In an earlier blog I called myself a liberal libertarian - I have had a rethink, primarily because the term 'liberal' no longer means what it once did. It used to be more or less synonmous with the term 'libertarian'. Today it connotes those who favour government intervention and are prepared to accept ever less freedom.
So - from henceforth on I will refer to myself as a 'humane libertarian'. 'Libertarian' in the sense that I believe the individual should look to himself first for help in improving his lot and 'Humane' in the understanding that in some instances an individual is simply not physically or mentally able to do that.
Modern western governments have subscribed to the belief that bigger is better and that freedom of the individual must be sacrificed for the 'benefit' of the majority. And, of course it is the government which decides what that 'benefit' may be.
What is lost in all of this is individual independence and our society is the poorer for it.
No where is this more evident than in the case of the Aboriginal. He or she is confined to a Reserve System that never made any sense. Politicians have been paralyzed from taking action for fear of being branded rascists. There is also a strong element of guilt attached to this issue as a result of the Indian's culture and way of life having been absolutely destroyed some 200 years ago.
But it is the native who has suffered and continues to suffer through Society's inaction.
Reserves are rife with alcoholism, drug and family abuse, suicide, poor health and diet.
Added to this is the ever growing problem of illegality. Smuggling in cigarettes, alcohol, guns and even in humans is an every day occurence - especially in those Reserve which border the USA. All seem to have casinos and on a per capita basis there are far more natives in our jails than any other race.
Their Leadership calls out for more money to be spent - yet billions are thrown at the problem yearly with no result. We know and they know that more money is not the answer.
The Reserve System must come to an end.
Imagine living in a reserve where nothing of substance occurs and where your main source of legal income comes from the government. You too would quickly be brought down to despair.
If I had the power, I would announce that systematically over a ten year period the reserve system in Canada would come to an end. Funding for natives living off the reserve would continue but for those on the reserve the funding would decline over the ten year timeframe.
At the end of ten years, the Reserves would be sold and the monies placed in trust for all natives
to be used to help them integrate into society. At some point, the funding for even those natives living off the reserve would come to an end as well.
Tough love - you bet, but sometimes tough love is all you are left with.
There would be a hue and cry from the native leadership and from our left of centre politicians but at the end of the day, the individual aboriginal would be so much better off.
Even more important, if we do not axe the Reserve System where government plays the tune through its funding and keeps people dependent, we will be all headed for our own Reserve System.
More on this later...
"Galagher"
