FIRST NATIONS “PRINCES”

It’s kind of funny the way things will come up in a conversation – how beginning in one topic another will arise.

I know a man I occasionally run into that is a double amputee, both legs and gets around on crutches – usually when I run into him he’s sitting near a convenience store asking people for change and it’s become something of a ritual that we spend a few moments talking and I give him a couple of dollars or whatever change I might have on me.

A third party, someone I know who works at a lumber yard I frequent, began a conversation about an up coming birthday of a relative of theirs, a nephew, who was wanting an Ipad or some other tablet for a present.

My friend thought that was beyond extravagant and went on about how different things were when he was a child, then said maybe he needed to get some crutches and “panhandle” too.

That kind of struck me the wrong way and I offered the opinion that neither of us knew this man’s backstory and I didn’t think it was an easy task hauling himself around on crutches and asking for a handout.

My friend in a scoffing sort of way said he probably makes more money than either he or I do, then went on to talk about “charities” and what a rip off they are, how they won’t  release a detailed account of how much money they take in and where it goes.

I imagine that’s true in more than one instance and makes me think of the scams AIM and Peltier have ran for decades – same story, give but don’t ask.

Or if you do ask be willing to accept whatever story you’re told with nothing to verify it.

To my way of thinking if you’re asking for donations you should be eager to make the process transparent, to give an accounting. If not that should be a red flag to everyone.

I’ve had people tell me when plunking down four or five dollars on lottery tickets that it’s only four or five dollars, true enough, but those mega million jackpots are composed of  that or less.

Same scenario when a scam is being ran, a buck here, five or ten there and it all adds up, begging the question how much and where does it go?

So I’m kind of curious…has anyone an example or link they can provide illustrating where AIM or Peltier Inc. have given such an accounting?

Remember…the nations have no affiliation with Nigerian princes, though some among us may run a variation of the game claiming to be leaders, medicine men, and or warriors.