I know a lot of you don't care for Sullivan, but he has written a really excellent essay that summarizes exactly what I think about inequality in the US
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So true. Places that have gone communist in the past were always places with extreme exploitation by the ruling class. Places that were capitalist (or whatever) but had some equity in the system and all or most of the people could benefit from it saw no need for an extreme solution. Take Saskatchewan under the NDP for example. A capitalist province in a capitalist country but one that had a few socialist policies that were good. There was no need for class wars or revolutions. The system didn't serve only a few. Also look at some European countries for more examples.
I think what the thing in the States is about is that people have been presented a scenario where they have to pick a side. They aren't allowed a middle ground as an option. For years Canada voted for the Liberal party which touted itself to be centrist.
Maybe the less right types in the Republican party and some of the less left ones in the Democratic party could leave and form an official centrist party. (This is assuming that anyone could call the Democratic party "Leftist". To most of the world they'd be right wing. But I digress...)
I would classify the battle with physicians to bring in medicare in SK as class warfare. It was a relatively short, brutal war, however. Although by the mid 19th century most of the US and Canada was significantly democratic, with indigenous peoples' lives being the major exception.
Liberal meritocracy is a utopia. Structural mechanisms are needed to check the human failings of those who would rule, be it in Parliament or on Bay Street.
Take Saskatchewan under the NDP for example. A capitalist province in a capitalist country but one that had a few socialist policies that were good. There was no need for class wars or revolutions. The system didn't serve only a few.
Also look at some European countries for more examples.
I think what the thing in the States is about is that people have been presented a scenario where they have to pick a side. They aren't allowed a middle ground as an option. For years Canada voted for the Liberal party which touted itself to be centrist.
Maybe the less right types in the Republican party and some of the less left ones in the Democratic party could leave and form an official centrist party.
(This is assuming that anyone could call the Democratic party "Leftist". To most of the world they'd be right wing. But I digress...)
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I would classify the battle with physicians to bring in medicare in SK as class warfare. It was a relatively short, brutal war, however. Although by the mid 19th century most of the US and Canada was significantly democratic, with indigenous peoples' lives being the major exception.
Liberal meritocracy is a utopia. Structural mechanisms are needed to check the human failings of those who would rule, be it in Parliament or on Bay Street.
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