"Alex is clearly a world citizen who disseminates on a wide variety of issues with amazing clarity. His refreshing views on a wide range of subjects are written with elegance and a light touch that does not cloud the issues." Veeno Dewan, Editor, Voice Newspaper "Alex Sangha has an impressively broad range of knowledge on issues that affect the world, and challenges problems that most people have come to accept. Sangha doesn't just point out the troubles in this world, but thinks of bold solutions for them." Jenny Uechi, Managing Editor, Vancouver Observer If you could adopt a single step and make a small difference, what would it be? What if you could cultivate multiple small steps that lead to a bigger, better, and brighter future? In this one of a kind social discussion guide, Vancouver visionary Alex Sangha delivers straight-talk on socio-economic, environmental, political, and spiritual issues that anyone can put to use. His mission? Getting people to think for themselves. His tools? The hard hitting articles he pens which call it like he sees it. This valuable volume is a collection of frank and insightful essays on the world in the 21st Century, through the eyes of a social activist immersed in it.

The Modern Thinker

Timeless Ideas, Inspiration, and Hope for the 21st CenturyBy Alex Sangha

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2012 Alex Sangha
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4685-0885-7

Contents

Introduction...................................................................................1Chapter I Economic Transformation.............................................................5Occupy Wall Street.............................................................................6Ten reasons to hold a peaceful protest.........................................................8The need for compassionate capitalism..........................................................10Government debt threatens quality of life......................................................12Ten ways to wipe out government debt...........................................................13Ten step job creation plan.....................................................................14Welfare reform.................................................................................16Chapter II Political Action...................................................................17Electoral reform...............................................................................18Campaign financing.............................................................................20How to guarantee gender equality in politics...................................................21Time for healing and respect for aboriginal people.............................................22An aboriginal parliament.......................................................................23An indivisible Quebec and Canada...............................................................25Can Canada benefit from more immigration?......................................................27Chapter III Social Affairs.....................................................................29Giving people with mental illness a chance.....................................................30What to do about the sex trade?................................................................31Employment equity..............................................................................33Tips for success for college and university students...........................................35A merit-based student loan program.............................................................37Five simple solutions for doctor shortages.....................................................39Growing up gay and brown in the suburbs........................................................41Chapter IV Environmental Impact...............................................................43Oil Spills.....................................................................................44The Law of Mother Earth........................................................................45Universal bus passes for all citizens..........................................................46Urban sprawl...................................................................................47The merits of a vegetarian diet................................................................49A holistic approach towards depression.........................................................50Does the environment play a role in sexual attraction?.........................................52Chapter V Spiritual Awakening.................................................................53Is there an afterlife?.........................................................................54Free will or fate and destiny..................................................................56A lesson in Sikh philosophy....................................................................58It's time for the world's religions to embrace sexual and gender diversity.....................60What would Jesus do about the famine in Africa?................................................63The Abraham Union: A peace proposal for the Middle East........................................65Reflections on the state of the world..........................................................66Conclusion.....................................................................................69Final Thoughts.................................................................................73In Love's Embrace..............................................................................74Share Your Ideas...............................................................................75Step-by-step guide.............................................................................76Summary Notes..................................................................................113Feedback for the author........................................................................114Chapter Resources..............................................................................139Online Resources...............................................................................140Endnotes.......................................................................................143About the Author...............................................................................147Index..........................................................................................149

Chapter One

Economic Transformation

Occupy Wall Street

Is this the beginning of the end? Perhaps industrial capitalism is hitting the wall. The 99% that Occupy Wall Street represents is demanding change and is gaining supporters from all walks of life.

In the past, the North American and European economies were dependent on a thriving automobile sector, decent wages, and population growth. Not to mention a need for consumers to keep on spending to keep the economy going.

What is happening now is literally the opposite. The gap between the rich and the poor is increasing dramatically. The population is aging, and there are less working people to support the government and society. Wealthy countries are tightening their immigration rules. This limits the number of people who can settle in Canada and help create new opportunities and economic growth.

Corporations are outsourcing jobs to countries like China and India. `No strings attached' free trade agreements, that did not provide sustainable labor, social, cultural, and environmental provisions, are reducing the quality of life of people in the developed world, and even the developing world, whether it's long hours or low pay, or the dumping of toxic chemicals and pollutants to produce cheap goods.

People are no longer earning $30.00 per hour unless they work for the government. This is reducing consumer spending, savings, and increasing debt. The population is basically scrambling for minimum wage jobs that usually come with minimal hours.

The capitalist system is on the road to a head-on collision. Not many people can afford to buy a house or pay off their mortgage in this time of less job and income security.

Occupy Wall Street is an interesting phenomenon because it reflects this anxiety. Citizens are not going to stand by and watch 1% of the population suck up 99% of the world's wealth. If governments do not respond, there is a very high risk that protests, revolutions, and increased criminal activity to sustain and maintain basic survival for people will continue to spread like wildfire.

The rich will have to hide in their castles behind big walls and hire private security to protect their assets from the growing masses of the hungry and desperate...