The other day I came across an interesting article about what the Finnish government does to help families with new babies on the BBC.
In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, the Finnish government decided to aid all families regardless of their background. All children were to have an equal opportunity to start life, thus a maternity package was formed and given to women who, according to legislation, had to visit a pre-natal clinic before their fourth month of pregnancy.
The maternity box, therefore, became an incentive to ensure mothers were doing all they could to have a healthy baby. This is because there was an infant mortality rate of about 65 to every 1,000.
With the maternity box, pre-natal care, and changes in the 1960s to the national health insurance system as well as the creation of a central hospital network Finland eliminated many infant mortalities allowing children to live.
Today the box contains everything a newborn in a Scandinavian country could need. This includes everything from a snowsuit and insulated booties, to a bath thermometer, to a teething toy, to all of the necessary bedding including a mattress. The mattress, left in the box, then doubles as the crib; so, essentially the child spends its first naps and nights in a cardboard box.
Each year the boxes contents are changed slightly, so the colour scheme which is gender neutral is changed.
The box has become a tradition, something that each family now looks forward to and many find that all of the items would cost them more than they would be able to afford. Therefore, the government gives all children the same start in life.
Though this would obviously be quite expensive for the government this is, in my opinion, an admirable program. It is tax dollars at work, which cannot always be seen depending on what the government is putting money into. Though I'm sure they're aiding important programs or buying needed upgrades to jets, the regular citizen doesn't always see the end product of the money spent. So, to actually be able to see something making a difference and for it to be tangible is huge.
The maternity box therefore provides needed items to new families, but reminds the citizens that their government cares about them and is working for them. This concept of a government working for the people is essential in democracy because those we elect are put there by the majority, they are representatives of us.
I've never been shy to say that my thinking is generally more left leaning and this is definitely a socialist idea in my opinion, but it shows why I like a political stance to the left. It shows you care about your fellow people and want what's best for everyone no matter their socioeconomic background. It is about equality and freedom of choice, which is important in my opinion.
Life shouldn't be about having the best and the most expensive, but ensuring everyone has a life to live. Whether you know the individual personally or not, in Canada we are all Canadians and we are all united by this.
I personally make donations and try to help when I can. It's difficult because life is expensive, but then I think about others out there. I am just taking care of me, what about the families with children? Kids are ridiculously expensive, you have to feed and clothe them which can be difficult, but when they get older and want to play sports or join a school club the dollars needed keep piling up. Also, if planning ahead to try and save for their post-secondary education.
This thinking was how I was raised by my parents and it's also what I was taught through the United Church. You should help your fellow man if you are able to because we only have one life to live and we should make it the best lives for ourselves, but also attempt to ensure happiness in others as well.
People always say "money can't buy happiness." To this many will say, "No, but it can buy me [blank] which will make me happy." Material items can make you happy, it's true, yet, true happiness cannot be found with a nice car or big TV. The first thing someone does when they make a purchase such as a car is show it off to their friends and family, a kind of look what I worked hard to get. The friends and family would have been supportive to this person throughout working hard for that material item. Is it the same then to buy that great car without those people in your life? Is it really the material item that makes you happy or the support and love of the people around you, the people you can share your success with?
