“Decrease the surplus population”
Charles Dickens, 1843
the old man in the hat
“At this festive season of the year, Mr Scrooge,” said the gentleman, taking up a pen, “it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.”
“Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge.
“Plenty of prisons,” said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
“And the Union workhouses?” demanded Scrooge. “Are they still in operation?”
“They are. Still,” returned the gentleman, “ I wish I could say they were not.”
“The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?” said Scrooge.
“Both very busy, sir.”
“Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,” said Scrooge. “I’m very glad to hear it.”
“Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude,” returned the gentleman, “a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?”
“Nothing!” Scrooge replied.
“You wish to be anonymous?”
“I wish to be left alone,” said Scrooge. “Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don’t make merry myself at Christmas and I can’t afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned: they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there.”
“Many can’t go there; and many would rather die.”
“If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides — excuse me — I don’t know that.”
“But you might know it,” observed the gentleman.
“It’s not my business,” Scrooge returned. “It’s enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people’s. Mine occupies me constantly. Good afternoon, gentlemen!”
Charles Dickens, 1843
“We’ve never been wealthier as a country than we are right now. Never been wealthier,” the MP for the B.C. riding of Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam said. “Certainly, we want to make sure that kids go to school full-bellied, but is that always the government’s job to be there to serve people their breakfast?
“Is it my job to feed my neighbour’s child? I don’t think so,” he said.”
James Moore MP , the Minister of Labour in the Conservative Harper Government, December 2013.
I guess attitudes of the elites haven’t changed much in 170 years!
From a technical point of view, MP Moore’s comment was correct. As a federal minister, he was quite right in pointing out that it is a provincial responsibility to address the needs of children who do not have enough food to eat.
Technically, it seems that it is always someone else’s problem. Nevertheless, MP Moore’s comment, “We’ve never been wealthier as a country than we are right now.” poses a conundrum. If we are so rich, why can’t we feed everyone?
Perhaps it is about the choices we make.
The present Government of Harper chose to reduce the HST by 2 percentage points during 2006-2008. This choice has had consequences. From 2000 to 2008, the federal government ran a current account surplus. From 2008 to present, a deficit. In an effort to reduce the federal deficit, cuts have been made. National initiatives have been curtailed a la Republican Party Playbook. Starve the monster, cut social programs. We see how well that’s worked for Americans.
The Toronto Star has compiled a “short” list of over 100 programs cut or scheduled to be cut as part of their effort to balance the budget. According to the Star,
“Also among Harper’s first moves was cancellation of the $5-billion, five-year national child care program set up by the Liberals.”
Governing is tough. No doubt.
Comments: theoldmaninthehat@sissonridge.ca
Read more:http://www.canada.com/business/James+Moore+feed+neighbour+child+think+with+audio/9292074/story.html#ixzz2o14gMXN
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/12/09/conservatives_dismantling_social_programs_built_over_generations.html
