More serious than it seems at first. If other tribes follow it could get very wierd. I say withdraw the federal money and since they are in violation of the treaty take away their land.
“””More serious than it seems at first.”””
I believe you are correct. Probably will not reach critical mass until after the POTUS election.....unless someone makes it part of her platform.
The only reason it hasn’t been successfully pursued, IMHO, is that there has been a passage of time, and the Lakota people had no resources to fight the political pressure the courts would be under if they ruled in favor of them.
In tribes in which there are casinos, such as in Minnesota, there is little if any, welfare paid, because the profits are distributed among the tribe members.
I knew a tribe member that was serving time in prison that was still earning his $30,000.00 per year as a tribe member.
The reservations without casinos suffer mightily and are extremely poverty stricken, having been left with no productive land on which to live.
While I agree there are some radical elements in the tribe, including Russell Means, before one criticizes the attitude, it would be good to see the living conditions on some of the reservations. Many people live in the run-down facilities, and there are no jobs for those who want them. There is a liquor store just across the line out of one reservation that supplies alcohol and thus promotes the rampant alcoholism. There are poor medical facilities and schools, and most of all, no hope for the future.
IMHO, the poverty on the Lakota lands is an issue that needs to be addressed — it is a difficult problem with no easy solutions, but it is a travesty how we allow this to exist.
It would be more helpful than any of you know to offer help to these tribes, in a spirit of friendship.
We should walk the red road together.
Feds owed them a lot of money and there land has already been taken.
Naa, take the money but let them have the land. Just put up a border fence and tax the crap out of anything going in and out. (25$ toll for starters, plus foreign winnings taxes on Casino money, ...)
This thing would be over in a few days..