Time is Money

October 24 declared "Take Back Your Time Day"

One particular excerpt stood out in my eyes:

The fourth consecutive year for the event, this year's theme is "Let's get back to the table" and focuses on the importance of spending time with family friends and community by gathering at the table — whether its the dinner, picnic or card table.

Children who eat dinner with their families do better at school while gathering with friends and families decreases feelings of isolation and community meetings help foster democracy, says the movement.

Too many people are eating fast-food takeout alone in their vehicles and sending text-messages to friends and colleagues, it says.

"Coming together with others brings us feelings of security, belonging, and self respect. We feel more cared for and we become more caring. And maybe we even have more wisdom".

As much as I enjoyed finding this piece buried deep within the CBC's repository of fluff, here is why this recognition is unlikely to catch on:

Isolationism is far too lucrative to disappear. If I can sell you enough product to hole yourself up in your room for hours on end, by no means do I want to see you vacate your manufactured sanctuary to run along and play with your friends. The more detached you are from living organisms - and I mean ALL living organisms, including those who are now your food - the more you need to consume to fill this gaping void in your life. Let's face it: you'd rather see what's on television than hear how your spouse's day went, and as long as this want exists, you're going to slave away at my outfit for the majority of your waking life, away from your loved ones, making me more and more and more.

And, after you've digested all of that, see how Bombardier is giving time back to 1,330 of its staff and then some, proving once again that, in the land of "freedom", you are free to choose between corporate serfdom or nothing at all.