Political+&+Social+Systems

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During the Italian Renaissance, we saw how the Medici family became very wealthy and were able to control Florence and influenced how the city developed. Do you see this happening in Calgary, specifically, with the money raised from the oil and gas industry influencing how Calgary develops?======

- We definitely see that happening in Calgary (but not limited to just Calgary). If we look at the donations of our city council, many of their supporters and donations come from home builders and developers. On top of that, there are no election spending limits or contribution limits, meaning that these industries can have an undue influence on city politicians. While it is true that oil and gas is a very strong industry province wide and even in Calgary, the main business at the municipal level is land development, so those who have a vested interest in making money off of housing will also have a vested interest in our city politics. - **Jeremy Z**.

- Zak Pashak- 2 Bars- Run a Music Festival- Running for Aldermen "Councilors" Oil and gas is a very important in Calgary. People take this subject very seriously. When the "Inconvenient Truth" came out Zak over heard people saying that they didn't like the movie even if they didn't see it, because they new it would have to do with the idea of "bad" oil and gas. People don't want to see a change.

Main Point #1: Not often do people, and even families come around like this, and put so much into the community and society, but we do have a few families coming from the Oil and Gas Industry. As quoted by Rob Anders a family such as the Manix family comes to mind when you think in terms of people that are very wealthy that come from the oil and gas industry. Another key point that he brought up is that the people who control the money and give to society know what they're doing with the money. He said most people that win the lottery have nothing to show for it in as little time as a year. Money goes to people who know what to do with it. My last point, which was brought up by Jeremy Z; is that many donations to city council are from home builders and developers. As well, there is no election spending limits, or contribution limits. This means that industries such as these can have an influence on city politicians. To conclude, I have found that not many people like the Medici family back in the Renaissance come around; but when they do, people can notice it as many donations can be made, and our cities economic turmoil, rises and the economy starts to thrive again. - **Cameron 8.2**

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During the Italian Renaissance, we saw how 90% of the population had little to no money. Only 2% of the population had a lot of money and controlled 55% of the cities total money. Do you see something similar happening in Calgary? Specifically, a small amount of people controlling more money?======

- There is always a large discrepancy between the incomes of the lower and upper classes in Calgary. This was especially true during 2007-2008 when Calgary was booming. Homelessness was actually on the rise because prices kept going up, fueled by both inflation and oil prices. We see the similarities happen perhaps on a much smaller scale, since Calgary is predominately middle class, but only during the boom periods from my understanding. - **Jeremy Z**.

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People in our society cannot notice the change in class system, but yes it does happen. This was quoted by Zak Pashak. People are becoming more wealthy if they strive to succeed. People who try in school will go further, then those who don't try and get less of an education. This was stated by Rob Anders. The following statement came from Jeremy Z's ideas but was put into my words. As well if the Homelessness goes up even more with higher prices on everyday needs we will see a even bigger change in class system, with more people with less basic needs. Things in our society are changing and people are become more separate because of education, and providing the basic needs of life to you and or family. Then their are those families that are like the middle class and have enough money for the basic needs and sometimes more. Calgary is changing and with that so are the classes. - **Kayla 8.2**======

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The Political and Social Systems of the renaissance began to change because people were not happy with the strict social class hierarchy and the controlling feudal system. Is this a problem in Calgary today? Specifically, are people wanting to see a change within the political and social system to become more independent?======

- Calgary has a very interesting political and social system. We have been under the rule of the Progressive Conservative party on the provincial level for more than 35 years, but we elected them in. Now there is more political instant making ability within the PC party with the rise of the Wildrose Alliance. We may see change in that area, although it is less about being independent. We also see change at the local level because incumbency is starting to not become the norm anymore on city council. We saw a surprisingly number of incumbents in 2007 being voted off and changed with new aldermen, and we may see that again. There are many issues that could explain why this is happening, from the economy, political change, certain issues, etc. . - **Jeremy Z**.

-The political and social systems were very unique during the renaissance. They changed a lot and became more stable by becoming a republic, also because the church also lost their power over people. People also rebelled against the feudal system, and the class system and eventually broke out of it. This also created urbanization, and created a very interesting political and social system. In calgary today, we also have a very interesting political system, said by Jeremy Z. We have been under the rule of the Progressive Conservative party on the provincial level for more than 35 years, but we elected them in. Now there is more political instain making ability within the PC party with the rise of the Wildrose Alliance, said by Jeremy Z. Jeremy Z. also says that there are also many issues in our political systems, we aren't perfect. There are also many incumbents in 2007 being voted off, and changed the alderman, we may see that again except maybe at a provincial or federal level. All in all, what I think Jeremy Z trying to get to us is saying that we don't have the prefect political system, and we can improve. If we improve, he thinks that we can become a renaissance city. I agree with what Jeremy Z says, and I also think that if we improve our political systems, we can become a renaissance city. - **Venki 8.2**

- Zak Pashak- 2 Bars- Run a Music Festival- Running for Aldermen "Councilors"

Main Point #3

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The class systems was very significant during the Renaissance. There was a distinct lower, middle, and higher class and each class played a different role in the society. The problem was that each class was very separate from the others and did not allow people to move freely between them. Is this a problem in Calgary today? Specifically, are people stuck within the social class they currently belong to?======

- If oil returns to over $100 a barrel and we see the global economy start to recover later on, we may see the poor left behind again mainly because they won't be able to afford the higher housing prices, and overall inflationary costs. Wages usually take a lot longer to catch up to rising prices and demands that the market pushes for. - **Jeremy Z**.

- Zak Pashak- 2 Bars- Run a Music Festival- Running for Aldermen "Councilors"

Main Point #4 The class systems of the renaissance played a large part in the making of the Calgary that we know today. In Calgary the class system could be the same if the price for oil goes up again. This will be because the poorer people will not be able to buy anything that they will need to survive. In time they will be able to but who knows how long that will be. That is if the oil price goes up, it will in time. Even if you give everyone equal amounts of money in a year or two the class system would come back. That is because some people know how to make money and some people just can’t keep money. So their will always be a class system but the difference will change. You can see that Calgary does have a class system like the renaissance but that doesn’t mean the=at Calgary can have a renaissance.