Economic Human Rights
72
Basic Human Right - Economic Freedom
I believe that all humans on this planet have the inalienable right to live their lives according to their beliefs, as long as these beliefs do not infringe or interfere or harm the lives of other human beings.
These rights have of course been written into the charters of all humanitarian organizations, be they the constitutions of countries or the charters of organizations such as the United Nations.
There is one right that I hear very little about, but that I have come to consider of utmost importance, and that is the issue of economic rights. In the spirit of rights I would phrase it something like: All men have the right to live in economic freedom according to his/her beliefs and on condition that this way of living does not hurt, harm or interfere in any way with others. Within this is also the right to live in financial freedom, according to the individuals definition of financial freedom.
I admit that I do not know if there are clauses to this effect in the various constitutions charters. I must also admit that I am not a lawyer or economist, but an ordinary citizen of this world. So everything here is from a personal view.
Short historical look
Without going into the long history of economics, it seems to me that we are in the middle of a revolution or maybe rather evolution, possibly the last evolution for humanity. Evolution is not just on a physical level, but also on socio-economic and cultural levels.
The way I see it is that when man becomes civilized, i.e. living in organized cultural settlements, a differentiation in economic status began to become the norm, meaning that a few had a lot, and the masses having little individually, with only a small group in the middle. This seems to hold true for most developed societies in all parts of the world.
The few usually had due to the efforts of the masses. These few were the rulers and their advisers, merchants, land owners and production owners as well as religious leaders. These people made their money through the labor of the masses. The masses had very little choice as to ways of making a living. The children often simply went in the footsteps of the parents.
A certain change occured with the Industrial Revolution, both for the better and for the worse. The masses, instead of living as home steaders or farmers, moved to the cities to become workers in the new factories. The rich were still the same, and still made most of their money as they had always done.
A new class of people begin to emerge more strongly - the middle class. It sprang up out of the need for more educated workers to fulfill roles in the administration of the factories, as well as smaller merchants to supply products for the workers. But another group also rose up around this time - academics in all forms. The need for higher learning becomes more marked, as there is a constant need to expand existing forms of production and the administration.
One more aspect must be taken into consideration - the changing outlook in the rights of man. This gives rise to the concept of human rights on all levels from freedom of speech to health concern, and of course financial freedom.
We still live in this new way, even with our improved social and medical conditions. Most of us are part of the middle class with good to higher education, and good jobs or as self-employed.
But do we have financial freedom? Can we even say that after 40-50 years of working that we can retire comfortably?
We may not thinks so, but with all these great improvements, we are still living the same as before with one variation. We do have the choice to make the crossing from economic dependence to economic freedom.
My Personal Attitude
As said in the beginning of this article, this is a completely personal view. My attitude stems from a life-times involvement in daily economics, with the ups and downs and the winds of fortune, often becoming a victim of circumstances outside my control.
My attitude also stems from the last "recession", its origins, its spread and its effects. More truly the effects on people without control of how and what happened.
This is only the first part of the much longer fuller article on the subject that I will publish on my blog Lesson of Life Coaching
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nice hub
With economic freedom comes economic responsibility. If you desire to be free of financial worries when you retire it is your responsibility to prepare for it. Too many put their present day needs far ahead of the future needs and end up unprepared for retirement.
Pete - yes you are right. This is only the first part of a longer piece on the subject. I never said "free of financial worries". I talk about "financial freedom". Two very different things.
Shame - you reminded me of something I forgot - the 20/80 ratio of economics - 80% of all resources are owned by 20% of people. Thanks for the reminder. Will work it in to later articles or videos on the subject
BirteEdwards, I too believe in economic freedom and economic human rights. But all freedom is freedom from other people -- not freedom from reality.
Each and every one of us has the right to say "no" to all other people. We have the right to turn down offers that we feel are unworthy of us. We have the right to refuse to buy something if it costs too much. We have the right not to take a job if we don't like the work and/or if we think it doesn't pay well enough. These are important rights. Without these rights, we would be slaves to other people.
Because we can't be forced to work for other people against our will, we can also not force others to work for us against their will. It goes both ways.
Aya, I wish what you say was true for all, but it isn't, not in the developed world, and even less so in the developing world.
Just think of how many people in your surroundings go to work because they have to, and not always because they want to.
Very interesting. I think I need to read that blog when you publish it! You have some other interesting articles there, I just got back from reading a couple and bookmarking it. :D
BirteEdwards, I do know what you mean. Many people feel that they have no choice. But sometimes it isn't because they really have no choice. Sometimes we get to this point where we think that the only choice is to work for employer A or employer B or employer C, and yet they are all pretty much the same, and such a choice is an empty one. However, there are other choices, and it sometimes is just about opening your mind to other possibilities.
For instance, if you want to live in a city, then you need a very high income to buy necessities, because in the city food does not grow on trees, and even if it did, all the trees belong to somebody else, and land costs a lot.
If you choose to live in the country, it is more likely that you will be able to buy your own land and grow your own food. Even if you work for somebody else, the same amount of money goes much further in the country.
If you choose to live in a jungle, then maybe you can just pick fruit that grows on trees that belong to no one.
It's easy to feel stuck. But the right to leave a region where things are not good for you economically is also an important right. In the United States, at least so far, people are free to relocate without asking anyone's permission to do so.
Thanks k@ri. Blog (and writing) should be interesting, but not all are interested in the same things. However, economics and finance is something that touch us all.
Aya - agreed, people who say they have no choice have closed their minds. Saying: I have no choice, it actually opting for a choice. Still, the situation as is, does not stimulate thinking and understanding in this direction
Very interesting Hub Birte. It seems that in the developed world people are almost brain washed into believing that the only way to survive is to get a '9 to 5' and then when the they take on big financial commitments like mortgages, they effectively become slaves to the financial system. I think that kids should be taught more in school about finances, how they work, the consequences of debt and how to be more creative in their work and financial choices. Let people see that they do have options.
CM - I so agree with you that we need new education. The world has changed, but our financial education has not. A 9-5, mortgage etc is not freedom in any way. I also realize that it takes time to create ff (financial freedom), but a life spent to pay off the mortgage is not freedom
shamelabboush Level 1 Commenter 2 years ago
I was amazed reading this thorough article! It discusses (as I see) the economical issue from a philosophical point of view. One part echoed very well which is the social and rank distinction in the recent times. I've read about those aristocrats who possess around 80 percent of their country wealth while the majority, let's say 70 percent manage to live upon the remnant which is a 20 percent of the national wealth! I believe this situation resembles a jungle where survival is for the fittest. Maybe I digressed a lot but I think this has something to do with your perfectly-written article. Thanks dear.