Eliminate poverty on Indian reservations by eliminating Indian reservations

Opinion Journal ^ | January 27, 2006 | BY JOHN J. MILLER

[Keltik]

The Projects on the Prairie

We can eliminate poverty on Indian reservations by eliminating Indian reservations.

BY JOHN J. MILLER Friday, January 27, 2006

The fallout from the Jack Abramoff corruption scandal has all of Washington atwitter about congressional reform--everything from proposals to restrict travel perks and lunches with lobbyists to a potential shakeup in the Republican House leadership.

A subtheme of the controversy involves not a shakeup but a shakedown--of Indian tribes by Mr. Abramoff, who used casino cash to throw money around town as well as to line his own pockets richly. The common perception is that once again the white man has cheated the red man.

Perhaps a few expressions of sympathy are in order. Yet Indians would benefit much more from their own sweeping reforms. The Abramoff rip-off should be the least of their worries. The time has come to abolish reservations for the good of the people who live on them.

[Lil'freeper]

You and me both. My business travel takes me to that area several times a year and I make a special effort to head up the mountain to spend some time. Gorgeous country. Gorgeous!

[sockhead]

The US tried getting rid of Indian reservations in the 1950s with the Indian Assimilation Act. It didn't take long for the reversal of that program and the government re-establishing the few reservations that had been spun off into private ownership.

Indian tribes are not soverign nations within the usual meaning of that term. They are wards of the US and their lands are held by the government in trust for them.

[elcid1970]

I too served a combat tour in Vietnam (not a POW). But I do not believe that as a result my word on any topic is golden and unchallengable now and forevermore.

McCain's not a medal-waver (others do that for him) but Kerry and Murtha are.

[Morgan in Denver]

I agree Indian reservations are sovereign nations. However, at some point one would think the Indian population and reservations should join with the rest of the country and be part of the USA. How to do that is a major undertaking that would need a lot of input and discussion. More than we can provide here on FR.

[A. Pole]

OR you could just eliminate the Indians and keep the casinos and reservations. That's what we would have done in the good old days:)

The way of free market.

[A. Pole]

There are more Indians alive in the US now than there were when Columbus arrived, according to an anthropology professor of mine who was himself Indian.

Since the immigrants from the South have Indian blood in large part, the Indians might outnumber whites some day.

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

Indians have some of the most desirable spots of land in this country when you consider mineral rights.

If the indians didn't want a profit center from the land that was given to them thats their fault. Even goats and sheep can survive on 'crappy' ground its their fault if they didn't want to make money on it.

Haven't the indians given money to other lobbyists besides Abramoff?

[A. Pole]

Then self-supporting they shall be...

After they get their lands back, they will live very well from the rents.

[norwaypinesavage]

I grew up in a mostly white city surrounded by three large Indian reservations. I visited, and saw the dire poverty on these reservations. In my view, this poverty exists because poverty is the prevalent life in all socialist environments. These reservations were all run under socialist rules. Land was owned by the community. Families were given (a little) money just for existing. One could exist without working. The solution is the same as it is for all socialist societies: capitalism.

[Just mythoughts]

I barely remember JFKennedy murder, I was in first grade. I remember a military buddy of my father's from Korea coming by for a visit, he had just returned from Vietnam as a non-armed military adviser. His stories were frightening of what he went through.


None in my immediate family were of age to serve, but I had cousins that were sent to Vietnam. One is barely a remnant of who he was physically and mentally, they say it was from 'agent orange', some could say he is still a POW.


We live in such a PC age that to accurately describe events is always weighted without balance.

Actually I think McCain's method of self promotion is every bit as sinister as the other two, because he will seek revenge upon those who he believes have not given or shown him the respect and honor he earned.

[seacapn]

The problem comes from the way trust land is regulated by the federal government. Indian tribes don't really have title to that land; they merely administer it. You can't even use reservation land as collateral to get a mortgage. The TRUST system of land should be changed to a "fee simple title" system, where Indians would have regular land rights that the rest of the country enjoys. This would make the land ripe for economic development.

People should also remember that only a small fraction of the 500+ tribes in the US operate casinos, much less successful casinos.

[razorback-bert]

[Freee-dame]

Curious that he lead the charge for campaign finance reform

...exempting Native Americans on Indian reservations. Arizona is full of reservations.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Some of the comments on this thread are just plain sad.

[ClaireSolt]

"They are wards of the US and their lands are held by the government in trust for them."

Yes, and that is being sorted out in court because Department of Interior kept lousy records of its trusteeship.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Then self-supporting they shall be...

In a better world. CA had ballot initiatives to tax the holy crap out of them. All I know is when they hit on the casino idea, I was jumping up and down laughing, and cheering.

[Bear_Slayer]

Indian reservations are sovereign nations within in our country

But the southern states are not and cannot be. Go figure.

[TheSpottedOwl]

If the indians didn't want a profit center from the land that was given to them thats their fault. Even goats and sheep can survive on 'crappy' ground its their fault if they didn't want to make money on it.

How in the hell are they supposed to do that with no capital? 'Splain that one to me. No, the "problem" started when them uppity injuns figured out a way to end their tribes destitution. A lesson for us all. Btw, they are human beings who were ass raped by the federal government, had their lands stolen, their population decimated, and their dignity trampled on. Have any idea how much money it costs to set up a mining operation??? Hmm????? I have no idea what hucksters have persuaded Indians to part with their money. Abramoff's name came up on the thread.

[Nothometoday]

I agree with you, also.
They have been through enough already...

[TheSpottedOwl]

Oh no, I didn't know that! I thought that tribal land was owned outright by the tribe that the land was given to. Jeez, talk about degradation : (

Of course not every tribe can support a casino on their land, however there have to be ways for them to support themselves in a dignified manner....without interference.