[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by lifer

I think that large contigent of people would be the same contigent of people who want to get money for transmitting cell phone signals through their air space.
It is a weak argument when it has a disclaimer that says "technological advancement aside". Any aboriginal person who's standard of living is below what is was 500 years ago can blame nobody but themselves.

I would say that living on free land, buying groceries with money that they do nothing to earn, and having a heated structure to live in is far better than living in a teepee and hunting for a living. As you said, there are so many programs in place to help them succeed, that I do not feel bad for those who fail, and I disrespect those who want more.

If they want to charge us for transmitting cell phone signals through their air space; then I why don't we start pushing for aboriginal levies on groceries, gasoline, cars, clothes, firearms, electricity, entertainment, and anything else that they want to consume that comes from our culture. See how they like that. They use Europeans as an excuse for their problems, and funnily enough, they do it through newspapers, computers, television and radio rather than smoke signals.

Regardless of your position on when their standard of living is/was better, the fact of the matter is that right now on most reserves the standard of living is significantly lower than the average Canadian, and as I've said a few times in this thread, I believe a large portion of this disparity is self inflicted, or caused by their own leadership who lack either the desire or ability to help their community change for the better. This newest claim may be an example of a chief who want's to help his community, but the way he is going about doing it is a clear example that he has ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA how to go about fixing the problems in his community.