Canada Needs Economic Reform Too!

'We are the 99 per cent," the protesters chant, eyes aflame with reformist zeal. It's a compelling slogan, well-suited to the times and to the social-media soup in which we are increasingly immersed.

The wrinkle: It's not true. North America and Europe, geographic epicentres of the Occupy Wall Street movement, are the fattest of fat cats, globally speaking. For any North American, least of all a Canadian, to claim economic kinship with the globally disadvantaged is silly. - 'We are the 99 per cent' is just not true

After reading this article in the Vancouver Sun and glossing over a few more anti-occupy articles, I have some push back of my own to offer.

Firstly I want to point out that the #OccupyVancouver statement of unity is a working document, meaning that it is subject to change as the movement evolves.

This Vancouver Sun article in particular points out the fact that we (Vancouverites) are richer than other nations and therefore have nothing to complain about.

I want to point out that our working statement of unity also includes the sentence "injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere".

This movement is speaks out against the growing global disparity of wealth. Simply because there is a smaller gap between the average Vancouverite adult and the top 1% than the average African adult and the top 1% does not mean we are disqualified from protesting. We have noticed this trend in disparity and do not like it. We want something different to be done for all people!

To be clear, there is a growing disparity of wealth in Canada. So while it is true we are in the top 10% globally, 90% of even North Americans do still qualify as part of the 99%. The idea that since we have it pretty good, we should therefore shut up is unbelievable bullshit. The critique that our complaint must also address our complicit behaviour in exploiting the world is absolutely fair.

I once visited a doctor at a walk-in clinic to talk about anti-depressant medication. This doctor asked me if I was suicidal? If I was ready to jump off a bridge at any moment. He asked if I was imagining things like ants crawling across walls or if I constantly felt like I was being chased. With my negative response he proceeded to tell me that all I need to do is think more positively. He then compared my situation to that of people across the globe who were suffering from natural disasters, drought and war. In my headstrong state I responded fiercely.

"How dare you diminish my suffering based on your incorrect conception of others who have suffered more than I?" "How dare you inflict your prejudice judgement on me!" I was offended to the core. Based on being born and raised in Canada this doctor immediately wrote of all of my life experiences without knowing me or taking the time to inquire and listen and decided that I had not suffered enough to possibly be close to depression.

This is the source of my push back. Simply because we have more of the world's wealth than Africa does not mean that there is not a growing disparity that needs to be addressed here. Yes the disparity is larger elsewhere but that in no way negates the local reality or the validity of complaint. The global reality reinforces rather than undermines the message of #Occupy. Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere! How will this globe change if change is never instigated or supported? We can not leave it up to someone else. We can not leave it up to the other nations.

We have been affected and we need to speak up!