THE FISCAL TUG-OF-WAR
Farmers' association vs. manufacturers' association
This debate is still ongoing. It is great for consumers to buy cheap things made in China at the dollar store. Not so good for Canadian businesses that employ people here at home.
A hundred years ago, Conservatives would've been opposed to free trade (ex. National Policy) because that was a pro-business position. Liberals would've been supportive of free trade because because that was free-market economics.
I guess once the Canadian businesses are owned by foreigners and move their factories overseas, then nobody cares much about protecting Canadian jobs anymore. So both the Conservatives (pro-business) and the Liberal (pro-free market) now support free trade. Consumers like it because they can buy cheaper things. So everyone is happy... O, except the unemployed I guess.. and maybe the NDP?
Anyhow, this issue that was debated in Laurier's time connects well to current issues that even grade 10 students can explore.
For example:
Ever shopped at amazon.COM instead of amazon.CA? Why?
Many of the cartoons that I use in class were taken from this book by Charles Hou (former Socials 10 teacher in BC):
No comments:
Post a Comment