Wishes

Well, my most immediate wish is that I would kick the insomnia. But, you might as well go where life takes you. (Is that an American Express slogan?)

On Friday, at around 2 a.m., having already taken sleeping pills, I went on a Facebook browse fest. My 'trip' landed me on The Great Canadian Wish List. I was shocked to see that the 'Abolish Abortion in Canada' group is in the lead with more supporters than any other group! I also browsed other wishes and saw a lot of 'end global poverty' type groups with the proposed solution always being to give money 'over there', rather than change anything 'over here'. Do people really think that the mass consumerism in the so-called First World is not related to poverty in the so-called Third World? It kind of gives me the chills when we talk about 'developing' these other countries. Are we really the symbol of 'progress' and 'development' to be sought after? Anway, I'm drifting radical...and this may not be in favour of my secondary wish to beat the crazy anti-abortioners.

So, the title of the group I created is 'Canadians Who Wish for Economics in the Service of People Not Profits':

This wish is for those who want to live in a society that is not organized in the service of unfettered capitalism. This group is for those who recognize that many of the problems facing people of the world stem from global capitalism. Add your support and let’s work toward a system that places people before profits. No more ‘band-aid’ solutions!

This is a very big wish. One with potential to positively impact many spheres of life.

The current economic system is based on hierarchical relations involving the exploitation of countries, of groups of people, and of the earth. An alternative economic system which is not driven by profit mania would help to remedy some pressing social issues including: extreme poverty in ‘undeveloped’ and ‘developing’ countries; the growing gap between the rich and the poor within countries; the continued devaluing, exploitation and marginalization of groups of people, a growing ‘care deficit’ from work-life imbalance; war for profit; and ecological crisis.

Is this wish too big? Hey, this is The GREAT Canadian Wish List. Why not think big and see if we can be a voice for many of people's wishes that relate to kinder economics?!

Do you share this wish? Yes. Then,  go add your support to the group. There are additional links there to articles relating alternative economics to different spheres of life.

So, go! Beat out the neo-con crazies. Do it! Now!

Or, whenever.

 

Comments

[skdadl]

I'm there. I have a feeling that the tall foreheads at the CBC who thought the wish list up in the first place weren't expecting dinosaurs like me to be playing, but wth.

Whenever guys on the make decide that they're going to appeal to "youth," they always do it wrong anyway. That was true in the 1960s, and it's true now. They didn't foresee what would happen to their silly list (it's been freeped), so maybe it's time we patted them on the head and did things the right way. I mean, the left way. Well, you know what I mean.

[Polly Jones]

I know that Student Vote is collaborating with the CBC and Facebook, but other than that I don't see that the project is specifically geared to youth. The info page from the CBC seems to be directed at everyone: http://www.cbc.ca/wish/faq.html

Anyway, I am not exactly a newly hatched hen. And, as you can see by my sidebar, with the link to the group 'Unearthing Paleo-feminism', I think it is the dinos who have all the good ideas!

A project like the Great Canadian Wish List isn't going to create change in ways that other internet phenomena do. Organized groups like BreadnRoses and organic networks between blogs develop over long periods of time and become ongoing places for discussion and exchange. But, hey, it is fun for now and worth a go!

[Psychols]

Well, my most immediate wish is that I would kick the insomnia

Insomnia sucks. I have lived with it for about 20 years. I also have treatable heart problems. If I had to choose a cure for one, and only one, of these ailments I would probably choose to cure the insomnia.

I think I came accross the Great Canadian Wish List and the "Abolish abortion in Canada" thread one night at around 3:30 am. I found myself wondering why the initial "wish" wasn't something attainable like "reduce abortion in Canada". At least that might leave room for some common ground between people with differing viewpoints.

[Polly Jones]

Psychols, I am trying St. John's Wort for the insomnia. (I am on day 2.) I have health problems myself and doctors often go back to sleep...Want to know a word I hate? 'Sleep Hygiene.'

As far as the whole CBC/facebook affair, I think there is no common ground for pro-choice and pro-lifers.

[Psychols]

"Sleep Hygiene" and "too young to have trouble sleeping" are equally infuriating to me.

Pro-life/pro-choice arguements are based on morality so there is always going to be disagreement. I just happen to think that reasonable people can disagree yet still try to be reasonable.