Honor Indian Treaties - Get Involved

http://www.honorindiantreaties.com/act/ ^

[SheLion]

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Get Involved

New York State wants to break the law.

Governor Pataki has already called it unconstitutional.

And yet, it’s been adopted for the 2003-04 budget.

It’s a provision that calls for the State Department of Taxation and Finance to collect tax on the sale of tobacco and gasoline on Native American territories. The state’s unconstitutional action will cause over 1,000 Indians and non-Indians to lose their jobs, consumer prices to rise and businesses to close.

Tell Governor Pataki to honor the supreme law of the land. Tell him that to break centuries old treaties would be to break the law.

Click on the link below to send an email message to Governor Pataki.

Because it’s wrong.

Because it’s not fair.

Because you won’t let it happen.

Contact the Governor:

Call Governor Pataki at 518-474-7516 or send him an email message by visiting his web site (http://www.state.ny.us/governor/) and clicking on "Contact the Governor."

If you wish to contact other state representatives, visit the state Assembly home page (http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/) or the state Senate home page (http://www.senate.state.ny.us/).

We are also encouraging supporters to send letters to the editors of the daily newspapers in New York state. Links to most of the state's media outlets are on a web site called the Empire Page (http://www.empirepage.com/medialinks.html).

Sample Message:
If you wish, copy the text below and paste it into your message:

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This web site is sponsored by the Seneca Nation of Indians

 

[Henrietta]

"It doesn't revolve around money, it revolves around survival of a people. "

Oh, so THAT's what all those indian casinos are all about -- the survival of a people! 'Cause we all know how important casinos are to the traditional indian way of life. /sarcasm

What a crock of sh*t! If you believe this, you must be utterly delusional!

Oh, gee, and anyone that doesn't agree with you is an ignorant, hateful racist. Well, this is getting as good as I expected!

[Henrietta]

"It's quite odd to see "conservatives" arguing against tribal sovereignty on the grounds that Indians don't pay enough taxes, isn't it?"

Equal rights and responsibilities is the idea. Taxes that Indians don't pay just get shifted to the rest of us.

[Chad Fairbanks]

If the Indians were still clinging to their old ways, living out in the country in a teepee and eating buffalo as a means of rejecting United States sovereignty, then maybe I could understand them trying to remain separate.

Wow. Nice stereotype. Been watching Disney movies again?

DO these look like TeePees, lady?

Exactly. This is what we've all been trying to explain to Arkinsaw and Fairbanks, but they Just Don't Get It. It's all about money, and not about anything else. It's about whining, attempting to make Euro-Americans feel guilty about the fact that we won the wars and conquered the land.

Ah, but when you "won the wars" (which is not TOTALLY true in all instances) and "conquered the land", you made certain agreements for which you promised to live up to in perpetuity - all constitutionally-guaranteed and unbreakable. Deal with it.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Oh, so THAT's what all those indian casinos are all about -- the survival of a people! 'Cause we all know how important casinos are to the traditional indian way of life. /sarcasm

WHo said anything about a traditional way of life? I sure didn't. Nice assupmtion.

What a crock of sh*t! If you believe this, you must be utterly delusional!

Nice try.

Oh, gee, and anyone that doesn't agree with you is an ignorant, hateful racist. Well, this is getting as good as I expected!

Did I say anything about racism? No. I just said you are ignorant and hateful (You hate the indians because you pay more taxes...) - but I said nothing about racism. The guilty flee before they are pursued and all that.

[B Knotts]

No. You completely misunderstand the truth of the matter. You should be happy to see anyone get a tax break. The only thing that shifts a tax burden on to you is government. As President Reagan said, "Government is not the solution to the problem; government is the problem."

[Chad Fairbanks]

Henrietta is falling sway to the manufactured hatred bred by our government masters - keeping us divided, placing blame on someone else for all problems etc... a fairly common tactic that she has fallen victim to. Too bad, too. Instead of fighting for smaller taxes for everyone, she's fighting for HIGHER tacxes for others because its "not fair".

Liberalism, I think they call that.

[Henrietta]

"all constitutionally-guaranteed and unbreakable. Deal with it."

Right, just like the fourth amendment, the second amendment, etc. Unbreakable!

And I didn't write the bit about the teepees. I'm perfectly aware that many indians lived in hogans, longhouses, earthen houses, etc. The point that the poster who pointed out the bit about the teepees was trying to make was that "tribal sovereignty" is not about keeping traditional ways of life, it's just a money grab. And you've posted nothing in an attempt to refute that, so we're all just assuming that it's true, and that your response amounts to, "Yeah, so what; we bargained for the money grab 200 years ago, so "deal with it." We deserve special treatment."

It's all about the money. Tribal sovereignty is just a smoke screen.

[Arkinsaw]

Gee, guess that means you CAN'T explain it. I thought as much!

Does that mean I can't explain it? It means I have no interest in explaining it. Anything said to you on this thread you respond to with emotional opinion. You think the more forcefully you say it the more true it becomes. If someone mentions a specific treaty, a part of the law, or a fact, you respond with your opinion "more forcefully". I've got no respect for that. So if you want it explained to you, go buy a book.

[Chad Fairbanks]

But it's NOT about the money - money is merely a tool in order to make our own way in life. If you can name some other industry that will provide an economy in our nations, then please feel free to say so.

Until then, my people will do whatever it takes to ensure economic well-being and independence.

Now, with regard to the constitution and it's unbreakable tenets, that is a battle we are ALL fighting, indians, whites, blacks etc... We are ALL effected by it, and we are all fighting the same battle. So, open your eyes and SEE that. It's not hard.

[BSunday]

What gets me is that most people who are against breaking the treaty would also be in favor of breaking another treaty that was signed by the last president - the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

[Arkinsaw]

Give it up, Henrietta is twanging a one-string guitar and thinks its purty. Logic and facts versus emotional opinion. Just walk away.

[Hot Tabasco]

Yeah, well, life sucks then you die.

...yea, and when you do, we will not mourn. One less Gnatzi!

Now go play in the traffic......

[Osage Orange]

You wrote:

"It's been good for nobody; the reservations are either dirt-poor and decrepit, where there is no gambling, or corrupt and dependent on human decadence, where there is gambling. "

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Brouzho..!!

Well........I happen to be of some Indian blood...And I'm a enrolled member of a American Indian Tribe. I also happen to live on a rez. It's not the rez of my tribe...but another.

It also happens...that most Indians on this rez..are neither dirt-poor or decrepit. It also happens that they aren't anymore or less corrupt or dependent than other forms ( County, City, State, Federal..) of government are.

I would peacefully suggest..that you have painted with a great big broad brush. You might be surprised.....what you actually find, if you were to investigate. Maybe you are only repeating what you have heard. Maybe you only know what is voiced in the media. But then again, maybe your mind is set.

Megwetch,

[Henrietta]

"Anything said to you on this thread you respond to with emotional opinion. You think the more forcefully you say it the more true it becomes. "

Actually, this sounds like you!

I've quite clearly stated my position: Treating people differently because of their ethnicity is wrong. It is against the Constitution, as we all merit equal protection under the law. Indian treaties violate the Equal Protection clause of the Constitution, and must be done away with.

Look, so far, all you have done is misstate my arguments and whine about sovereignty, which most of us agree is just a smoke screen for money.

[Henrietta]

"Give it up, Henrietta is twanging a one-string guitar and thinks its purty. Logic and facts versus emotional opinion. Just walk away."

Just because I don't agree with your illogical arguments doesn't mean I am emotional, hateful, ignorant, or any of the other names I have been called on this thread.

You two believe in a racial spoils system, and I do not. But I'm not calling you names because you disagree with me; I've left that to you. Obviously, your emotions are getting the best of you, and that's why you're engaging in the name calling, sarcasm, and other devices that cause me to believe that your arguments don't have much merit.

But it's been fun!

[Chad Fairbanks]

Indian treaties violate the Equal Protection clause of the Constitution, and must be done away with.

That is perhaps the most ignorant statement I have EVER heard uttered on Free Republic. My God. I am absolutely in shock. Congratulations.

[Osage Orange]

You wrote:

"Well, we all know that the Indians have it so much better than the rest of us and are living it up while we starve. The unfairness to us is just terrible, almost genocide."

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[

ROFLOL!!!!!

[Henrietta]

"That is perhaps the most ignorant statement I have EVER heard uttered on Free Republic. My God. I am absolutely in shock. Congratulations."

You are certainly welcome to your questionable opinions. The concept that all are equal under the law must come as a great shock to you, as a beneficiary of the racial spoils system.

[Chad Fairbanks]

"no part of any treaty has been held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court" (The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States, 1992, Kermit L. Hall, ed., p. 878).

Go read. It's good for you.

[Osage Orange]

You wrote:

"Apparently the out-of-control spending of various states has cause them to look for more revenue generation"

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BINGO..!!! ( Pun intended...!! )

WE HAVE A WINNER..!!!

Megwetch & FRegards,