Native American Jackpots
$3 Billion Payout To Indians
I read where President O’bama is proposing to pay American Indian Tribes $3 billion to settle claims dating back over a century to repay the Indians for oil, gas, grazing, and other leases that they were cheated out of.
I have mixed feelings about this. To be sure, the American Indians have really gotten short shrift from the American government; land stolen, treaties broken, and so forth. Truth be told, $3 billion is a drop in the bucket compared to what they’re really owed.
On the other hand, we have the emergence of Indian gambling casinos throughout America, and many of them are highly successful. Consider the Seminole Tribe in Florida. Twenty years ago they were permitted to only operate bingo parlors on their reservations. Today, the Seminoles have upscale hotels, Hard Rock Cafes, and all the latest gaming machines.
In Kenosha County, Wisconsin, the Greyhound track is closing. A Wisconsin Indian tribe is seeking permission to purchase the property and build a $1 Billion casino.
Do these tribes need a hand-out? I think not. And while I realize that not all tribes are as successful, there are other government programs in effect to render assistance to needy tribal members.
Right now the government is cutting essential programs all across America because of budget deficits. I think this is one program that should be put on the back burner until the economy has rebounded.
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OK, let’s not make this “Obama is proposing”….this is something like a 30 year old lawsuit that has cost probably hundreds of millions in legal fees. I think they were originally looking for hundreds of billions of $’s…
$3b is cheap just to get it done and move on…..
1Maybe, but he settled it, instead of letting it wind its way through court. That may open the door to other settlements aa well.
2TM: it has been winding its way through the courts for years……think about the potential exposure on the deal.
Not everything he does needs to be criticized….
We basically stole their land, their mineral rights, and the money due these them. We are getting off cheap, lets move on…..
He met with 47 world leaders today, didn’t he bow too low, or otherwise offend patriotic sensibilities?
3Any bow is too low, so yes he did.
4