OUR HOODWINKED SOCIETY

Yes, I know, you expected a knitting pattern.  And, I will post it. But not today.

I am not able to post it tonight as I am highly agitated and, frustrated- feeling as if I need to mobilize. 

It is true you know, when you need information, all you need to do is ask the Universe, your guides, angels- whatever you believe in.  Ask clearly and directly- then let it manifest itself.

I am deeply troubled by the Canadian Health Coalition Pledge.  Not by anything they have done, but because of our Government.  Having worked with National organizations and committees on issues of poverty, child care and human rights, I know the solution is so very simple.  It angers me that we live in such a wealthy, beautiful country and we see our safety net in health, welfare, pension, employment insurance- desecrated before our eyes.

And Prime Minister Harper is standing there oh so woefully- yes, it is going to cost billions and oh my, just how are we going to fund it!  Well, Prime Minister Harper, you may think we are all unsophisticated, easily hoodwinked country bumpkins, but there are many many people in this country that know the truth.  The answer is - tax the wealthy and our corporations.  Now, before you stop reading in disgust, let me tell you here and now that if you think for one second that the wealthy people and corporations are fairly taxed - you truly are hoodwinked.

So, I stopped fuming and put it out to the Universe- answers please!  Then I took my kids off to a used book store as they needed some magazines for projects they were working on.  As I lost myself in the miles of books (truly in heaven)  I came across Linda McQuaig's book- "Behind Closed Doors- How the Rich Won Control of Canada's Tax System...And Ended Up Richer".  Well, I also grabbed her other extremely controversial book of the year (1995) "Shooting the Hippo".  Interestingly enough, on the back of the latter book, Conrad Black is quoted as saying " She should be horsewhipped."  Hmmmm- definitely need to read! I am familiar with Linda McQuaig's newer books such as in "It's in the Crude, Dude".  (Go to your local bookstore-used or new; the library- you will be in for a real education.)

We got home and I could not wait to start reading.  Utter and total disbelief! This book was published in 1987.  Nothing has changed, in fact it has gotten worse. 

What are we hood winked about?  How deeply entrenched our government, our money, our lives, our future is with the wealthy and the BIG Corporations.  Laws governing our taxes, the investment industry, tax shelters, getting rid of the inheritance tax, increasing the principal residence deduction, no taxes on capital gains, tax subsidies, tax credits and best of all- corporations deferring taxes and simply not paying them at all.  Billions of dollars lost. Billions.

What it all boils down to is huge grants being given to corporations and using our tax system/governance as a gigantic ATM machine!!!

MYTHS AND TRUTH ABOUT POVERTY

I had not intended for this week to be all about Poverty...it just so happens that all this information is coming out and I want to stay on this topic for the rest of the week.

The following information was taken from a presentation done by Rob Rainer of Canada Without Poverty.  He spoke at the "No Place For Poverty" workshop in Yellowknikfe Oct 5-7, 2010.

Myth 1:  There is no such thing as poverty in Canada.  No one starves to death like they do in Africa.

Myth 2: People in Poverty in Canada are just a little bit poor.

Myth 3: Canada is getting richer and the number of people in poverty is decreasing every year.  The rising tide of wealth creation is lifting all the boats.

Myth 4: Poverty is too expensive a problem for Canada to fix.

Myth 5: People in poverty depend on welfare.

Myth 6:  Education is a way out of poverty.

Myth 7:  Getting a job is the key to avoiding living in poverty


I want you to think about these myths.  I want you to sit and roll them around in your perceptions, perspectives and paradigm.

I think what I have to tell you next will blast your beliefs wide open...

But you will have to wait til tomorrow as I want to give this information to you one day at a time. 

Just 7 days to a new way of thinking.

Here is what Nelson Mandela said

Myth 8:  The poor shall always be with us as the Bible says.

"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural.  It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings."  Nelson Mandela

One person can change the world.  Always.

Love and all good things,

The Peaceful Matriarch


God wants you to end global poverty: an interview with South Africa's Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane on Oprah, AIDS, and how Christians are battling ... An article from: Sojourners Magazine


A call to action.(Introduction)(Nelson Mandela gives a speech about a poverty in London, on February 2005): An article from: Canada and the World Backgrounder