Friday, January 4, 2013

What in the World is Social Justice

    In the last two posts I have thrown around the term social justice. I didn't define social justice. I'm sure that books have been written about social justice but I haven't read them.

    However , I believe in social justice. Since I was a teacher in a middle school classroom for thirty seven years, I long ago understood that there were major differences in people. For example, physical and mental skills varied widely. Learning styles ran a wide gamut. Then we can consider learning difficulties or learning disabilities. All of these folks can succeed and live happy productive lives.

    Okay , what's this got to do with social justice. The playing field, the rules, the opportunities have to be there in a way that makes it fair. Don't set up laws or rules that give an advantage to one group and penalize another group. That's what I've been talking about in the previous two posts. Rules were set up and broken for First Nations people. At one time aboriginals had to have permission to leave the reserve.

   From a wider perspective...the Occupy Movement...taxes can be set up to give certain groups an advantage. The one percent that the Occupy Movement focused on have major advantages because of government regulations. So the income gap between the top incomes and middle incomes keep getting wider. You might say this is an example of Social injustice. Historically women were at a disadvantage in many ways...maternity benefits and leave, wages, pensions...So females had a tougher time to succeed because some of the cards in the deck were stacked against them.

    One example that really upsets me is where subsidies are applied. In many cases it is a license to print money. I'll give you one example. In Alberta oil companies are paid $300.00 per meter to drill an oil well. I can not believe that there is any reason to subsidize rich and profitable oil companies. Do small one man companies ever get a subsidy like that?

    There are some sad stories in Canada. The Chinese at one time were charged a fee for the right to come to this country and work. They were not allowed to bring their families. In WW II the Japanese in Canada had their property confiscated and were sent to work camps. Their property was never returned although 60 years later they received an apology and some compensation. We are again setting up second class workers with the immigration policy that we have for temporary  foreign workers.

    So I see social justice as a policy the gives a fair opportunity for all people to succeed with the skills and abilities they have.

21 comments:

  1. Wonderful bit of writing.
    I am afraid that it is a myth even in democracies. The wealthy look after each other and the lower down the pecking order one is the harder it is to climb up.

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    1. You have the sad reality of the situation.

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  2. For the most part, I agree with you. I would take it a step further though...I find the fact that we have to regulate any of it distasteful! Why can't we just be grownups and act right? I guess that really is asking too much! Hope you have had a great holiday. I am recuperating from a 3 week bout with the flu and bronchitis. Almost feeling human again!

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    1. It all seems so stinkin' stupid but we can't get it. I'm certainly not for regulation
      Good to hear from you again and I hope you recover well and have a great winter.

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  3. the u.s. and canada have had so much of the same history, it appears. and i wonder about our futures.

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    1. We will continue to drift together. I hope that we both keep our own system of govt.
      We travel back and forth and move back and forth. My daughter lives in Chicago and will become an American citizen. I'm cool with that.

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  4. In this part of the Pacific Northwest, there was a time when Chinese people were turned out of the city by law! We do have a shameful past, but much of this still goes on today, only it's more hidden. Good post, Red.

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    1. Yes, we still don't have things right even though we think we've improved things.

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  5. Like TexWisGirl I was thinking how alike we are to you. And now...I worry about where it will all go.

    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
    http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

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    1. Let's not fool ourselves we are very much alike. I think we will continue continue to be similar.

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  6. You are really tackling some core issues this year! I am not surprised that we share so much common ground. For the first time in many years, I have felt optimistic about the future, despite all the problems. Let's keep things moving forward.

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    1. These are issues I have had some difficulty with to post. A post has to make sense and I wasn't sure how to deal with things. I've been pleased with the reaction to them.

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  7. I had posted a witty comment earlier and now have come back to test. It seems I can only post on my PC and not my laptop.

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    1. Tabor, your laptop probably works just fine. I remember the comment , but I was a fumble fingers and deleted it. So I'm sorry that I deleted it instead of publishing it.
      So it doesn't matter ...laptop or PC I appreciate your comments.

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  8. Red this is an excellent explanation of social justice (injustice); it's saddens and sickens me to know in our free world there is so much corruption and injustices still in play.

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    1. I can never understand that cheating is taken so lightly.

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  9. We live not far from a reservation..the education opportunities are to die for..and yet their people do not plan ahead or worry about what will happen tomorrow. They live one day at a time and don't worry about the future..just my observations over the years:)

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    1. The living one day at a time comes from their culture. We have our culture and don't want to lose it. they have theirs. I wouldn't wan to change.
      Our guys have a terrible educational system.

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  10. You sure are tackling the big stuff Red and I applaud you for it.
    Having taught school myself I was really impressed with your thoughts on learning and the playing field.
    Here with "No Child Left Behind" that really isn't the case. I saw many special ed children at a huge disadvantage with the program.
    A wonderful post!

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  11. Red, I've fought for social justice most of my life. You hit some great examples. Keep up the good fight.

    Thank you for joining my blog. Please feel free to come back and leave comments any time you wish.

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  12. my son is doing a thesis paper that the college wants to publish on social justice. he was at the state library all day today researching housing costs between the rich and the poor....

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