Let’s share more than the road
Editor:
Last week’s story about a couple who were harassed for cycling on the road was framed as an example of “bike haters.” (Re: ‘Haters’ target cyclists on River Road, The Creemore Echo, Friday, July 28, page 1.)
I doubt this story is simply about frustration at having to share the road with cyclists, who are often assumed to be affluent. I suspect it is about not sharing opportunities for financial, food and housing security.
Data from StatsCan reveal that in 2022, “Most wealth is held by relatively few households in Canada. The wealthiest households (top 20 per cent) accounted for more than two- thirds (67.9 per cent) of net worth at the end of 2022, while the least wealthy households (bottom 40 per cent) accounted for 2.6 per cent.”
Many of us in Creemore, me included, have benefitted from our current system where those with money make more money. This means we have better access to education, housing, good food and better health outcomes. We can only have better access if some of our neighbours have less, or no access. This is privilege. We also have the power, influence and moral responsibility to reduce this inequality. Solutions exist for making the financial system fairer, especially if we focus on fair banking and taxation systems. For more information and possible solutions, check out “Seven ways to reduce economic inequality” posted by Corporate Knights Inc, a sustainable-economy media and research corporation, at www. corporateknights.com.
So, let’s not frame this situation as “haters.” Let’s recognize a natural human reaction to oppression. Running someone off the road will not solve the problem, but it may feel like a way of expressing rage at a system that consistently disadvantages you. This does not excuse bad behaviour – road rage should not be tolerated. However, the current systems of oppression by which we privileged citizens benefit at others’ expense should also not be tolerated.
Let’s be curious about what is really going on. Let’s also be curious about how we as individuals can change the systems that produce financial, food and housing insecurity for many of our neighbours.
Monica Branigan,
Creemore.
