jbg Posted August 17, 2006 Report Posted August 17, 2006 This New York Times article highlights the death of the "Maori Queen" (link). She died worth approximately $5.7 million. Inquiring minds wonder how she accumulates so much wealth. Looking at how First Nations' band leaders live lavish lifestyles (ditto US Indian chiefs) one wonders if the taxpayers' aid to natives is being squandered. Thoughts? Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
Riverwind Posted August 17, 2006 Report Posted August 17, 2006 Inquiring minds wonder how she accumulates so much wealth. Looking at how First Nations' band leaders live lavish lifestyles (ditto US Indian chiefs) one wonders if the taxpayers' aid to natives is being squandered.Income inequality exists everywhere - it is not unique to aboriginals. The only issue is what each individual did to acquire that wealth. I am not certain that you can say the the Queen of the Maori aquired her wealth unjustly unless you want to take the position that the Queen of England also acquired her wealth unjustly. That said there is a real issue with some bands in Canada where funds intended to help all members of band seem to end up helping only the Chief and his extended family. Unfortunately, our gov't has set up such extensive audit system now that the paperwork is creating even more inefficiencies. My feeling is these abuses would occur whenever you have an isolated group of people (of any race) that are completely dependent on unearned money from distant places and the problem cannot be solved by more audits. The only real solution is replace a welfare driven economy with an economy based on real wealth generating activities. This is happening in some native communities that are negotiating deals that allow aboriginals to work directly in resource extraction jobs. For example, it is a native owned logging company that has raised the ire of environmentalists with its plans to log in Clayoquot Sound. Unfortunately, such solutions do not work in all places and in many cases native groups are looking to replace the existing system where they received unearned welfare money from gov't with a system where they receive unearned money in the form of land rent, resource royalties or other compensation. Such initiatives will not solve these problems since giving money to a group of people that they did not have to work to earn with lead to a culture where corruption, nepotism and cronyism are used to determine who receives what share of this 'free' money. Quote To fly a plane, you need both a left wing and a right wing.
gc1765 Posted August 17, 2006 Report Posted August 17, 2006 $5.7 million is a lot of money? Bill gates is worth what, $100 billion? And he's white, so should we cut all white people off of welfare? Quote Almost three thousand people died needlessly and tragically at the World Trade Center on September 11; ten thousand Africans die needlessly and tragically every single day-and have died every single day since September 11-of AIDS, TB, and malaria. We need to keep September 11 in perspective, especially because the ten thousand daily deaths are preventable. - Jeffrey Sachs (from his book "The End of Poverty")
jbg Posted August 17, 2006 Author Report Posted August 17, 2006 I am not certain that you can say the the Queen of the Maori aquired her wealth unjustly unless you want to take the position that the Queen of England also acquired her wealth unjustly. The citizens of Britain, a democracy, have chosen to allow their monarch to become wealthy. I wonder what voice ordinary Maoris have in this. $5.7 million is a lot of money? Bill gates is worth what, $100 billion? And he's white, so should we cut all white people off of welfare? Bill Gates engages in economic activity. Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
gc1765 Posted August 17, 2006 Report Posted August 17, 2006 $5.7 million is a lot of money? Bill gates is worth what, $100 billion? And he's white, so should we cut all white people off of welfare? Bill Gates engages in economic activity. What difference does it make? Unless the money came directly from the government, it doesn't matter how the money was made. Quote Almost three thousand people died needlessly and tragically at the World Trade Center on September 11; ten thousand Africans die needlessly and tragically every single day-and have died every single day since September 11-of AIDS, TB, and malaria. We need to keep September 11 in perspective, especially because the ten thousand daily deaths are preventable. - Jeffrey Sachs (from his book "The End of Poverty")
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