are aware of is that the Liberal Party of Canada is in its death throes. This was so even before this election. Their support keeps getting smaller and more geographically limited (to the GTA). If they were somehow able to form government, what do you think their first priority will be? Their party or the country? They will use every old trick they know to save themselves and destroy their opposition.
The old Liberal establishment is quaking in their boots at the thought of being displaced by the NDP!


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Michael Ignatieff's Plight

Ah, the wisdom of Aesop.  Do not try to be all things to all people.  Do not try to grasp too much at once.
The Liberals have done just this and the Canadian public see it for what it is -- inauthentic.   And so their failure to capture the attention of Canadians.    But of course,   people are suckers and fall for the more authentic but more dangerous policies of professor Jack Layton and the NDP.   (A reminder to all , especially in British Columbia,  it was under NDP rule that BC faced the shame of becoming a 'have not' province.  We shall never live this down!)

The Boy and the Filberts 


  A BOY put his hand into a pitcher full of filberts.  He grasped
as many as he could possibly hold, but when he tried to pull out
his hand, he was prevented from doing so by the neck of the
pitcher.  Unwilling to lose his filberts, and yet unable to
withdraw his hand, he burst into tears and bitterly lamented his
disappointment.  A bystander said to him, "Be satisfied with half
the quantity, and you will readily draw out your hand."  


 Do not attempt too much at once.  

A lesson for the likes of Michael Ignatieff and before him Paul Martin.

An interesting study on poverty among Canadian seniors

The Liberals and NDP have been going on about senior citizens' poverty in Canada during this election, professing that they are the only ones who can protect seniors. This makes me laugh. The wealthiest demographic in Canada today has to be seniors and baby boomers who are now entering senior citizenship. Granted, much of their wealth is tied up in land and capital, but that's okay. If you own a million dollar home in Vancouver, don't dare to claim you are not rich. To say that they need additional government support is laughable. And the Liberals and NDP are also the most strongly opposed to any form of means checking before receiving government assistance. Again the wealthy establishment will be getting their share of my tax dollars while I struggle to support my family.

Here is a very interesting recent academic study on senior's poverty in Canada:

http://ideas.repec.org/h/sls/secfds/08.html#author


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Political Philosophy and Aesop

A good way to 'wisen' ourselves up politically is to revisit some old stories from childhood. You can't beat Aesop for this.

Here is a great online collection of Aesop's fables.

And here is an interesting academic paper using Aesop's fables to consider political philosophy.




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Popular Vote and Majority Governments

Mr. Ignatieff was complaining the other day that 60% of Canadians oppose Stephen Harper. It was an interesting comment in light of our present parliamentary democracy where it only requires 40-43% of the popular vote to form a majority government which unfortunately permits a minimally limited tyranny. As well, the comment must be taken in light of the fact that a significant number of Canadians do not even vote and thus express their opinion.

Some interesting recent national majority governments and their popular votes:

Election: Party: Popular Vote:

2000 Liberal 40.8%
1997 Liberal 38.5%
1993 Liberal 41.3%
1988 Conservative 43%
1984 Conservative 50%


Vote splitting can allow majorities with lower popular votes, as Cretien proved in 1997. The Quebec vote can prevent majority governments, although this might begin to change.

There is a difference between parliamentary authority and moral authority to form a government. Although combined popular votes can reflect public will, people do not vote for governments on this basis.


From: http://www.electionalmanac.com/canada/popularvote.php




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National Nimbleness

The world is indisputably changing ever more rapidly, aided by advanced technology and global communications. There are winners and losers in this, which history clearly shows. The recent Gallop survey on global wellbeing provides an interesting perspective on how few countries report their populace as thriving. If you are far from thriving in terms of wellbeing, you are considerably challenged. So often unfortunately, politics triumphs economics and drags nations down. Just consider Africa. When democracy is absent, accountability and the vital feedback loop are suppressed. The fall from the top can happen quite quickly. Remember Argentina in the early twentieth century. There is an element of luck, for which you can read geography. In addition, demography is becoming an even more important factor. There are brutal lessons in all this for Canada, particularly for our politicians and policy makers. We need to be at the forefront of change and by all rights this shouldn't be so difficult. This requires the ability to move and respond efficiently and effectively. For this we need flexibility and freedom, and a populace that is united and thriving in terms of wellbeing. Small government and low taxes keep our costs low and so enable flexibility. Otherwise, you end up with lumbering elephants (read elites) trying to maintain their positions or steal other positions with the aid of government influence and preferences. America and the EC have become burdened by many things which have slowed them. Will the 21st century belong to Canada? It depends.


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69% of Canadians are Happy. How about you?

69% of Canadians are Happy. How about you?

In this recent survey

Canadians appear to be among the happiest people in the world.

Here are the top 10 countries:

1. Denmark: 72%
2. Canada: 69%
2. Sweden: 69%
4. Australia: 66%
5. Finland: 64%
5. Venezuela: 64%
7. Israel: 63%
7. New Zealand: 63%
9. Netherlands: 62%
9. Ireland: 62%

Here are the bottom 10 countries:

1. Chad: 1%
2. Central African Republic: 2%
3. Haiti: 2%
4. Burkina Faso: 3%
5. Cambodia: 3%
6. Niger: 3%
7. Tajikistan: 3%
8. Tanzania: 4%
9. Mali: 4%
10. Comoros: 4%


How about you at this particular point in time? How about in the long run?
There are various happiness tests/surveys out on the web that purport to tell you whether and how happy you are and even give guidance to improve your 'happiness quotient'.

I am in the process of creating my own "Happiness Test". Watch for it.
When complete, I'll post the link here.

A Greek philosophy professor of mine many years ago likened happiness to "butterfly landing on you". I thought it a very apt analogy. It is like being at the right place at the right time under the right conditions. There is an element of luck (fate?) involved.

And yet we can enable such moments so that they can happen and can happen more than once. Think of luck as the crossroads of opportunity and preparation rather than merely a haphazard occurrence.

So much has been written over the centuries about happiness that I cannot and will not provide a historical survey here. I will comment on a few important points and then give my two cents.

America is quite unique in that they put the pursuit of happiness into the very preamble to their great constitution. Interestingly, however, this nation founded on the notion that its people have the "right to the pursuit of happiness" is not in the latest top ten happiest nations.

This is relevant to politics and economics because politics can and does indeed affect the happiness of people. Think of Robert Mugabe. Did his politics enable the happiness of the black mobs to whom he gave the white farmers' farms? (Not to speak of the white farmers.) Does democracy facilitate greater happiness? I believe it does. Happiness founded on economic freedom without political freedom is a false happiness. It is founded on sticks that will easily crumble. Think of China.


The dimensions of happiness (which we manage individually and as nations and a world) in my view are (in no particular order):


* a life in accord with one's spirit
* success
* personal comfort
* security
* work or some occupation that engages one
* interest
* freedom
* self-knowledge
* good fortune
* love
* friendship and family
* usefulness
* good wine (for this read some physical pleasures)

There are certainly things we can add to this list, which depends on our own lives and values. Beauty is an important variable for me, but personal comfort is pleasant but not essential. There is a continuum for each dimension as well.

There are enemies of happiness too, which are important to consider. In many ways they are simply the antithesis of the above enabling factors. Some of these enemies include:

* anomie and other disconnectedness and frustration
* failure
* low self-esteem and attacks on self-esteem
* poverty and material impoverishment
* fear
* illness
* loneliness
* boredom
* enslavement
* bad luck
* ignorance


Feel free to add your own to these lists. Reflect on these variables as they apply to your life now, in the past and in the future.

Happiness is not just something that happens. Some people are more disposed to it than others. But it can be enabled.




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Where do we go from here?

Strong personalities will invoke hostility but they can and will effect change, for good or bad depending on one's outlook and interests. A wishy washy middle of the road fence sitter will not necessarily be hated, but there are dangers in fiddling while Rome burns.

A fascinating take on the two directions the candidates for leader of Canada is here: Kelly McParland: Party platforms show gaping divide between Toryworld and Liberal-land

The next big question we need to ask following this election is:
How do we build national harmony?


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My Political Philosophy

I wrote this some years ago, but it still stands as a balanced and fairly complete statement of principles. My attention these days is to the area of design.


The Political Philosophy of Leslie Barclay

Introduction

It would be wonderful if all humans could live the bulk of their lives from birth to death in a state of peaceful happiness, with good fortune, good health and joyful relationships with family, friends and neighbors. When one speaks of utopia, it is conditions such as these that one envisions. Mindful that utopias are frought with dangers in that they enter into dubious ends and means tradeoffs that engender moral and political straightjackets, I prefer a gentle society that tends rather to enable human happiness instead of forcing it upon people.

I think that it is important to begin with the individual and the family as the focus and the building blocks of a social, economic and political philosophy. Adopt a micro to macro perspective rather than vice versa. In this way one can better consider the motivations and values of the average individual (of course, keeping in mind that exceptional individuals always exist). We must not lose sight of the individual, nor must we ignore the greater whole.

The initial driving questions should be:

How can we design the rules governing a society in such a way that they enhance;

* an individual's happiness
* an individuals prosperity
* an individual's social behavior and ultimately love
* an individual's educational development and greater wisdom
* an individual's environmental behavior


Justice

Aristotle observed that if all men were friends, justice would not be necessary. If we were all friends with a good dose of personal and social responsibility, anarchy might even work. This not being the case though, justice adminstered through the state is necessary. Politics is the means by which justice is served through the state.

Genuine human happiness for all can only occur within a society that is just. So what is exactly is justice? Several good definitions follow:

1. Justice is that which concerns fairness or equity, often divided into three parts: procedural justice, concerned with fair methods of making decisions and settling disputes; distributive justice, concerned with the fair distribution of the benefits and burdens of society; and corrective justice, concerned with correcting wrongs and harms through compensation or retribution (from National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans, NHMRC, 2001).

and

2. In the Hebrew scriptures, justice is a virtue by which people carry out the demands of a relationship, whether it is with god or other people. These demands differed, depending on the nature of the relationship. In the New Testament, faith in Jesus Christ puts the Christian in special relationship with him. The 'just' believers will honour this relationship in the way that they live. Through justice, people respect the rights of other individuals and groups e.g. the right to a decent standard of living, the right to be educated, the right to live in peace and freedom.
(from: www.mn.catholic.org.au/about/glossary_AM.htm )

and finally, most simply

3. Justice, broadly defined, is a state in which everyone begins equal, has equal opportunity to succeed and has certain social rights that must be universally protected independent of social standing.


I begin my political philosophy with the view that our Canadian society, which is so often held internationally as a model, is in fact rife with injustice and that this is the greatest barrier to enabling greater happiness. While we are certainly more just than the typical African or Middle Easern nation, we still have a lot to do. Consider this. Is it just that:

* pornography and in particular child pornography flourishes?
* physical, sexual and mental abuse of children and adults (primarily women) flourishes?
* criminals repeatedly are released from prison only to commit crimes (often murder and rape) again?
* youth and native suicide rates have skyrocketed in recent years?
* innocent and helpless unborn babies are murdered in the womb in growing numbers with almost no
one to defend them?
* there are many people who would like a job that challenges them and values their education,
experience and skills, but are relegated to unemployment, underemployment or demeaning
employment?
* the average taxpayer must work on average half the year to pay all the taxes from various levels of
government?
* native Canadians in large numbers should live in poverty and dependency mired in alcohol and
abuse?
* family breakup and the resultant mental pain suffered by the children is so common?
* half of older teenagers should suffer from an STD because they engage in casual sex?
* drug and alcohol abuse is rampant in society and that drug gangs increasingly stir up trouble for the
police and society in general?
* various minority groups continue to be unfairly discriminated against?
* tax dollars should be wasted and corruption go unpunished?
* poverty in Canada seems to become increasingly entrenched with the comcomitant homelessness and
hunger?
* gambling is the latest addiction to inflict the masses, increasingly to the benefit of government general
revenue coffers?
* there are many sick people in Canada who cannot get the healing they need, but are denied the
freedom to go outside the government system for the treatment they require?


There is more and all this is only Canada. Expand the perspective to the whole world and it is even scarier. But, lets not fall prey to the holier than thou attitude when there remains so much injustice in Canada even now. Lets focus on the root causes of all this misery in view of eliminating them and establishing the rules and institutions that will not give rise to further injustice. A just society can be created by establishing just institutions and just social and economic practices. The failure of social justice, on the other hand, is a disease that affects not only those in poverty, but all of us.


Politics and the State

Justice requires the establishment of a state. The role of the state is to protect its citizens, enforce its laws and maintain social justice. The state leads to the development, for better or for worse, of politics. Politics should be an open and participatory device for solving problems and hence securing justice. It ought further to enable individuals to live a good life in harmony with society, technology and the environment. That government is best which best enables its citizens to pursue and realize the ends which comprise a good life rather than fostering the withdrawn and excessive selfish pursuit and realization of greed and sensual indulgence.
Political design and analysis should focus on the impact upon and interaction among individuals, society, technology and the invironment,particularly how power, wealth and freedom is distributed and used.

The political culture and structure ought to foster:
1) virtue: in particular a) consciousness b) selflessness c) moderation and d) doubt
2) choice (supported by virtue): in particular diversity, not conformity, supported by freedom and
responsibility
3) community: in particular interdependence, friendship, peace and the public good
4) democratic citizenship: in particular, disinterested individualism and participation
5) wealth: in particular, enough wealth, equitably distributed and pursued in moderation, to ensure
survival and comfort necessary for the good life.
6) environmental stewardship -- facilitate sustainable economic and environmental behavior

Benjamin Franklin believed that we should practice daily 13 virtues:
industry, frugality, temperance, silience, order, resolution, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity and humility.

Wouldn't it be nice if our political culture could encourage more people to do likewise.

Once we abandon anarchy and agree to the establishment of a state with all its various political rules and establishments, we give rise to many unintended consequences. A rule founded on altruistic beliefs can result in outcomes that do not in fact benefit the persons they were intended to benefit. The tragedy of American single welfare moms in the 1980s who had more children than they could raise because welfare paid them in effect to have babies immediately comes to mind. Therefore, it is important to pause and consider before establishing new rules and establishments and even go further and consider existing rules and establishments in light of the following.


PRIMARY IDEALS AND BELIEFS: (used to assess public policy)


A. Philosophy and Purpose:

1. A truly just society is one in which all citizens are political and economic 'haves'; a system of
popular political democracy is in place and genuine poverty is eliminated. (Inequality will remain
but it will be of 'haves' -- some will have more and some less; it will be a difference in degree, not
kind and public policy can decide what degree of this inequality it deems appropriate and how to
manage this; ideally a predominantly middle class society is best, with few individuals at the
extreme and the gap between these extremes is small.)

2. Centralized government is an evil, albeit a necessary one, because it is the delegation or
assumption of powers over individuals citizens by a group, large or small. It is a reduction of
the individual for the sake of the mass and its primary method of operation is elitist coersion;
it fosters apathy and non-participation. We must be wary of its tendencies and its dangers.

B. Design:

3. Power and political decision-making should be highly decentralized, visible and controlled as
much as possible at the community level and by those whom the decisions affect. This best
limits the powers of government and fosters self-government (government by the people, not
the elites); only when the benefits of centralized authority far outweight the benefits of local
or community-based authority should government be centralized (such as instances of defence
and foreign policy). There are times when policy should be developed centrally for purposes of
consistency, but implementation can be local. Also to be decided is whether the citzenry wishes
a decentralized representative or direct democracy or what mixture of the two.

4. Government intervention (in the form of rules and regulations, taxes, funding and services) is
necessary because of human imperfection and the tendency towards selfishness and inequality
but it should be limited and effective. Attention must be paid to its costs and consequences
(particularly the incentives engendered by government policy) and effectiveness evaluated in
light of belief #1 and the following: it must support and encourage individual responsibility,
self-reliance and initiative; the maintenance of two-parent families, neighborhood and community
and the societal self-support and duty therein; social and environmental responsibility;
moderation in action at all three levels (individual, society and the environment). These virtues
and institutions that support and encourage them are necessary for justice (peace and freedom).
The primary message of government should be "People, govern yourselves."

5. Private property, widely distributed and protected, is a cornerstone of an economically just
society and underlies economic and political freedom, social and environmental responsibility.
Upon this foundation, free trade occurring within a mostly free market with limited government
intervention, best creates and initially distributes wealth.

6. The public good. In order to balance the force of private property and to enhance equality and
participation, the public good (not necessarily government) must be attended to as forcefully
as private property is secured.



THE PRIMARY ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT; (at federal, provincial and local levels)


1. Limit excessive inequality of power and wealth (thereby securing economic and social justice).

2. Enforce laws and regulations strictly and fairly through the police and courts (thereby limiting
violence and crime in the society and securing personal security and freedom).

3. Provide for all citizens to be educated at the school of their choice (thereby ensuring a skilled
and educated population). Public education must combat ignorance and assist in the develop-
ment of virtue and wisdom.

4. Provide for fire protection, construction and maintenance of streets and sewers, and military
defence (thereby creating and maintaining a decent physical infrastructure that will enable a
productive and efficient economy and healthy and secure populace).

5. Ensure that the primary health needs of all citizens are met (thereby ensuring a healthy and
psychologically secure population at all ages).

6. Ensure that the primary needs of the less fortunate in the society are met through a limited
welfare system and the support of private charity (thereby eliminating 'have-nots' from the
society).

7. Support the public good (and encourage disinterested participation in it by the public). The
public good includes parks, libraries, radio, recreation and entertainment, and schools.



OPERATIONAL PRINCIPLES:


1. Government spending should not exceed 40% of the nationall economy. 30% to 40% is best,
with the actual number chosen by the citizens and controlled by legislation.

2. Public functions need not be operated by government but rather funded and regulated; what
'works' continues and is funded while ineffective programs are replaced by better programs.

3. We must always look at the consequences of government policy and action (particularly its
incentives and rewards; disincentives and punishments) and ask whether it will best meet the
ends that have been decided upon.

4. People and organizations should pay for the costs of irresponsible actions.

5. Welfare policies should serve to help those genuinely in need and to empower recipients to
escape from the culture of dependency.

6. THE TOUCHSTONE; IF GOVERNMENT FOCUSES ON ITS LIMITED ROLES RATHER THAN
TRYING TO BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE, IT WILL BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY PERFORM
THOSE NECESSARY AND BENEFICIAL FUNCTIONS.








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Public Disengagement

It is sad what is happening to democracy in North America. The public is becoming disengaged for various reasons. One sees this most clearly in declining voter turnout rates. I fear it is a systemic problem that will not easily be solved. The irony is that this is happening at the same time as Web 2.0 is creating a sort of model for participatory democracy and people in oppressed countries are seeking a voice. The Reform Party attempted to bring democracy closer to the people, but they could not achieve traction.
Various provincial plebiscites on changing the system from the present first past the post representative democracy have failed. People fear the potential instability of a radical change. This plays nicely into the hands of those elites who profit from the status quo.

Three influential books on democracy are apropos here:
1. A Wish For Kings by Lewis Lapham
2. Revolt of the Elites by Christopher Lasch
3. First Democracy by Paul Woodruff

Very important books that provide a foundation for the change that must come, that is inevitable unless we are to fall into a political pattern I don't want my children to grow up in.




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Future Liberal and NDP Coaltion (of the Permanent Sort)?

Looking at the latest polls of the Canadian federal election that have the Conservatives hovering around 40%,  the recently leftward-tilted Liberals at between 26-30% and  the permanently left-leaning NDP around 15%, it made me think.    If I were of the latter persuasion (which I am not),  I would seriously consider a permanent merger of the parties as it would likely put me into a majority government public support position.   If the Conservatives do indeed win a majority in this election,  look to a movement like this beginning.  They would change their name to something like the Liberal Democrats.   Of course, Liberals being what they are, the NDP will likely get screwed.  Depending on the strategic flavour and/or leader of the year, the Liberals sway left and right.  A devout social democratic/socialist would not be pleased by a right sway.   But what could they do?

The Public Interest

A strike at Vancouver Island University has been continuing for four weeks with neither of the two parties (teachers and the administration) able to come to an agreement. It is now time for the provincial government which regulates and funds the university and has has responsibility for the greater public interest to take action. This means sending the teachers back to work and possibly imposing a contract, which could have unpleasant aspects for both parties. While it won't please some folks, there are students to think about, other employees at the university and the public and economy of the city of Nanaimo. It will also serve as an incentive for other such bargaining to reach an agreement rather than have one imposed.


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Laughable Justice!

As with my first post, this is a reprint. Similarly, it is relevant as it could happen again tomorrow.

What's the matter with this country? Last week the justice system released into the community a repeat sex offender labeled 'high risk' to reoffend. Ryan Ziegler, 28, is a piece of scum who should be locked away forever, but only after being castrated. Here is his c.v.

1998 -- charged with assault after exposing himself to a nine-year-old girl in an Edmonton church.

February 2001 -- released from jail, 71 convictions to his name at that time

August 2001 -- sentenced to one year in jail for sexually assaulting a woman in a Calgary tanning salon.

July 15, 2004 -- released from jail after serving time for assaulting a 10-year-old girl and a police officer in Nelson in 2003

July 25, 2004 -- arrested for exposing himself and sexually assaulting a woman in Nanaimo

August 25, 2004 -- released when the charges for the July 25 attack were stayed due to the victim becoming emotionally incapable of testifying.

August 26, 2004 -- arrested for failing to report to his parole office in Nanaimo, then released again the next day.

August 31, 2004 -- arrested in Victoria on a charge of committing an indecent act.

September 22, 2004 -- released because he had served all his sentence time

October 2004 -- scheduled to appear in Port Alberni court on charges of causing
a disturbance, indecent exposure, possession of stolen property and fraudulently obtaining food (offences which occurred in Ucluelet in July)

And so our oh-so-enlightened justice system has issued a warning upon Mr. Ziegler's release from Vancouver Island Correctional Centre.

"Ziegler remains under ongoing community supervision ... and poses a high risk to reoffend."

"His target groups are female children and female adults and his has an extensive criminal history, including violent and sexual offences."

And they let him out!? Who calls this justice. Women, watch out. Parents don't let your daughters out. This pervert could be living next door to you!! Oh what a fine country we live in!!!!

Thanks to the Nanaimo News Bulletin for the information about this sexual predator.

Oh Canada!

I live in a fine country and I am happy to be Canadian. I'd rather live here than in many other places around the world. We have a high quality of life, as the United Nations has recognized.
But ... there are serious problems and there is no guarantee that we will remain as we are. Agentina was one of the wealthiest countries early in the twentieth century until bad economic policy brought them down.

I first composed and posted this in a blog six years ago in the midst of a provincial election and on the cusp of a federal election. The blog is still out there in the blogosphere, but I cannot access it due to neglect. Most of what I then wrote is still relevant. And so I shall repost it in this newer blog.

Many of the arguments I will state on these pages can be found in my own personal political philosophy which is contained within my own website, Life in Progress. (www.geocities.com/lesliebarclay/)

I have chosen to call this blog "Canada Rant" because on these pages, I will rant about the things that make me want to rant. The idiocy. The corruption. The injustice.

The political and economic elites in this fine nation would love us to succumb to complacency and the "I'm all right, Jack" attitude as it serves to entrench their own power and privilege. When it comes to democratic elections, they attempt to frighten us away from change. But we need change.


Our Canadian society, which is so often held internationally as a model, is in fact rife with injustice and this is the greatest barrier to enabling greater happiness. While we are certainly more just than the typical African or Middle Easern nation, we still have a lot to do. Consider this. Is it just that:

* pornography and in particular child pornography flourishes?
* physical, sexual and mental abuse of children and adults (primarily women) flourishes?
* criminals repeatedly are released from prison only to commit crimes (often murder and rape) again?
* youth and native suicide rates have skyrocketed in recent years? * innocent and helpless unborn babies are murdered in the womb in growing numbers with almost no one to defend them?
* there are many people who would like a job that challenges them and values their education, experience and skills, but are relegated to unemployment, underemployment or demeaning employment?
* the average taxpayer must work on average half the year to pay all the taxes from various levels of government?
* native Canadians in large numbers should live in poverty and dependency mired in alcohol and abuse?
* family breakup and the resultant mental pain suffered by the children is so common?
* half of older teenagers should suffer from an STD because they engage in casual sex?
* drug and alcohol abuse is rampant in society and that drug gangs increasingly stir up trouble for the police and society in general?
* various minority groups continue to be unfairly discriminated against?
* tax dollars should be wasted and corruption go unpunished?
* poverty in Canada seems to become increasingly entrenched with the comcomitant homelessness and hunger?
* gambling is the latest addiction to inflict the masses, increasingly to the benefit of government general revenue coffers?
* there are many sick people in Canada who cannot get the healing they need, but are denied the freedom to go outside the government system for the treatment they require?

There is more and all this is only Canada. Expand the perspective to the whole world and it is even scarier. But, lets not fall prey to the holier than thou attitude when there remains so much injustice in Canada even now. Lets focus on the root causes of all this misery in view of eliminating them and establishing the rules and institutions that will not give rise to further injustice. A just society can be created by establishing just institutions and just social and economic practices. The failure of social justice, on the other hand, is a disease that affects not only those in poverty, but all of us.