This is a very similar take on elections that La Raza Unida takes. We know that the party in power makes a difference, and it cannot make a difference alone it needs the rest of society pushing and guiding.
"See, if you could just vote for the lesser evil candidate and leave it at that, if you could still threaten to vote against him or her throughout the year, if you could still leave the compromising to the officials and speak your opinions without hesitation, if you could still be a good citizen on those other 729 days, then there’d be nothing to complain about. But nobody, or almost nobody, does that."
Read more here
Showing posts with label Hierarchy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hierarchy. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Monday, December 20, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Beyond Elections Part 6
This section starts by talking about reducing hierarchy and increasing participation. We often wonder why there is such low voter turnout in the US, it seems obvious that our "winner-take-all" electoral system along with the representative nature of politics does not inspire people to participate. People want more power and control over their lives. Decades of using the term "democracy" has raised expectations. And rightfully so!
The discussion about the difference between an elected representative and a spokesperson is a stretch for many of us, but something to consider deeply. The discussion about taking and internalizing and doing the work for democracy is important as well. We have become so accustomed to voting and waiting for the next election that all of this seems odd. But real democracy will be really challenging work.
The discussion about the difference between an elected representative and a spokesperson is a stretch for many of us, but something to consider deeply. The discussion about taking and internalizing and doing the work for democracy is important as well. We have become so accustomed to voting and waiting for the next election that all of this seems odd. But real democracy will be really challenging work.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Beyond Elections Part 5
This section goes into the communal councils created in Venezuela. While there was some organic development of this process, it really took off with an official change in electoral power. This is another example of where elections and grassroots can work together to create real community power.
In the sections on communal councils there is some discussion of the improvement over their old neighborhood association structure. This may be of value for people doing work on this level in the US. Neighborhood associations are important but often not inclusive or engaging. There is definitely work to be done on that front.
In the sections on communal councils there is some discussion of the improvement over their old neighborhood association structure. This may be of value for people doing work on this level in the US. Neighborhood associations are important but often not inclusive or engaging. There is definitely work to be done on that front.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Dr. Raphael - How Inequality Makes us Sick
"Why should inequality, perhaps the biggest factor affecting the health of populations,
be so bad for us? In a big gap society, those lower down the ladder experience more
chronic stress than those towards the top. We are beginning to understand how this stress
produces ill health, in large part mediated through hormones released by the adrenal
glands.
Inequality concepts relate to the quality of social and human relations produced by the
structure of society which in our era are largely determined by measures of hierarchy. We
tend to associate with people like ourselves, most of us do not have friends who are either
much richer or much poorer than we are. As a young boy, growing up in the 1950s in East
York, a part of Toronto, I lived in a working class neighbourhood and did not consider
myself disadvantaged. My father repaired shoes, and my friends’ parents were similar
workers. When I went to the University of Toronto, I became aware of hierarchy in
Canada, as my classmates came from more privileged backgrounds than mine. I began
to feel poor. Today with lifestyles of the rich and famous always in the media we don‘t
compare ourselves to just our friends anymore but to the many achievers and the wealthy
who are constantly in our face. Finding ourselves down the ladder, our sense of self-worth,
our ability to control our lives and our access to what is considered essential for health,
suffers. Not only do we not do as well, but society’s health suffers.
Modern societies, unless held in check, tend to share income and wealth unfairly.
...
The kinds of positive societal changes that will produce health improvements will only
come from popular pressure on the forces of wealth and power. Canadians must continue
to maintain and strengthen their unique society, one that values cultural diversity and social
justice. Many prescriptions for dealing with health problems are outlined herein, but none
of them will be given to you by your doctor. We are all affected by this dis-ease, and must
work together to take this remedy through the democratic process."
Read the entire report - Social Justice Is Good For Our Hearts
be so bad for us? In a big gap society, those lower down the ladder experience more
chronic stress than those towards the top. We are beginning to understand how this stress
produces ill health, in large part mediated through hormones released by the adrenal
glands.
Inequality concepts relate to the quality of social and human relations produced by the
structure of society which in our era are largely determined by measures of hierarchy. We
tend to associate with people like ourselves, most of us do not have friends who are either
much richer or much poorer than we are. As a young boy, growing up in the 1950s in East
York, a part of Toronto, I lived in a working class neighbourhood and did not consider
myself disadvantaged. My father repaired shoes, and my friends’ parents were similar
workers. When I went to the University of Toronto, I became aware of hierarchy in
Canada, as my classmates came from more privileged backgrounds than mine. I began
to feel poor. Today with lifestyles of the rich and famous always in the media we don‘t
compare ourselves to just our friends anymore but to the many achievers and the wealthy
who are constantly in our face. Finding ourselves down the ladder, our sense of self-worth,
our ability to control our lives and our access to what is considered essential for health,
suffers. Not only do we not do as well, but society’s health suffers.
Modern societies, unless held in check, tend to share income and wealth unfairly.
...
The kinds of positive societal changes that will produce health improvements will only
come from popular pressure on the forces of wealth and power. Canadians must continue
to maintain and strengthen their unique society, one that values cultural diversity and social
justice. Many prescriptions for dealing with health problems are outlined herein, but none
of them will be given to you by your doctor. We are all affected by this dis-ease, and must
work together to take this remedy through the democratic process."
Read the entire report - Social Justice Is Good For Our Hearts
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Social Justice is Good for Our Hearts
Latest estimates are that 23% of premature years of life lost prior to age 75 in Canada
can be attributed to income differences. That is, 23% of all of the premature years of life
lost to Canadians is accounted for by the differences that exists among wealthy, middleincome,
and low income Canadians. The disease most related to income differences is
cardiovascular disease. Twenty-two percent of all years lost that can be attributed to
income differences are caused by cardiovascular disease.
In addition, it is estimated that income differences account for a 24% excess in
premature deaths prior to 75 years from cardiovascular disease among Canadians. Were
all Canadians’ rates of death from cardiovascular disease equal to those living in the
wealthiest quintile of neighbourhoods, there would be 6,366 fewer deaths each year from
cardiovascular disease. An estimate of the annual costs to Canada of these incomerelated
cardiovascular disease effects is $4 billion.
This report outlines the role that income and its distribution play in the incidence of
cardiovascular disease. There is particular focus on how living on low income -- combined
with government policies that limit access to basic needs and resources required for health
-- contributes to the process of social exclusion by which individuals are denied full
participation in Canadian life. This exploration of the role of income on cardiovascular
health is particularly timely as the distribution of income is becoming less equitable in
Canada.
Societal changes that increase the numbers of Canadians living on low incomes and
foster social exclusion are considered in relation to what is known about the societal
determinants of cardiovascular disease. Means are presented for addressing these issues
in order to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease in Canada. These include
recommendations for reducing the number of Canadians living on low incomes, reducing
the social exclusion of citizens from participation in Canadian society, and ways by which
the social safety nets that support population health can be restored.
Side effects of a lifestyle emphasis are discussed as are reasons for resistance to
thinking in new ways about the causes and means of preventing cardiovascular disease.
Finally, community activities that will support heart health that are consistent with the best
principles of health promotion are presented.
From - Social Justice is Good for Our Hearts
can be attributed to income differences. That is, 23% of all of the premature years of life
lost to Canadians is accounted for by the differences that exists among wealthy, middleincome,
and low income Canadians. The disease most related to income differences is
cardiovascular disease. Twenty-two percent of all years lost that can be attributed to
income differences are caused by cardiovascular disease.
In addition, it is estimated that income differences account for a 24% excess in
premature deaths prior to 75 years from cardiovascular disease among Canadians. Were
all Canadians’ rates of death from cardiovascular disease equal to those living in the
wealthiest quintile of neighbourhoods, there would be 6,366 fewer deaths each year from
cardiovascular disease. An estimate of the annual costs to Canada of these incomerelated
cardiovascular disease effects is $4 billion.
This report outlines the role that income and its distribution play in the incidence of
cardiovascular disease. There is particular focus on how living on low income -- combined
with government policies that limit access to basic needs and resources required for health
-- contributes to the process of social exclusion by which individuals are denied full
participation in Canadian life. This exploration of the role of income on cardiovascular
health is particularly timely as the distribution of income is becoming less equitable in
Canada.
Societal changes that increase the numbers of Canadians living on low incomes and
foster social exclusion are considered in relation to what is known about the societal
determinants of cardiovascular disease. Means are presented for addressing these issues
in order to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease in Canada. These include
recommendations for reducing the number of Canadians living on low incomes, reducing
the social exclusion of citizens from participation in Canadian society, and ways by which
the social safety nets that support population health can be restored.
Side effects of a lifestyle emphasis are discussed as are reasons for resistance to
thinking in new ways about the causes and means of preventing cardiovascular disease.
Finally, community activities that will support heart health that are consistent with the best
principles of health promotion are presented.
From - Social Justice is Good for Our Hearts
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The Social Hierarchy of Health
Quotes from an article on Social Hierarchy of Health.
The disease and suffering of disadvantaged people in all countries are a result of the way we organise our societies.
A physician faced with a suffering patient has an obligation to make things better. If a society is making people sick, we have a moral obligation to improve public health and to reduce health inequalities as a matter of social justice.
The social gradient in mortality is a broader issue than that of poverty and health. A study by Marmot of government workers in Whitehall, London, found that while everyone had access to clean water, sanitation, abundant food, and shelter, the risk of dying was related to where they stood in the social hierarchy. In England, the life expectancy gap between men living in rich and poor areas is 11 years and the gap is even bigger in the United States of America between whites and blacks in the same geographical region.
There is a clear relation between a country's affluence and the life expectancy of its population, up to a per capita income of about $5,000. Beyond this, factors like social environment have a greater influence. The excess mortality among the poor in a rich country like the USA is from non-communicable disease and violent deaths.
Power, then, is the key. Control, autonomy, and freedoms might sound like psychological properties of the individual. Power relations in society, as they operate through social institutions and the opportunities afforded to those in relatively disadvantaged positions, are the social causes of degrees of empowerment. Freedom does not imply privileging the rights of some individuals at the expense of the well-being of others. Human rights can be taken as implying an obligation on society to do what is necessary to bring about the important freedoms for everyone.
The disease and suffering of disadvantaged people in all countries are a result of the way we organise our societies.
A physician faced with a suffering patient has an obligation to make things better. If a society is making people sick, we have a moral obligation to improve public health and to reduce health inequalities as a matter of social justice.
The social gradient in mortality is a broader issue than that of poverty and health. A study by Marmot of government workers in Whitehall, London, found that while everyone had access to clean water, sanitation, abundant food, and shelter, the risk of dying was related to where they stood in the social hierarchy. In England, the life expectancy gap between men living in rich and poor areas is 11 years and the gap is even bigger in the United States of America between whites and blacks in the same geographical region.
There is a clear relation between a country's affluence and the life expectancy of its population, up to a per capita income of about $5,000. Beyond this, factors like social environment have a greater influence. The excess mortality among the poor in a rich country like the USA is from non-communicable disease and violent deaths.
Power, then, is the key. Control, autonomy, and freedoms might sound like psychological properties of the individual. Power relations in society, as they operate through social institutions and the opportunities afforded to those in relatively disadvantaged positions, are the social causes of degrees of empowerment. Freedom does not imply privileging the rights of some individuals at the expense of the well-being of others. Human rights can be taken as implying an obligation on society to do what is necessary to bring about the important freedoms for everyone.
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