Systemic poverty a far-reaching blight on civil society

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

EDITH PERRY
Millview

Editor:

As a concerned citizen and farmer’s daughter who attended last Thursday’s farmers rally, I remember thinking that I have protest placards at home from previous rallies held over many years that are still relevant. Yet here we are again raising the same issues.

I want to point out something that was not mentioned at this week’s rally: poverty in general as a social justice issue.

As someone on a fixed income, I am a consumer that has difficulty buying food, never mind local food. Gas prices make transportation to get that food another problem. Living in a rural community where one has to rely on a car to be mobile raises yet another problem: maintaining the cost of a vehicle. There is no rural public transit system. There are no longer country stores handy to walk or bike to. Neighbours are more than likely in the same financial straits as I am. Some don’t have a car.

Being on a fixed income (read ‘low’) also means we have difficulty paying to heat our homes, paying the rent, taxes and maintenance of our houses, buying clothes, paying for medications and other health needs if one is disabled, participating in community events and volunteering. The list is long.

Minimum wages are now $7.75 an hour and will be $8 an hour this October. We know that this does not provide an adequate yearly income.

So farmers share with the rest of us the inability to make ‘ends meet’. We elect people to ensure that there are policies that help us live in a way that meets the basic needs in a prosperous ‘have’ country of the world. This is not happening.

How, then, can we help people in poor countries, as we should be obligated to? How can we ensure that the environment does not suffer while we are made to keep our nose to the grindstone just to make ends meets? How can we keep up the battle to keep our health-care system public and affordable? How can we make sure human rights are ensured even in our own country? Systemic poverty is a far-reaching blight on civil society.

Helping alleviate poverty in the general population (guaranteed adequate annual income comes to mind) helps our farmers stay in business. And helps all of us.