Blackfeet woman sees end to 14-year govt fight

hosted ^ | May 22 | MATT VOLZ

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I’ve got a lot of sympathy for the Indians with this one. It started with Andrew Jackson, when he ethnically cleansed most of the Indians from the East side of the Mississippi to the West side.

Then a lot of the Indian treaties were, even at the time, nonsense text, but remain in effect. Literally, random paragraphs were taken from legal textbooks that have nothing to do with anything, and plugged in to the treaties, just to “bulk them up.” Other sections were just gobbledygook. And important elements like tribal borders were based on transitory things, like, “the third tree in the grassy field”, without respect to any other lands, of other tribes, public or private.

The BIA has always been a disaster. Starting as a dumping ground for failed and corrupt Washington bureaucrats, and scam artists who wanted to make a quick buck, it is the only real interface between the federal government and the tribes. Being given control over vast amounts of revenues from things like oil wells, agricultural land, etc., they have gone to great lengths to *not* keep records, and to graft off as much money as they could.

As a final insult, the biggest reason that most Indian reservations are not developed, is because there is an absence of federal business law. This means it is very hard for a tribe to allow a corporation, even a fast food restaurant, from opening up. This isn’t bad law, it is no law.

The idea of allowing States to form agreements with tribes so that they could open up casinos has been a godsend to them. Finally, they have a way to make money and improve themselves, where government bureaucrats can’t steal every penny, and those who want to work can work.

[Colvin]

If you BOTHER to read what I wrote, I said they would be very willing to pay back the monetary support if the rest of us left north America.
Do you think the Indians would not? Having known Indians during my life, I would stake a silver dollar or two on it.
Why don’t you ask a couple and see if I am right or not?
I did not say anything about slavery, murder, or any other sins that are common to all peoples.

[kiltie65]

Love your moniker. I often thought of using “Barbara Fritchie” (you know, “touch not a hair of that old grey head, or die like a dog, the General said”, or something to that effect.

[catfish1957]

I agree with you. If there ever was a race with a legit gripe, it’s these folks. However, they lead their lives with dignity and do they best they can.

[ASOC]

LOL

B I A

Boss Indians Around.

Likely the most notoriously corrupt FedGov outfit, ever,

[beckysueb]

My daughter in law is fighting this same battle. Has been for years. She is from an Alaskan tribe. From what she can gather, the government spent their money. She does have land near Bristol Bay. She is trying to sell it, but the red tape is unreal. Her family is from Dillingham, the same place where Todd Palin is from. I think they are from the same tribe. I always tell her she may be related to Todd Palin. LOL

[RWGinger]

Either you don’t get it or you don’t want to get it. If we leave the continent will they also leave and give back what they took from others by force?
There came here, like everyone else and they conquered others like people have done all through history.
We owe them NOTHING.

[Colvin]

Wow, your inability to comprehend what I wrote is startling.
Are you sure you are not a Democrat?
I did not write that this would be an acceptable solution to me. What I said was the Indians in this country would gladly pay back the government support they have received if the rest of us left the continent. Ask some, and see if that is not true.
I was commenting on how things look from their point of view.
Studies have shown that conservatives are better at perceiving the point of view of the people that disagree with them, while liberals tend to be haters (like Rev. Right).
If you disagree with me premise on what Indians would prefer, back it up with facts.

[Colvin]

Hey Fish Hawk, I am getting bashed here just for saying that I can understand how the Indians feel about what went on in the past.

As for me, I am glad this lady took it upon herself to get some of the money that the government was collecting to her tribe. It sounds to me like Indian Affairs is like the fed, in need of an Audit.

[fish hawk]

Audit may not do it considering with all the looking into this theft of Indian Trust money crime, they still haven't a clue of why or where the money went. As far as you getting bashed, it's because, like they used to say in the old days, you are an “Indian lover”. LOL Here is something else that will get your goat. Two Interior Dept. heads back, I think his name was Bennett but not sure now, was ordered by the courts to come up with the whys and wheres of the money and he didn't so the court fined him close to a million dollars. It turns out that the political position is NOT LIBAL on a personal level so the fine was paid but out of tax payers money. You all paid for Bennetts screw up. Have a nice day. lol

[RWGinger]

If from your conversations with Indians you feel they would give back money if we would leave then I’d say those Indians are as closeminded as any Leftist.
How stupid it would be so only see themlseves as innocent victims and to see us as only evil.
It would be as closeminded of me to say, hey they cam keep the money we have doled out if they will leave.

[Colvin]

As Fish Hawk mentioned, they are bout 95 percent Democrats, so you are probably right. It takes a long time for folks to deal with being taken over, look at the Irish, or the Scots, and their feelings about the English.
It is too bad they have become so dependent on the Government, but this BIA money is not a hand out. It comes from land Rental, and Mineral rights they have Maintained over the years. The BIA was supposed to be looking after this for them, but obviously they are acting as robber barrens instead of Public Servants.

[RWGinger]

Thank you for explaining it.
I understand now