Michael Moore has created food for thought in his recent movies. He has questioned many 'truths'. One might ask why after 911 Saudi Arabian aircraft took off for the far east though we were led to believe all aircraft were grounded over the U.S. (Fahrenheit 911). How can a poor country such as Cuba provide free and efficient medical treatment for all while many Americans cannot afford costly procedures in what is purported to be the world's most affluent country (Sicko)? Moore's most recent film, due out shortly, suggests weaknesses in what is considered the most advanced, democratic system in the world, capitalism (Capitalism: a Love Story, described in a Globe and Mail article).

I am not so gullible as to believe everything I'm taught is 'gospel'. It is expected however that in a 'free society' information with which we are supplied should be generally reliable. I was brought up believing gambling was not only immoral but illegal, such as the Irish Sweepstakes. Now we are bombarded with ads for competing, state-run lotteries designed to add to government coffers. We were taught that Sunday was a day of rest, illegal for stores to be open. What was once wrong is now quite legal. We looked up to church spires as the most influential structures in society.

Nowadays these are dwarfed by insurance towers and 20 story business buildings. Commerce rules the roost 7 days a week. Money is the current god.

Should we be questioning all society's sacred cows? 'What's good for General Motors is good for the country'. 'The market can do no wrong'. So why are we in the greatest recession (depression?) in a half century? Surely the experts couldn't have all been wrong? What weren't we being told?

Canada has become an industrialized nation with its city-based population stretched along a thin line in close proximity to lucrative, urban, U.S. markets. At one time the majority of our products came from the land, the 90% of the country beyond the cities. Now prosperity depends on citybased employment. It is apparent that industry promotes cities as providing the greatest opportunity for prosperity in life. Manufacturing provides employment, hence income. Happiness is obviously to be found in the cities waiting to be discovered (as long as one has the necessary resources to survive while waiting.).

But happiness is based on the necessities of life. Do the cities provide clean air, pure water, nurturing food, construction materials for warm, comfortable homes, energy to meet our diverse needs? Money, which is the drawing card, doesn't appear to be found in the country. Decision making is also vested in our cities, strongly controlled by industry. We have allowed our political leadership to bow to industrial power even though those in charge there have led us down the garden path. 'Government must bail out industry' despite the fact that the voting public has been victimized by those we've entrusted with running the show. The taxpayers are being held to ransom.

We are being asked to question some of society's most sacred cows including the basic structures of both our economy and our political system. I strongly believe in a world based on 'natural capitalism'. Looking out the office window I can't help but think of nature's reliable largesse in providing the necessities of life while the financial system is floundering. The making of gadgets may contribute to wealth but the basics of life come from the land and particularly the sun's energy making the earth productive.

Moore is asking us to question the very bases of our material world, hence promoting a revolution in thinking. I could ask myself is it better to place my faith in those who are leaders in the financial world or in the land which has produced many generations of healthy people over thousands of years? Should our governments depend on the advice (and financial support!) from those in industry or maybe look to our basic productivity to provide a more reliable source of our citizens' prosperity?

Could we be living in a completely false world? Is it time to shift the whole basis of life? Are we asking the right questions?