I am not arguing that they should try to help themselves, or that the history of how they came to be in this position was inevitable. Much of what is posted here are things with which I agree. But it is far more complicated than some wayward son not wanting to get a job. It is a systemic problem with many facets, all of which add up to a burden that any particular individual would be unable to conquer.
But I am also unwilling to rely on old feelings that these people are simply lazy or that they only want a hand out, and thus deserving of their plight.
This would be a great opportunity to see how concervatives would go about solveing a problem of this nature. If they did, it would be a model for so many other circumstances. I've probably expressed my concern as well as I am able at this point.
“This would be a great opportunity to see how concervatives would go about solveing a problem of this nature.”
I guess that would depend on the definition of “solving”, eh? I don’t get you want to hear how conservatives would “solve” the problem of the reservations. Seems to me we have built up roads, infrastructure, safety nets, education possibilities, minority protection rights, etc. etc. etc. Now what are the RESIDENTS of the reservations going to do THEMSELVES to solve their problems? I don’t see anything happening other than a few living in gated communities with casino dollars while the rest of the unfortunate on reservations without casinos dependent on meager handouts from those wealthy tribes. I guess if tribes don’t want to take care of their own even in this day & age, America, as a country, has proven we are better than they.
The basic problem is they have little to no incentive. That's where you start.
MSM Exaggerates American Indians Claims of Seceding From USA
By Warner Todd Huston | December 21, 2007 - 15:29 ET
Sioux Indians “Withdraw From the USA”? Or not!
Here is the kind of story that really proves how little the MSM bothers to research things, how they often simply print glorified press releases without doing any real “journalism,” and how the defective end product gets picked up and regurgitated like it is suddenly a “fact.” In this one we have the story of “the Lakota Sioux Indians” announcing that “they” have withdrawn from agreed upon treaties with the US government and that they are now a sovereign nation, no longer to be called citizens of the USA. Problem is “the Lakota Sioux Indians” that have made this announcement are just an unaffiliated group of Indian activists the leader of whom does not represent the official Lakota tribe leadership! Yet here is the news media reporting this story as if all “the Lakota Sioux Indians” have banded together and quit the union.
Take this report from USA Today: Lakota withdraw from treaties, declare independence from U.S
The Lakota Sioux Indians, whose ancestors include Sitting Bull, Red Cloud and Crazy Horse, have withdrawn from all treaties their forefathers signed with the U.S. government and have declared their independence. A delegation delivered the news to the State Department earlier this week.
Wow, it sounds momentous, alright. But, who says that “the Lakota Sioux Indians” have abandoned their treaties?
“We are no longer citizens of the United States of America and all those who live in the five-state area that encompasses our country are free to join us,” said Russell Means, a longtime Indian rights activist. “This is according to the laws of the United States, specifically Article 6 of the Constitution,” which states that treaties are the supreme law of the land.
And who is the Russell Means? He is a long time Indian activist who does not officially represent any tribe, that’s who. It takes the local press to make this clear. The Rapid City Journal of Rapid City, South Dakota informs us that, “Means’ group is based in Porcupine on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation,” and that “it is not an agency or branch of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Means ran unsuccessfully for president of the tribe in 2006.”
Yet in report after report, this Means character is presented as if he is “the Lakota Sioux” when, in truth, all he really is is A Lakota Sioux — not a representative of all of them. He does not represent American Indians except as a tangential, activist. He has no authority to make this “declaration of Independence” for the Lakota or any other American Indian tribe.
It turns out that these reports are nearly all just a rehash of Russell Means’ press releases and not based on any real reporting at all.
And here is the worst part. The bulk of the news outlets that have picked up this story are foreign press agencies like the Agence Presse France, The Telegraph, and Radio Netherlands, all of whom presented this as if it was somehow legal and binding instead of an activist’s scheming.
So, since this story wasn’t reported correctly, foreigners are imagining that all American Indians are trying to leave the USA and become a new nation. The truth is less shocking, that Russell Means does not represent “the Lakota Sioux Indians” at all.