Underemployment runs rampant in too many sectors of our economy; and this contributes to a long-term unsustainable economic system. For example, people born in the 1980s are now the brokest generation since the Depression (for reasons why see this post). With these problems in mind, some thinkers are calling for
Continue readingTag: Equality
Things Are Good: Worker-Owned Companies can Save Capitalism
We’re all well aware of the harm caused by the box-box retailers on local communities and their international suppliers; indeed, the people hurt the most are the workers. As a result of the pressures of large multinational corporations mixed with poor working conditions an old solution is gaining new traction.
Continue readingThings Are Good: These Millionaires Want Higher Taxes
When it comes to taxes Americans love not paying them, but now some millionaires want to change that. The Patriotic Millionaires call on the rich to pay their fair share, and they call for that attitude to permeate the globe. Developed nations tend to tax money made through labour at
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – PressProgress crunches the numbers on tax loopholes and finds that more and more revenue is being lost to the most glaring loopholes every year. And Andrew Jackson hopes for a sorely-needed response from the federal government to rein in tax avoidance by the
Continue readingThings Are Good: Productive Companies Include Workers on Their Board
Since the late 1970s (coinciding with the rise of neoliberalism) wages have stagnated while executive pay keeps rising. This has led to inequality being one of the largest issues facing companies and countries in the 21st century. Accordingly, people sick of neoliberalism have been looking into ways to address inequality
Continue readingThings Are Good: Even More Research that Raising Minimum Wage is Good for Everyone
Haters keep telling us that minimum wage is too high, which is really saying they would love free labour for private profits. Those haters are also not thinking about the economy at large. A new, massive, study on the impact of minimum wage concludes that minimum wage increases help people
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. – Matt Bruenig highlights Norway’s high level of social ownership, with 76% of non-home wealth in public hands in an extremely prosperous country. And Patrick Collinson reports on the latest World Happiness Survey, showing Norway within a group of relatively equal Nordic countries
Continue readingThings Are Good: Six Shorts on Sexual Harassment
The Oscars last night were overshadowed by the many of the sexual harassment scandals that were revealed last year in Hollywood. Harvey Weinstein being one the more notable harassers exposed last year has gotten a lot of attention, but there are many men who don’t get called out on their
Continue readingThings Are Good: The Berlin Wall: Now Down Longer Than it was Up
The Berlin Wall marked a negative time in recent history in which two sides couldn’t communicate well and severed a country, and families, in two. During the Cold War people risked their lives tring to escape to West Germany from the oppressive East. The tearing down of the wall was
Continue readingWe Pivot: The “N” Word Debate Is Over, Oluo 10/18
Chapter 9 of Ijeoma Oluo’s awesome So You Want to Talk About Race focuses on the debate about whether various people can/should say the “N” word. When I watched Dear White People on Netflix, I saw a sublime example of … [Read more]
Continue readingWe Pivot: Canada’s Secret School-to-Prison Pipeline, Oluo 9/18
Chapter 9 of Ijeoma Oluo’s awesome So You Want to Talk About Race focuses on how systemic racism in institutions like school create a recipe for failure for non-whites. This is one of the largest comprehension divides for Canadians trying … [Read more]
Continue readingThings Are Good: Replace GDP with Inclusive Development Index
Economic influencers and generally super-rich have occupied Davos, Switzerland this week to discuss how to get wealthier. They also discuss global issues that impact more than just their own wealth. Unsurprisingly interest in climate change and inequality during the Davos meeting increases every year. This year the host of the
Continue readingWe Pivot: Not Being Defensive About Racist Police Brutality, Oluo 7/18
Despite the statistics that police treat people of colour and indigenous people more unfairly and brutally, a reflexive defensiveness exists to discount that experience. When people who aren’t white complain about driving while black, etc., is our initial impulse to … [Read more]
Continue readingWe Pivot: White Men Need Intersectionality Expertise, Oluo 6/18
Intersectionality needs to become the most understood word as we wind down this decade. I’ve been thinking that for a few years now, but chapter 5 of Ijeoma Oluo’s So You Want to Talk About Race deeply reinforces that. My … [Read more]
Continue readingWe Pivot: Entitlement Mapping 101, Oluo 5/18
Fresh off of chapter 3 of Ijeoma Oluo’s So You Want to Talk About Race, we now enter the check your privilege chapter. This is a critical chapter to ensure that as we delve into the rest of the book, … [Read more]
Continue readingWe Pivot: Inevitable Race Conversation Mistakes, Oluo Day 4/18
I love chapter 3 of Ijeoma Oluo’s So You Want to Talk About Race. It reminds us that our human/race arrogance is a deep impediment to making a difference in the world. Francesca Ramsey, whose voice is spreading more widely … [Read more]
Continue readingWe Pivot: The Racism-Power Intersection, Day 3/18
Let’s get into chapter 2 of Ijeoma Oluo’s So You Want to Talk About Race! It’s been hard in recent year to talk about reverse racism, which I don’t believe exists. Racism is prejudice based on race, but there’s always … [Read more]
Continue readingWe Pivot: Oluo, Race, Class and Priorities: Day 2/18
Chapter 1 of Ijeoma Oluo’s So You Want to Talk About Race is called “Is It Really About Race?” In the debrief of the 2016 election, many folks have concluded that if we paid more attention to poor white people … [Read more]
Continue readingThings Are Good: Don’t Believe the Myths of Minimum Wage
2018 marked a minimum wage increase in Ontario which follows a trend throughout North America of raising the level minimum companies can pay workers. Large, heartless, corporations like Tim Hortons have released statements that they think paying people more is bad – they are wrong. It’s clearer than ever before:
Continue readingWe Pivot: So You Want to Talk About Race, Day 1/18
Ijeoma Oluo’s new book is out: So You Want to Talk About Race. I first encountered her writing in Medium and was quite gripped by her wisdom. So I pre-ordered her book and started it today. Every day for the … [Read more]
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