(Octopus Books Community Classroom) On Economic Security: The Big Picture

This community classroom is developed in response to a phenomenon of increasing precarious work across industries therefore increasing economic insecurity. It is no longer adequate to assume that under the current economic system, there is a decent paid job for everyone and the full-time, all-the-time employment is the norm. Under this circumstance, what would our future look like if our social infrastructure remains the same?

Goal:

To understand where we are now and where we want to (and can) go; the risks if we do not demand more for ourselves and next generations. Importantly, we hope to explore these issues while also foregrounding issues of sustainability and ethics.

Discussion Outline:

• What is economic security, its meaning and scope? Is it more than having a steady income? What are the ethical questions we should be asking regarding economic security? Underlying assumptions? What are its characteristics across race, gender, class, age, ability, etc.?
• What is the political & socio-economic context for the rise of precarious work, increasing income insecurity, and therefore economic insecurity?
• What are the impacts of increasing economic insecurity on the well-being of individuals, families and communities? How does economic insecurity impact on our responsibilities as citizens?
• Based on the discussion above, what are some of the pragmatic responses to economic insecurity? What demands should we be making to move towards economic security? What are the government's’ moral responsibilities?
• Wrap-up: What would you do if you had economic security? How can a robust social infrastructure contribute to democracy? Rank your priorities based on previous discussion question.
• Q&A + feedback
• Closing

7 PM
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
25One Community
251 Bank St. 2nd floor

Sponsored by Public Service Alliance of Canada - National Capital Region

Media sponsor: rabble.ca

Registration is FREE but please phone 613-233-2589 or e-mail events@octopusbooks.ca to register. So we will have an idea the number of people to expect. Thank you for your cooperation!

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1865796133634168/.

About the PRESENTORS:

Maggie FitzGerald Murphy. Maggie is a doctoral candidate in political science at Carleton University. Her areas of research include feminist care ethics, feminist political economy, and decolonial philosophy.

Kimalee Phillip is a Senior Equality Officer at the Canadian Union of Public Employees where her work focus is on anti-racism issues, legislation, policies and organizing.