Ema Allinger-Period 7
The encyclical, Rerum Novarum, declares the disapproval the Church has on Socialism, and the importance of private property and the protection of the working class with fair wages for workers. However, Canada’s socialistic ideals, high minimum wage and no direct protection of property rights have served the Country well.[1] If Pope Leo XII’s views are still applicable to our World today, then why is Canada prospering?
Rerum Novarum, declares the disapproval the Church has on Socialism, and the importance of private property and the protection of the working class with fair wages for workers. Pope Leo XIII states that the Socialists are taking advantage of the working man by “working on the poor man’s envy of the rich, are striving to do away with private property, and contend that individual possessions should become the common property of all.”[2] RN’s strong stance against socialism derives from the very reason that a man is motivated by his work in order to “obtain property, and thereafter to hold it as his very own.”[3] However, the socialistic view of shifting property of the private individual to the public goes against the Church’s stance on working for the sole reason to obtain private property. By the socialists proposing to put an end to private property, Pope Leo XIII explains that this deprives the working man to own something for himself and therefore inhibits him to make a better life for himself.
Due to the distinguish of animal and man being that humans have reason, RN declares that socialism takes the humanity away from man because of its proposal to not have stable possessions. Therefore man’s ability to plan for the future, which differentiates humans and beasts, is ruined by the refusal to possess and save property as his own. Meaning that without being able to own property, men are nothing more than animals. RN believes that without being able to own property, and own their own possessions, that the citizens would be dehumanizing. Therefore, socialism strips individuals of their rights, their reason, their property, and humanity—according to RN.
Pope Leo XIII gives the example that “private ownership is in accordance with the law of nature” because land is most fruitful when man’s own “sweat and labor” are possessed in it.[4] Which leads the pope then to believe that to take away man’s private property is to take away the fruit of man’s labor. Therefore, with natural law in accordance with private property, it is against divine law to take one’s possessions away from them, leading the Church to disagree with the Socialists ideology of spreading the wealth. Without a man using his own “sweat and labor” they would have no motivation to work. This idea is one that many countries who don’t have capitalist societies still believe.
The Pope goes further to explain that the rights of an individual are more evident when “considered in relation to man’s social and domestic obligations.”[5] In the eyes of the church, no human law can eliminate the right of marriage, and with the purpose of marriage being to have children, the family is considered a society and one stronger then the state. With that being said, nothing can be taken away from the domestic society that God appointed to us. Since the encyclical states that labor has two considerations to it; personal and necessary, meaning labor is personal due to it being “bound up with personality” and necessary because without labor “a man cannot live.”[6] With it being necessary, a just wage permitted to man is just as important especially when thinking of man as a husband or father. The Church therefore believes that the working man and employer should decide a minimum wage based upon the labor being done. Finding a sufficient wage means supporting a working man’s family with still enough money to save and have prosper, which is important to man climbing the working ladder. This also means that the working man and the employer should decide on the wage on an individual basis, further discrediting one of socialist countries firm ideals, a high minimum wage that is granted to all.
In our world today, socialism carries such a negative connotation with it, much like the way that Rerum Novarum speaks of it. However, Canada is a perfect example of a fairly socialistic country that has prospered because of its ideals. Canada is considered a socialistic country because it has mostly a free market economy, as well as an extensive welfare system that includes free health and medical care.[7] Canada is also one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with an estimated GDP of about 1.873 trillion US dollars in 2015; the state is ranked 14 worldwide.[8]
Canada is separated by territories, specifically the territory of Ontario has an average minimum wage of $11.25 an hour, which seems like a lot compared to America’s $7.25 an hour.[9]
Along with an above average minimum wage, Canada has a 7.0% unemployment rate.[10] This unemployment rate, although not as small as America or Germany, compared to surrounding countries is a great percentage to be at, as oppose to Spain who has a 22.4% unemployment rate.[11] Keep in mind though, that a 0% unemployment rate is economically impossible. Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at IHS Global Insight, explained in a 2013 NPR interview why this is, and goes on to say that due to frictional unemployment will prevent an unemployment rate from ever being at a perfect 0%. A realistic, or what he would call a good number, is anywhere between 4-6% depending on the economy itself.[12] Meaning that Canada’s 6.8% unemployment rate is not to be seen as a poor one.
Canada is ranked as one of the best top five countries to live in by the United Nations and the Human Development Index (HDI) rankings.[13] It is seen as such a great place to live in large part because of their social safety net, which is regarded as one of the strongest in the world. The country takes great pride in their world renowned-healthcare system that guarantees equal treatment to everyone regardless of their economic status, and has no user fees.[14]
The territory of Ontario has also specifically taken steps to end fraud within their healthcare system. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is an organization appointed to end this system that sadly people do take advantage of. As of right now in Ontario; “Canadian citizens, permanent residents or landed immigrants, convention refugees (protected persons), or a person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act”, all are taken care of with free health and medical care. Due to the amount of people being helped, the Ministry has committed to end the fraud system in which people are taking advantage of such a beneficial program.[15]
Canada also has a mostly free market economy and extensive welfare system in use Index. Canada is also the freest country in the North American Region.[16] Canada continues to negotiate free trade agreements but restricts dairy imports, due to the Trans-Pacific Partnership which opens the Canadian border to more imports of dairy coming from farmers in the United States.[17] The welfare state in Canada is a multi-billion dollar system of government programs many introduced in the 1960s. This program transfers money and services to Canadians to deal with a plethora of societal needs “including but not limited to poverty, homelessness, unemployment, immigration, aging, illness, workplace injury, disability, and the needs of children, women, gay, lesbian, and transgender people”.[18]
With Canada’s socialistic approaches beneficial to their private property and the protection of the working class with fair wages to all workers, free healthcare and seemingly free-market economy, this makes Pope Leo XIII’s statements in Rerum Novarum inapplicable in today’s world. With a more progressive view that society has today, countries could benefit and prosper in the same way that Canada has.
[1] ALI. “Are Property Rights Protected in Canadian Law?” – A Guide to Property Rights in Alberta. 2014. Accessed December 08, 2015. http://propertyrightsguide.ca/are-property-rights-protected-in-canadian-law/.
[2] “Rerum Novarum.” Pope Leo XIII in How to Find Happiness Without a Free Lunch, ed. Mr. Aparicio, Ursuline Academy, 2015
[3] Pope Leo XII, Rerum Novarum
[4] Pope Leo XII, Rerum Novarum
[5] Pope Leo XII, Rerum Novarum
[6] Pope Leo XII, Rerum Novarum
[7] Kliff, Sarah. “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Canadian Health Care in One Post.” Washingtonpost.com. July 1, 2012. Accessed December 9, 2015. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2012/07/01/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-canadian-health-care-in-one-post/.
[8] WEO, and IMF. “Canada GDP and Economic Data.” Gfmag.com. October 2014. Accessed December 9, 2015. https://www.gfmag.com/global-data/country-data/canada-gdp-country-report.
[9] Sterling, Lori. “Current And Forthcoming Minimum Hourly Wage Rates For Experienced Adult Workers in Canada.” Government of Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Labour Program. January 27, 2015. Accessed December 09, 2015. http://srv116.services.gc.ca/dimt-wid/sm-mw/rpt1.aspx?lang=eng.
[10] Wong, Craig. “Canada Adds 12,000 Jobs in August, but Unemployment Rate Rises to 7%.” Financial Post Canada Adds 12000 Jobs in August but Unemployment Rate Rises To7 Comments. September 4, 2015. Accessed December 09, 2015. http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/canada-adds-12000-jobs-in-august-but-unemployment-rate-rises-to-7.
[11] Roman, David. “Spain’s Unemployment Rate at Lowest Level Since 2011.” WSJ. July 23, 2015. Accessed December 09, 2015. http://www.wsj.com/articles/spains-unemployment-rate-at-lowest-level-since-2011-1437649879.
[12] Inskeep, Steve. “What Is A Good Unemployment Number, Really?” NPR. January 3, 2013. Accessed December 09, 2015. http://www.npr.org/2013/01/03/168508910/what-is-a-good-unemployment-number-really.
[13] Content, Economy Watch. “Canada Economic Structure.” Canada Economic Structure. March 11, 2010. Accessed December 08, 2015. http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/canada/structure-of-economy.html.
[14] Kliff Sarah, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Canadian Health Care in One Post.
[15] Ontario, Service. “Public Information.” Ontario Health Insurance (OHIP). December 19, 2014. Accessed December 08, 2015. http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ohip/
[16] Weidman, Jim. “Canada.” Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI, Corruption. 2015. Accessed December 08, 2015. http://www.heritage.org/index/country/canada.
[17] McGregor, Janyce. “Trans-Pacific Partnership Could Include Big Dairy Concession.” CBCnews. September 25, 2015. Accessed December 08, 2015. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-trans-pacific-partnership-dairy-1.3242234.
[18] Moscovitch, Allan. “Welfare State.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. August 13, 2015. Accessed December 08, 2015. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/welfare-state/.
Bear Market 