Bibliography
Glossary
Foreword
1/ WHY WE NEED TO TALK
The tragedy of the commons combined with fallacies that are enshrined in conventional wisdom are crippling Canadas social, political and economic development. I argue the need for new approaches to old problems.
Why we Need to Talk
2/ THE FOOD WE EAT
Because of looming water shortage, climate change and the danger of monoculture crops we can expect a global famine within the next forty years. I outline the danger, and suggest how we may be able to mitigate or even avert it.
The food we eat
3/ A DEFENCE POLICY FOR THE FUTURE
It's not likely that Canada will ever be invaded by any country except the United States, and our military would be no use if the United States did invade, but we have a very real need for defence against forest fires, plagues, floods and other natural disasters. A well trained and equipped rescue force with large stocks of emergency supplies could offer a real and useful service to Canadians and others around the world.
A defence policy for the future
4/ FIXING OUR ECONOMY
The Gross Domestic Product that we use to measure our economy counts wars, plagues and natural disasters as positive benefits, because they all increase the GDP. This section of the book outlines some of the flaws of conventional economics, and suggests measures and methods that could help us develop a stable economy with prosperity for all.
Fixing our economy
5/ THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Banks in England the and United States financed and enabled economic development but the combination of national charters and a zero-reserve system make Canadian banks a drag on our economy. I explain how banking systems work and suggest laws and regulations that could make our banks work for the benefit of all Canadians, rather than for an international elite.
The financial industry
6/ TRANSPORTATION
The transportation system we developed in the 19th and 20th centuries works very well for the people who own it and for most of the unionized workers who run it, but not very well for the rest of us. I argue that obsolete regulations and subsidies cripple our economy, and suggest changes that could provide cheaper and more efficient transportation of people and freight for the whole country.
Transportation
7/ ENERGY FOR THE FUTURE
The world is running out of oil but national governments and big business everywhere encourage us to use more and more of it. I argue the need to conserve oil, and discuss the kind of energy policy a responsible government would promote.
Energy for the future
8/ HOUSING FOR EVERYONE
Runaway bureaucracy and regulations have pushed the price of housing beyond the reach of too many Canadians. I outline the problem, and suggest some possible solutions.
Housing for everyone
9/ MEDICINE AND MEDICARE
Canada"s public health system is one of the best in the world but in an era when we face more and more serious health dangers, high costs and lack of money are shutting it down. I argue that the "insurance effect" increases the cost of medicine and other services, and suggest some measures that could reduce costs and improve service.
Medicine and medicare
10/ THE CHARITY BUSINESS
The poor will always be with us, and so will the people who live on them. Much of the money we spend on charity supports high salaries for the people who collect it. I suggest that some professional philanthropists do more for themselves than for the people they pretend to help.
The charity business
11/ THE WORLD WE LIVE IN
We know the environment is failing but commercial forces drive environmental projects that do more harm than good and farming methods that are not sustainable. I outline some of the problems, and suggest some possible solutions.
The world we live in
12/ TELLING US WHAT TO THINK
The primary function of the advertising and public relations industry is to lie to us and to distort our view of the world, and it does that job very well. I argue that it is now out of control, and that it now controls the people who think they control it.
Telling us what to think
13/ YEARS OF EDUCATION
Public schooling began as a way to condition the masses to work in factories and rulers to rule. Modern day care is good for business, but bad for children. I argue that the distortions our education system creates are bad for society and for the economy.
Years of education
14/ THE RULE OF LAW
We like to pretend that we are ruled by law but we know that innocent people are convicted of crimes and that the guilty often go free. I argue that the so-called "war on drugs" sustains and promotes the trade in illegal drugs, that we cannot afford legalized gambling, that Canada's gun registry has been instrumental in putting guns and violence on our streets and the "War on Terror" promotes both war and terrorism. I show how good intentions can and do produce bad results.
The rule of law
15/ HOW WE ARE GOVERNED
Under Canada's electoral system a party that most of us voted against can hold an absolute majority. The ruling parties like our system because it keeps them in power, but for democracy's sake we need to change to a proportional representation system that would give us a government that reflects the will of the people. I also argue the benefits of a constitutional monarchy over a republic, and suggest that senators might better be chosen by lottery than by appointment or election.
How we are governed
16/ FROM PAST TO FUTURE
In 1867 Canada was confederated for England's benefit, not Canada's. As it has evolved since then confederation has been very good for federal and provincial governments and for some big business, but a drag and a drain for most of us. I argue that we need to rethink confederation, and perhaps reorganize the land mass that we call Canada into different political divisions.
From past to future
17/ WRAPPING IT UP
Many of our most serious problems are in fact created by politicians and bureaucrats, and they are no problem at all for the people who created them. If we ever get a better system it will be created by private citizens, against opposition by people who profit from the status quo.
Wrapping it up
back to Andy Turnbull's web page