Can
unions save the world? While that task may be too broad of a burden to place on
workers, a NASA report seems to suggest unions could play a large role in
keeping worldwide catastrophe at bay.
unions save the world? While that task may be too broad of a burden to place on
workers, a NASA report seems to suggest unions could play a large role in
keeping worldwide catastrophe at bay.
Mathematicians from NASA have confirmed
what workers, some economists, common sense and basic humanity have always
known: people should receive a fair wage and a more equitable piece of the pie.
This is to say that a NASA report agrees that the current system of a few economically
powerful individuals holding sway over the masses is a flawed and unsustainable
position.
what workers, some economists, common sense and basic humanity have always
known: people should receive a fair wage and a more equitable piece of the pie.
This is to say that a NASA report agrees that the current system of a few economically
powerful individuals holding sway over the masses is a flawed and unsustainable
position.
For
a study with such a blatantly undramatic title, A Minimal Model for Human and Nature Interaction, is rife with
dramatic conclusions. Written by a team of mathematicians, the study eschews
niceties and gets right down to brass tacks. The study holds that there are two
major issues facing the earth. Unless resolved these issues are said to promise
catastrophic results. After delving into the decline of former empires, the
study asserts that such declines have two common issues:
a study with such a blatantly undramatic title, A Minimal Model for Human and Nature Interaction, is rife with
dramatic conclusions. Written by a team of mathematicians, the study eschews
niceties and gets right down to brass tacks. The study holds that there are two
major issues facing the earth. Unless resolved these issues are said to promise
catastrophic results. After delving into the decline of former empires, the
study asserts that such declines have two common issues:
(i)
Economic
stratification; and
Economic
stratification; and
(ii)
Too
much strain on ecological resources.
Too
much strain on ecological resources.
Unless
these issues are resolved, the prognosis is grim[1].
Not merely grim, but dire, with the report finding that without corrective
action the collapse of human civilization is not only possible but likely[2].
these issues are resolved, the prognosis is grim[1].
Not merely grim, but dire, with the report finding that without corrective
action the collapse of human civilization is not only possible but likely[2].
Basically,
as ecological resources become less plentiful and economic stratification
either continues, regular people will suffer declining living standards. The
elites are expected to be the last to be affected by the strain on resources, leading
to overconsumption by the elites and a concomitant paucity of resources for the
masses. [Note: the terms “Elites” and “Masses” are those used in the NASA
report and are not my terms].
as ecological resources become less plentiful and economic stratification
either continues, regular people will suffer declining living standards. The
elites are expected to be the last to be affected by the strain on resources, leading
to overconsumption by the elites and a concomitant paucity of resources for the
masses. [Note: the terms “Elites” and “Masses” are those used in the NASA
report and are not my terms].
The
lack of resources available to the masses could lead to prices that are
forbiddingly high and which bar regular people from purchasing resources. The
likely outcomes of this scenario are gross economic hardship, housing shortages
and, at its worst, famine and starvation.
As reported in the National Post, Derrick O’Keefe, the former editor of
Rabble.ca, notes that the NASA report basically reduces our options to either:
“socialism or extinction.”[3]
lack of resources available to the masses could lead to prices that are
forbiddingly high and which bar regular people from purchasing resources. The
likely outcomes of this scenario are gross economic hardship, housing shortages
and, at its worst, famine and starvation.
As reported in the National Post, Derrick O’Keefe, the former editor of
Rabble.ca, notes that the NASA report basically reduces our options to either:
“socialism or extinction.”[3]
There are Solutions
The NASA report
doesn’t advocate that we simply shrug and accept this Doomsday scenario. There
are solutions. It’s been posited that two broad and necessary policy shifts
could stem the tide of destruction:
doesn’t advocate that we simply shrug and accept this Doomsday scenario. There
are solutions. It’s been posited that two broad and necessary policy shifts
could stem the tide of destruction:
(i)
Greatly reduce inequality; and/or
Greatly reduce inequality; and/or
(ii)
Dramatically reduce resource consumption and population
growth.
Dramatically reduce resource consumption and population
growth.
Organized
labour can be the answer to both of these solutions, but more obviously for the
first. Unions have been demonstrated to effect societies by raising wages and
improving the standards of living for all workers. At the same time as unions
are raising workers wages and standards of living, the economic inequality is
reduced, leading to a more equitable distribution of resources. In a 2002
study, Unions
and Collective Bargaining: Economic Effects in a
Global Environment, the World Bank
states as much: “…union density correlates negatively with labor earnings
inequality and wage dispersion.”[4]
labour can be the answer to both of these solutions, but more obviously for the
first. Unions have been demonstrated to effect societies by raising wages and
improving the standards of living for all workers. At the same time as unions
are raising workers wages and standards of living, the economic inequality is
reduced, leading to a more equitable distribution of resources. In a 2002
study, Unions
and Collective Bargaining: Economic Effects in a
Global Environment, the World Bank
states as much: “…union density correlates negatively with labor earnings
inequality and wage dispersion.”[4]
So if we want to head-off
the catastrophic warnings in the NASA report, it seems obvious that we must
insist on policies that support workers more and corporate tax breaks less.
Policies must focus on reducing income inequality, creating better standards of
living all people and pursuing sustainable consumption. In short, everything
unions have long fought for.
the catastrophic warnings in the NASA report, it seems obvious that we must
insist on policies that support workers more and corporate tax breaks less.
Policies must focus on reducing income inequality, creating better standards of
living all people and pursuing sustainable consumption. In short, everything
unions have long fought for.
It’s time to stop
measuring the value of our country solely on the basis of the GDP. It’s time to
consider our worth in more human terms. Otherwise, our civilization may prove
all too human to survive the results.
measuring the value of our country solely on the basis of the GDP. It’s time to
consider our worth in more human terms. Otherwise, our civilization may prove
all too human to survive the results.