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We have chosen to create a free market economy as the base for our social system.
There are lots of other choices we could have made. This is not a bad one. I like the promotion of freedom that is an inherent part of our system. It is the ability for people to choose their own priorities that I love. People can decide if they are more interested in money or in meaning. Family or work. Art or functionality. Materially rich or spiritually rich.
You are free to pursue either one.
If people are supported by this system so that we are properly educated, physically healthy, well fed, protected from the elements and given opportunities to pursue happiness, then the system works and is as good as any other.
I see how the incentive of wealth can be a useful motivator for the development of a social life. I see how the freedom to offer products and services to a market that is free to choose the ones that improve their life, can work to create a package of activites and belongings that helps us to be happy.
But there is the rub. The system only works when there is choice.
The system does not work when some people are more free than others.
The flight attendants are free to say, "We withdraw our work from your business Air Canada because you are making changes to our compensation and future opportunities that we do not like. We want a specific salary. We want all our people to make good wages. We want discount airlines to pay their people what we consider to be a fair rate. We are free to withhold our work as our only mechanism of power. We have nothing else that you want, so this is our only ability to force you to bargain. We are free to do this."
The Airlines can say, "This is a lousy business to be in. This is an industry without "good" profits. We need to cut costs everywhere if we are to have profits. The largest costs are fuel and people. We need to save money on people. We are going to make changes you will not like but it is so we can make better profits."
Then the two oposing forces can see who needs the other more. They can allow the power dynamic to play itself out. We will see a solution in time because the both the Airline and the Flight Attendants need each other.
But the system gets all wonky when the one aspect of our system - the government - takes sides.
It gets even wonky-er when that government has decided that when labour and management disagree they will always take the side of the management.
It gets down right stupid when we realize that government owns part of the Airline. If this power dynamic does not end the way we want the government could be expected to pay for the losses when the business is not profitable.
The system becomes corrupt when those people in government, to whom we have given the authority to make decisions for our mutual benefit, decide to tell lies (calling a flight attendant an essential service and therefore they should have no free right to bargain by withdrawing their work) so that the government (that has already made its allegiances clear) supports only the interests of management and government.
When a third party steps into a power dynamic and takes away one of the player's power mechanisms the power dynamic changes.
I can live with our system when it is played fair.
So I chose to be a third party involved in this dynamic as well. I hereby refuse to fly with Air Canada (which has always been my carrier of choice) until they bargain fairly and freely.
This is what the occupy movement is really about - fighting against the way the system is operating. Today, all around the world, government alligns with business and their pursuit of record profits rather than the people.
They have forgotten that this system was a choice we made because we thought it was a path to freedom and the road to prosperity for all.
It has been hijacked by greedy people.
Society is about people not business. Free market business is a system we chose because - when played fairly and freely - it is a good social system.
I choose to occupy my world because I want the people to thrive.
And - to be honest - because I hate greedy bullies.
What do you think?
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