This has taken so long because of the way the counsel has pursued this case and now it is going to even longer to continue the case and eventually change the settlement. After 15 years of trial do you think its worth it to try to continue pursuing the case or do you think it would be better to simply accept the settlement? Remember this case could take a long time just like the first and many of the original plaintiffs may not live to see the payments.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Bobby's Current Event
After a 15-year law suit against the government Elouise Cobell, a Blackfeet tribal member representing 500,000 other Native American plaintiffs, made a settlement in which the government would pay $3.4billion to the plaintiffs communally. However, Cobell did not give all 500,000 plaintiffs a chance to back out of the settlement so they were stuck with it even if they didn't like it. So now six notices of appeal have been submitted to reverse the settlement and continue to pursue the case. The appeals have been filed because in the settlement the government was not required to show the full amount lost by the Native Americans and it was just an easy way for the government to get out of paying the full amount owed. After three appeals were filed Cobell's attorney asked the judge to approve that each appellant must pay an $8.3million bond. The judge saw this as a delay tactic and denied the request.
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I think that it is worth trying because they have been trying for so long so why give up now. If they give up now it will be a waste of 15 years and nothing would have been solved, if they keep trying, at least there is a chance of it happening. Also, if they give up now, what else is there to do. This is really their only option at this point. It is worth it to keep trying because it is a lot of money and will help many Native Americans of that tribe.
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ReplyDeleteI do not think that this case is worth pursuing. I think that it was a little foolish for people to back out of a case that has already been going on for 15 years. Accepting the settlement would save time and money for all, and if you do not want to be associated with the trial, people should just say it. I also think that many of the Native Americans could use the money ($6,800), because almost half live in poverty, so I think it is poor choice for some. For many this money would be about 1/5 of their yearly income, and would be money to put towards college and a brighter future. I think that it would be more effective to give the money to the tribe, as opposed to each member. The tribe could split the money up based on who wants to be involved with the case. That way people could choose whether or not to receive the money, and the trial does not have to continue for another 15 years.
ReplyDeleteI agree with David because the case has been going on for fifteen years. It deffinitely needs a rest. People should have gotten more involved with it, and made their opinions clear earlier. I think that each person in the tribe should get their own share of the money they would get from the case. If the money was awarded to the tribe in general, we wouldn't know how the money would be distributed to all of the tribal members. This case needs to come to an end.
ReplyDeleteI agree with David and Crystal that they should stop trying to pursue the case. They should just take the money and go. It has already been 15 years and they still haven't got any money. The longer they wait the longer it takes for them to get their money. Some families maybe need money right now and by not accepting the settlement, they are not receiving any money when they need it. Cobell should just accept the settlement so everyone can get their money. As with where the money should go, I agree with Crystal that the money should be split up and given to the members of the tribes. This way each person would get their fair share of money. If it was all given to the tribe as a whole, it might not benefit each person as much. It might go to renovations or something and the families need the money in their homes more.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mike in that the case is still worth pursuing. The main reason I think it is still worth pursuing is because if they simply give up it will be too much like past situations with Native Americans where they just get taken advantage of. In my opinion they should still fight for this case, and Mike is right, it's been going on for fifteen years so why stop now? The Blackfeet Tribe and the other 500,000 plaintiffs deserve the 3.4 billion dollars communally because I'm sure it will benefit the tribe. This case is still worth fighting for, why just give up?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mike and Andrea in that they should keep this case going and try no matter how long it takes. It is deffinetly worth the wait, this money could impact the tribe tremendously. Fifteen years is a very long time for one case, but why would they give up after all those years they have put into the case. Even if it does go on for a couple more years there is always a chance that maybe the government will give up and give into the case. My opinion is that if they worked for all these years keep going until they really cant do anything else, and hope the native Americans get the money and succed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Matt, David, and Crystal. I feel as though the 15 case has dragged on way too long and it is time for it too stop. Like Matt said, some families may be in desperate need on the funds right now and may not be able to wait another year or so to to get their money. Like Crystal said, the money should be divided up amongst the tribe members so that everyone gets the same amount. This would be the most fair way of going about their business and would guarantee that the people that need to money most, get it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mike and Andrea that the case is still worth pursuing. The situation is not resolved, at least to the satisfaction of the Native Americans, so they should continue pursuing it until they achieve that contentment. In addition, the settlement that they got had two problems: first, only one person represented everyone else, so not everyone's views were shared. Also, althought the settlement amounted to a large amount of money, there is a large amount of people who are suing and the amount that each person got was petite, and that's generous. Althought there is no tangible value on religion and its benefits, the Native Americans should continue to sue until they feel that an appropriate one has been met.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that this case should be still worth fighting for. I agree with mike in that after 15 long years of fighting why would you just throw all the work you have doe away? There have many cases in which money wasn't being compensated and they have lasted much more than 15 years. These Native Americans have dealt with poverty for so long an deserve the money. They shouldn't stop fighting for the one thing tha they have been greaty deprived of. By the Native Americans fighting it is showing that they aren't going to let the government overrule them any more.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of the students on this blog post. especially jurnee. If you've been fighting for FIFTEEN years for something then way just give up everything you've worked for. THe land was rightfully theirs and deserve ATLEAST the approriate amount of money to each person indiciually for the case settlement. I dont think it was righ to give them one big lump sum and spread it out through out the people. each land should be valued differently and given the money for it as such. some people might have had more and intern should recieve more money.But maybe money isnt enough. maybe taking land from someone turns them in to a dollar sign for the government but i think that the people who took it should do somethign more than just pay them off. a statue or a memorial of sorts perhaps?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mike, Andrea and the others who believed that pursuing the case was worthwhile for the Indians. Like Mike said, they have been trying for fifteen years so what is the point in giving up now? The Native Americans should be encouraged to plead their case and work to win the case. If this is so important to them, and they want to pursue the case, then more power to them. I find it inspiring when people stick up for themselves and fight for what they believe in, no matter what the cost, or how long it may take them. I also agree with Sophia's point about how much the money could affect the tribe's lives and how much it could help them. Even if some of the members do not live to see the money, like Bobby mentioned, their children and grandchildren may see that money. This amount of money could affect this tribe in a positive way.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alexis, Sofia, Andrea, and Mike. This case has been going on for 15 years, why give up now? If they really believe that this settlement is unreasonable, then they should pursue it. The Indians deserve the money that their land was worth. They have been living in poverty long enough, and the more money they can get the better. They have worked so hard to get the money they deserve, it would be illogical to quit now after all the work they already put into it.
ReplyDeleteI believe that since this case has been going on for 15 years already, why give up? if your already knees deep into something. Just continue? why loose now. And they deserve twice the amount of money they are getting. Just to get them financialy stable and boost their economy.
ReplyDeleteAnd when you put money into the economy local buisness will rise and then people will follow. But the money they are getting is not nearly enough.
ReplyDeleteAlthough after 15 years of this case and yet it has still gone no where, I do no thing they should give up on the case. If you give up the case it is equal to just quieting. All the time and money put into it would have gone to waste. If you believe in something or you feel something must change then you must fight for what you believe in. Native Americans deserve it and should not stop fighting the case until it has been resolved. I feel if they give up on the case everything they worked for has been put to waste and yet again Native Americans would be pushed around by the "white man", in this case it is the United States Government. If you keep fighting you can finally win the case and get something you deserve even though it is not nearly enough money that they deserve.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the people who support still puruing this case. Like the previous comments, I think that they should not give up after fighting for 15 years. What good would giving up do? It is better to push through and keep fighting for what they want. If they made it for 15 years, then whats a few more? I agree with what Sam said about the white men pushing around the Native Americans if they give up. Hopefully they will still fight for what they deserve because they do deserve that money.
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