A society of hole fillers and free riders?

Is Alberta becoming a class society? The media talks a lot about the middle class, not so much about the rich or the poor.

I consider myself on the upper edge of middle age, and sometimes feel I grew up in a more equal society. Recently in a group discussion someone asked, “Who repairs the hole in the road when you see one?” Shouldn’t anyone stop and help whoever finds the hole? If it’s a big hole, wouldn’t we stop to help? If everyone is in too much of a hurry and nobody stops, is the hole likely to get bigger and possibly injure someone?

Are only some people hole fillers, others being too busy, or too important to fill holes? If the toobusy, and the too-important never stop, how much will they know about holes and hole filling, or will they have to learn the damage that can happen from falling in a hole?

Some might suggest there should be professional hole fillers. Does specialization promote competition, class and eventually hierarchy, where some have more status and power than others?

I prefer equal social systems that are flexible and mobile, with different people taking different forms of power at different times. The goal would be to have it all even out, no one allowed to exploit others. If we stay in the same ruts for efficiency sake, how do we learn about life if we don’t give ourselves the chance to make mistakes?

If we say only hole fillers fill holes, what about the free riders on the road? Who decides who gets the free-ride-out-of-the-job ticket — the hole fillers or the too busy? Can we switch or take turns? How flexible are we? Do we let “efficiency experts” make the decisions? Are they free riders or hole fillers?

Don Ryane

Lethbridge