Our economy within our social context has been a disaster in the last three decades. We have lost economic ground with respect to many developed countries and we have lost economic ground with respect to the United States as this country was able to increase its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and create a more divided and violent society. To day we are at a time of an economic downturn and therefore we need an economic stimulus, but we also require to make fundamental changes to our economic priorities.

Business must not continue to be as usual and as long as we continue our individual aspiration to happiness at the expense of others we will be bound to social catastrophes.

In my last reading I came across a statement by Stanford economist Paul Romer in which he was saying that he looks forward to a safe house, good food and good health. As to say that our economic policy directions must be directed towards our needs rather than towards our artificial wants as created today by the big corporations. As long as we have economic growth based on hamburger and arms we are never going to have a peaceful life. So what we need is a new framework of social growth which is different from the economic growth as measured by the GDP.

Italy has been supporting the US-led coalition against terrorism by providing a symbolic military support which was overwhelmingly approved by Parliament. What people don't know is that Italians are peaceful people and their last peaceful demonstration in Rome, contrary to what has been reported by the conventional media, was twice as numerous as the prowar demonstration sponsored by media baron PM Silvio Berlusconi. Therefore and in general, there is a disconnect between our politicians and the people. And it was refreshing to find out in the Italian Constitution the principles that "...The Republic recognizes the right of all citizens to work.." and "...Italy rejects the use of war as an offence to the freedom of other people and as a means to solve international disputes..." Our fundamental social problem is therefore that our politicians don't walk their talks.

Going back to Mr. Robinson of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, he says that 'Amidst growing calls for more spending and misguided and failed interventionist strategies from 100 so-called economists, it is important that Mr. Martin vehemently ignore this flawed Keynesian advice.' There are not ready made recipes for economic growth as economics is a social science, and without going into the details of Mr. Robinson's advices to Finance Minister it suffices to mention that Mr. Robinson is a social liability. And I applaud our courageous economists as they are beginning to put people's lives before tax cuts and before smaller anemic balanced budgets.

Business must not be as usual!

References

Fiscal Security Equals National Security: Principles for Budget 2001, Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF), November 8, 2001 http://www.taxpayer.com/newsreleases/federal/November8-01.htm

100 Economists Dispute the Liberal government's "No Stimulus" Approach to the Economy, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, November 2, 2001 http://www.policyalternatives.ca/whatsnew/economistsletterpr.html