Michael Gurstein wrote:
> Without presuming to speak for Tamojit Dutta, I read the post that I
> forwarded as offering the very interesting notion of "entitlement" as a
> sort of "shorthand" way of getting at issues of democratic rights,
> and administrative and even political accountability.
The above makes sense to me, and there are concomitant responsibilities of
members of society implied.
> In Canada and in most developed countries, with citizenship goes certain
> "rights/entitlements". The specifics of these vary and may be argued but
> the overall framework is seldom completely in doubt. These entitlements
> are a "call" on the "commonweal".
This can be seen as problematic if the "commonweal" is separated
conceptually from the citizenry in toto. Exactly who is being called upon?
Whose responsibility is it to deliver? Everybody can't call upon some
abstract system to deliver the goods. We all are part of the system, & have
a responsibility to co-create it for mutual benefit. Can't have all rights
& no responsibilities!
> Dutta following Sen suggests that in developing countries this framework
> of "entitlement" is absent. The reasons for this absence may be
> historical and complex, deeply embedded in cultural patterns, land-holding
> systems, political traditions and so on. Responding directly to these to
> achieve lasting economic development has proven enormously difficult.
Would economic development lead to a better per capita life? I recall an
article about the likely conditions in China should everyone there get a
refrigerator, TV, & car.
And China isn't alone. GDP/GNP is not necessarily an indicator of quality
of life. At least two other alternative indicators exist (one is GPI, I
think). Both have substantial sustainable environmental & health
components.
> Perhaps, it is being suggested, one way of getting around this
> difficulty/complexity is to, just by fiat grant an "entitlement"...to a
> basic income, shelter, education, a job...whatever. Once granted, such
> an "entitlement" and enforcing, fostering and promoting it may
> become the base for the development of broader civil society
> institutions, not to mention the contribution which such an entitlement
> might make directly to the wellbeing of the poor in certain developing
> countries.
Money can be printed; real (natural & technological)wealth is a bit
tougher. Who does the granting of what? Sounds great, though.
Steve Kurtz
