Ring Road To Nowhere

[Hessen]

Do you know why "Cars cost less in Wetaskiwin"? Because the band that lives in Hobbema gives out a large cheque to the residents when they turn 18. They in turn buy big shiny new vehicles, drive the hell out of them, squander the rest of their money, then need to sell said vehicles back to the dealerships to be re-sold at a discount.

Although thinking that some may buy houses (they would have to still be on the reserve) and possibly start a small business are a beautiful idea, don't kid yourself. Sadly there is more than enough proof to contradict this.

[Bownesian]

I'm not kidding myself and of course I expect that there will be some misery out of this.

I've just been doing some reflection on what as a citizen I should be doing in respect to the Truth and Reconciliation effort that has just reached a head. I'm not really saying that I have much particular personal guilt (my government and especially my ancestors' government does), but my personal job in helping an obviously abused people to reach their potential is going to be to not always go to the "drunk indians will piss it away" assumption that my father would have/does. It's not helpful and only serves to keep a battered people in that place.

There are lots of bands in BC with a good deal of personal wealth that create jobs for their people, opposite to the knee-jerk reaction from people here, and there is some wisdom in the Tsuu T'ina band's development of the land around the Grey Eagle site, so I see signs of hope.

There are also some real and real high-profile train-wrecks out there. I personally don't think the Indian Act, the Treaty or Reserve system has served the "indigenous" people well, and feel that collective rights have no place in a well-ordered democracy, but we have the system we have, it is really hard to change it and the best I can do is change myself and encourage others to do the same.

Basically, I'm on this soap box to encourage others to rethink their automatic reactions (despite whatever data they have) and consider whether that gut reaction helps these people or harms them.

[Bownesian]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

EDIT: Also, some might consider you racist for calling them Indians.

That is their legal status as long as we have an Indian Act, but I was using the term in paraphrase since that particular term and mode of thought is exactly what I am railing against here.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

1/3 is not most, is it?

I agree that cutting fat cheques to individuals is not the most judicious use of a community windfall. Ralph Bucks come to mind. However, I'm not sure what the band could do regarding the money for minors, except maybe mandate that half of it be set aside in an RESP.

I was also gonna use the Ralph Bucks example and how most people (here) were saying that it's a stupid use of money. I didn't use it because it's irrelevant to the argument.

How the band decided to distribute their cash is their own business, which is what I said earlier already and it is not up to anyone else to question it. However; it is perfectly explainable and reasonable for everyone else to make assumptions that most of these cash payments are likely to be used rather quickly based on a whole bunch of rational factors.

[jayswin]

To me it's all about tone and wording. Polak and yourself have been making very fair, factual comments on the situation. What bugs me is the flippant/stereotypical style comments like the guy who just comes in and goes "Well, guess we're going to see a bunch of wrecked luxury SUV's!"

A comment like that is unnecessary and is more of a "I know what's up with those Natives, they're all the same" tone of phrasing, and as another poster pointed out, just serves to reinforce the very stereotypes that hold these people down.

[lazypucker]

Are we getting into a huge debate about discrimination and racial profiling here? I was merely trying to be funny WITHOUT the intention of hurting the feelings of anyone.

What is the difference between what I wrote than say "Asian people are good at math" or "Women are bad drivers" or "Oil patch workers all drive pimped-out trucks?"

If anyone felt offended or uncomfortable from what I wrote, I apologize for the insensitivity of my previous comment.

[Bownesian]

Yeah, I certainly didn't mean to directly attack anyone either, just to reflect the sentiment raised by the Governor General the other day:

Originally Posted by David Johnstone at the closing ceremony of the TRC

This is a moment for national reflection and introspection … to think about the depth of our commitment to tolerance, respect and inclusiveness, and whether we can do better. This is a moment to think about those people – those children, those mothers and fathers, those families and those elders, past and present. And it’s also a moment to ask: where do we go from here?

[polak]

Construction signs going up at the Macleod & 162 Ave intersections...

Is it finally happening?

That intersection has become a total gong show in the mornings now with Walden and Legacy.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by polak

Construction signs going up at the Macleod & 162 Ave intersections...

Is it finally happening?

That intersection has become a total gong show in the mornings now with Walden and Legacy.

There's an open house Thursday and Saturday for the project, and yeah it's starting soon.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I can't even imagine the traffic catastrophe putting up the overpass at Macleod and 162nd. Badly needed for sure but that is going to be a headache.

[Calgary14]

Macleod & 162nd should have been done years ago (before Walden & Legacy were started). It's getting noticeably worse each month and I can only imagine what it will be like in the fall

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I can't even imagine the traffic catastrophe putting up the overpass at Macleod and 162nd. Badly needed for sure but that is going to be a headache.

I don't know if you were around and driving when they did Canyon Meadows or Anderson, but that was a nightmare. Short term (relatively) pain for long term gain.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Slava

I don't know if you were around and driving when they did Canyon Meadows or Anderson, but that was a nightmare. Short term (relatively) pain for long term gain.

The one at Deerfoot and Douglasdale was also horrible.

Now thinking back it crazy that there was lights at that point.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Slava

I don't know if you were around and driving when they did Canyon Meadows or Anderson, but that was a nightmare. Short term (relatively) pain for long term gain.

I was around when they put up Shawnessy/Midlake Blvd overpass, and that was pretty rough but Macleod @ 162nd is probably at least double the traffic of that. It really did need to be done years ago, now everyone in the area will have to adjust for a while. Will be awesome when it's done though...I'm actually more curious what will happen when they finally have to upgrade the Stoney overpass over Macleod.

[Slava]

I'm mainly wondering how they can streamline the traffic coming East on 162nd to make the overpass better once its built. I think they should make no LH turns in the mornings onto Shawville Blvd, or onto 162 from Shawville Blvd. as it is.

I know that probably seems like a huge step, but it would improve traffic flow immensely. Like from about 6:30-9:30. I also want to see the Lake Fraser Gate no LH turn time extended (barricaded if I'm being honest) to 9:30am.

[polak]

Are the people turning left onto 162nd E from Shawville Blvd actually a problem?

Where are they coming from?

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I was around when they put up Shawnessy/Midlake Blvd overpass, and that was pretty rough but Macleod @ 162nd is probably at least double the traffic of that. It really did need to be done years ago, now everyone in the area will have to adjust for a while. Will be awesome when it's done though...I'm actually more curious what will happen when they finally have to upgrade the Stoney overpass over Macleod.

Couldn't be any worse than when the city due up Glenmore Trail, from MacLeod to 14th St, could it?

[MacDaddy77]

I don't know why they aren't constructing over the LRT and CP rail lines at this time and only doing a study? That is a huge cluster fata.

I live in Bridlewood and in the winter it sometimes takes an hour just to get to MacLeod if it's snowing.

I hope they learned from the Shawnessay overpass, that thing is a disaster. Why there's a yield and not a merge lane I'll never know, almost weekly there's an accident from a vehicle merging onto Shawnessay Blvd from the exit ramp.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

I don't know why they aren't constructing over the LRT and CP rail lines at this time and only doing a study? That is a huge cluster fata.

Because there's been no money set aside for it.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by polak

Are the people turning left onto 162nd E from Shawville Blvd actually a problem?

Where are they coming from?

Its not the line-up of people, in fact its the opposite. Its that there are advance greens going every direction and the main traffic (heading East on 162 to Macleod) is sitting there for each of those advance turn signals. That's what I would eliminate for a few hours each morning to accommodate that morning rush.