At 12:02 14/09/2006, julio asked:
Paul wrote:
I think one modest proposal that the
parallel government might consider
is the 'alternative budget' approach
pioneered by John Loxley at the
University of Manitoba.
Thanks, Paul. More details on this approach?
As I recall, there were two forms that the 'alternative budget'
approach took in Canada. One was a very top-down one (at the federal
level and some provinces) in which the only people mobilised were
trade union economists and the like, who ran their alternative models
and had a press conference. In my mind, a pretty useless exercise
which appears to continue (and probably will as long as financed by
the unions). The other was the one that I think Paul refers to in
Manitoba; it differed because it revolved around and emerged out of
existing social movements (eg., one called 'Choices'). It was a
healthy process and as much a process of organising as of coming up
with numbers. I don't know why that came to an end-- presumably the
effect of declining movements (maybe coincident with the election of
an NDP government). Paul was there and so should know. In any event,
my vague sense is that nothing in Canada in this respect could
compare to the creativity of movements in Latin America-- eg., the
organisation of a referendum from below by the broad front in Uruguay
vs privatisation.
in solidarity,
michael
One problem is how to get the message across. The mass media in
Mexico has been ignoring or misinforming about the movement. The goal
is to build alternative, effective ways to communicate with the
people. Any ideas?
Michael A. Lebowitz
Professor Emeritus
Economics Department
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6
Currently based in Venezuela. Can be reached at
Residencias Anauco Suites
Departamento 601
Parque Central, Zona Postal 1010, Oficina 1
Caracas, Venezuela
(58-212) 573-4111
fax: (58-212) 573-7724
