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puckstopshere · ‎01-06-2013

Below is a letter written by a well informed friend of mine. He is a teacher of 30 years. He is probably the most knowledgeable individual that I know when it comes to current affairs, politics and the world siutation. He is meticulous in his research. The letter is in response to a column in the Londoner:

For several years now I have read your weekly column in the Londoner and found it always to be the voice of reason and logic.

I don't wish to disparage the paper but it is often the only column I find in this publication worth my time to peruse. That is why I was most surprised by the stance you took in your last article: Chief deserves a meeting with the PM.

Columnist Christina Blizzard provided sobering details which suggested otherwise in her Saturday, January 21st, 2012 column in the London Free Press: Help is there, Attawapiskat must step up (E2). Since 2008 De Beers has given the reserve $10 - 11 million in direct payments to the chief. Under the impact-benefit agreement (IBA) the company is not allowed to reveal the full amount it pays into the trust fund. Neither would Chief Theresa Spence reveal those details when Ms Blizzard requested clarification. As Ms Blizzard pointed out in the aforementioned column, what is known is that $325 million in contracts have been awarded to the wholly owned Attawapiskat businesses or joint ventures to date. This for an on reserve population of merely 1,549 (2011 figures: Wikipedia). Last year alone, the reserve got $51 million in contracts. Your article did not reference these sizeable sources of funding, only the $90 million the federal government additionally gave and for which disbursement of funds Spence refuses to give an auditing.

Neither did you point out as Kris Sims did (Spence, kin made $221K+ in a year. London Free Press: 4 January 2013: B2) that she and her partner made some $250,000 last year alone. Nor, did you point out as MACLEAN'S magazine revealed this week (Hungry for change: 14 Jan. 2013: 11) that Theresa Spence is using a Facebook account as a global vehicle for donations to go directly into the account of her partner, Clayton Kennedy, co-manager of Attawapiskat. And how will those undoubtedly sizeable global contributions be dispersed or audited if the Canadian people themselves are not permitted to know how their own enormous outlays for the Attawapiskat reserve were spent?

In your article on Thursday, you allude to the larger problem of some 100 out of the Canadian reserves being in dire poverty but not to the fact that 80 First Nations band chiefs and council members raked in more income in 2008 and 2009 than the Prime Minister himself and that more than 220 paid themselves more than their respective provincial Premiers earn (Chiefs' pay raises taxpayer ire. London Free Press. 23 Nov. 2010: B3). Additionally, more than 704 reserve politicians made more than $100,000 though the average population of First Nations reserves was merely 1,142 as that same article highlighted.

In short, for the first time in my acquaintance I believe you betrayed your journalistic integrity. Possibly, it was because you mention members of your family and friends being First Nations people?

I would agree with Herman Gooden (Attawapiskat chief fronts a movement stuck in neutral. London Free Press. 5 January 2013: E2) that Theresa Spence is practicing "a kind of emotional blackmail." Likewise, you are as well by your careful editing out of salient details necessary for your readers understanding. Your article was is a true example of demagoguery. And in light of your other journalistic efforts, I find that a source of true regret.

puckstopshere · ‎01-06-2013

Well puck to begin with this person's letter must have been published in the media somewhere....

Letter was only written last night.

puckstopshere · ‎01-06-2013

I like to know who wrote what and research who they are in full.

Me too, but you won't tell us who you are so I can do that.

puckstopshere · ‎01-06-2013

That alone tells me this writer has an uneducated agenda and that is why I want to confront him, which I have no problem doing after I research the rest of his accusations.

Again, you are attacking the writer - not the facts. He gave references for everything he said.

puckstopshere · ‎01-06-2013

Your friend needs to kick up his research considerably.

I will wait and see. He has indeed been charged with the lower amount. However, the other check may pay an important part in the case. Maybe it does not amount to fraud - but may prove an important part in a paper trail.

puckstopshere · ‎01-06-2013

Maybe it’s that they just prefer to keep with their ‘own’ during the bedding sales at Wal-Mart.

In character. Can't attack the facts - attack the person. This kind of statement may not be racist, but it certainly expresses a contempt for anyone who expresses a different viewpoint. Such intolerance is okay though when not directed at the native population, or any other minority group.

That’s a shame that some people don’t get to meet a good cross section of interesting people while others do.

You have made this statement so many times, it should be on your tombstone. We have all met a variety of people in our lives. Every ones experiences are unique - none worse or better than another's.

puckstopshere · ‎01-06-2013

Once upon a time, in a distant land, a fellow named OJ Simpson got exonerated

Comparing OJ to Chief Spence? Ultimate desperation.

When it suits your agenda, the courts are infallible. This example had nothing to do with a comparison of alleged crimes. Simply a statement that the courts are not infallible.

puckstopshere · ‎01-06-2013

Did you ever notice something about little gangs? They're interesting and never really change from school yards to teen years to adults. They're only any good as a group.

Even more so if they drive a Harley and wear leather jackets with funny patches.

pigdog47 · ‎01-06-2013

Heya PD, I checked with my 2 neighbours, none being PSWs, but one's a cop and one's a priest. One's seen it all, and one's heard it all. A formidable 'run for their money' I suspect! 😉

You surely must know somebody who knows somebody who knows an underpaid PSW. They are out there; you just have to know where to look for them.

Anyway, here is a photo of a little bird having it's freedom to warble stifled. I hope it doesn't go on a Hunger Strike demanding an audience with The Great Peacock.

pigdog47 · ‎01-06-2013

The little bird is invisible. Gonna have to try this again, cause there may be avian malfeasance afoot.

prior-of-verity*shake-hands-with-your-devil · ‎01-06-2013

Letter was only written last night.

Ah,…..did he email you for editing?

I’ll keep checking the internet for the appearance of the letter. Hopefully eventually.

you won't tell us…..

Certainly you know me. You know my first name, you know where I live (or close to it) and I have been very open about my views and politics…..which has been debated equally openly. However the totally mysterious writer who wrote that letter..... there is nothing known and no way to debate his views.

He gave references for everything he said.

He gave references to things he …….’read’. He takes what someone says because it fits his agenda but he doesn’t go further to see if those blogs or articles he read are……True! Maybe he will read that an alien space craft landed on city hall in London and just run with that as well. It’s like his comment about Chief Spence and the money that came into the Rez but he failed to mention that Spence was exonerated by a Federal judge and all the books were audited and there was no problem found…..yet this guy who wrote the letter didn’t do due diligence by extending his so-called knowledge further than what he needed.

And lets talk about De Beers. Care to look at their track record in other countries…and their lies….and being brought up on perjury and price fixing. The information is all out there for the literary genius.

But lets get closer to home and Attawapiskat. Pass this on to your friend and read all about De Beers and the Rez. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/in-attawapiskat-deep-rooted-problems-wont-disappear-in-... and when you pass it on to him, ask him what he taught as a teacher in 30 years and then ask him if he taught his students the concept of finding the truth, all the truth and nothing but the truth.

And puck, I have stated and proven many facts in here repeatedly and when I do they are ignored because the truth...doesn't fit the agendas. As for the fellow who wrote that letter (to an editor it seems based on it's content)....I'm long ago done with being civil to bloggers on the internet and media commentors who are underneath their shell of respectability nothing more than bigots with a good pension while spreading hate and ignorance to anyone who is small minded enough to listen.

prior-of-verity*shake-hands-with-your-devil · ‎01-06-2013

Even more so if they drive a Harley and wear leather jackets with funny patches.

LOL. Well the difference is.....they're as good all by themselves and they don't need any backup. And that has been proven over and over and over and over again.

And you don't drive one....you ride one.

prior-of-verity*shake-hands-with-your-devil · ‎01-06-2013

You have made this statement so many times.....

Only because it's in response to someone digging the bottom of the barrel when they have lost a discussion.

LOL... it's not a tombstone ...... it's a mausoleum bought and paid for...... and I already have those words picked out.

prior-of-verity*shake-hands-with-your-devil · ‎01-06-2013

Oops almost missed this one....

Simply a statement that the courts are not infallible.

The OJ trial was a criminal trial. Spence was audited by the Feds and it was presided over by a judge. It wasn't a 'trial' because there were no charges. It was an audit like any business or individual would get, even those selling on an internet auction house, who of course record all their sales.

almond_t · ‎01-06-2013

Well, malfeasance aside, we're still waiting for your little bird pic, PD!

Speaking of pics, just watched QP, and the only segment worth watching was pics from the Space Station.

Beware of kittens with red bows, bullies in bandannas, and whining broken records.

€ Lucifleur

~Lucifleur

puckstopshere · ‎01-06-2013

presided over by a judge.

You are beating around the bush and avoiding the point.

Same thing applies. Judges are not infallible.

puckstopshere · ‎01-06-2013

Well, malfeasance aside, we're still waiting for your little bird pic, PD!

I saw the pic. Click on attachment then click on the small picture to enlarge it.

almond_t · ‎01-06-2013

Puck, mere semantics invoked to comply with an agenda!

Beware of kittens with red bows, bullies in bandannas, and whining broken records.

€ Lucifleur

~Lucifleur

puckstopshere · ‎01-06-2013

Only because it's in response to someone digging the bottom of the barrel when they have lost a discussion.

As you well know from personal experience. Lose the discussion - make a personal attack or call someone a name such as racist.

I have also read the words that would lead me to believe that you believe in everyone's right to an opinion. Your actions don't reflect that. You seem to feel that there always has to be a winner (you) and a loser (everyone who disagrees with you) in every discussion like this one.

If there is anyone else out there that thinks I am in error in this opinion, feel free to step up to the plate.