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CaramonLS · 06-16-2008, 10:06 PM

Give people money and nothing to do and you always create problems - regardless of ethnicity.

Pretty amazing how this topic can't be discussed nicely without one side accusing the other of racism or one side refusing to acknowledge that a problem even exists and the system is broken. The tricky part here is trying to be PC about a problem and not really offending people. With this topic it is extremely hard to do that.

But I think you need to start by looking at the facts. Among First Nations, they are near the bottom of the ladder in terms of just about every race based demographic indicator in Canada. Per Capita, First Nations lead the country in Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, Teen Pregnancy, Suicide. They are far more likely to go to jail or commit crime than any other 'race' of people in Canada. I think the side that acknowledges there is a problem just tends to have a hard time expressing this - they could definitely be more PC about it, but they certainly aren't racists for pointing out true facts about a culture. I think there are very few people (or perhaps none at all) in this thread who hate all First nations unilaterally and wont give one who has "got it together" a chance just strictly based on the fact he/she is First Nations.

I think the goals of everyone in this thread are the same - Get their societal problems in terms of # of criminals, drug abuse, alcoholism, etc - to the level that the rest of Canada is at.

I saw Rouge cut out of this thread pretty quick. I'd really like to know what he thinks a "solution" to this issue might be, because it is quite clear that what is happening right now isn't working. Would giving First Nations access to more money somehow improve their living conditions? Or would it simply lead to more substance abuse. Rouge, you should be able to find the answer in a Sociology textbook which compares the demographics of those living on welfare to those who work for a living.

06-16-2008, 10:06 PM	#155
CaramonLS Retired Join Date: Mar 2003 Exp:	Give people money and nothing to do and you always create problems - regardless of ethnicity. Pretty amazing how this topic can't be discussed nicely without one side accusing the other of racism or one side refusing to acknowledge that a problem even exists and the system is broken. The tricky part here is trying to be PC about a problem and not really offending people. With this topic it is extremely hard to do that. But I think you need to start by looking at the facts. Among First Nations, they are near the bottom of the ladder in terms of just about every race based demographic indicator in Canada. Per Capita, First Nations lead the country in Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, Teen Pregnancy, Suicide. They are far more likely to go to jail or commit crime than any other 'race' of people in Canada. I think the side that acknowledges there is a problem just tends to have a hard time expressing this - they could definitely be more PC about it, but they certainly aren't racists for pointing out true facts about a culture. I think there are very few people (or perhaps none at all) in this thread who hate all First nations unilaterally and wont give one who has "got it together" a chance just strictly based on the fact he/she is First Nations. I think the goals of everyone in this thread are the same - Get their societal problems in terms of # of criminals, drug abuse, alcoholism, etc - to the level that the rest of Canada is at. I saw Rouge cut out of this thread pretty quick. I'd really like to know what he thinks a "solution" to this issue might be, because it is quite clear that what is happening right now isn't working. Would giving First Nations access to more money somehow improve their living conditions? Or would it simply lead to more substance abuse. Rouge, you should be able to find the answer in a Sociology textbook which compares the demographics of those living on welfare to those who work for a living.