[Rockingham]

I see little point and much mischief in asking people to newly take up or emphasize a tribal identity and settle on reservations. And to offer large cash rewards to do so invites posturing, sham, and fraud.

I know of few instances of Indian reservations that are anything other than enclaves of poverty, social decline, and chronic welfarism. Even when there is a flow of cash from casinos, the underlying social pathologies tend to continue and may even become more destructive.

Moreover, I know that my boyhood was the better for two friends who were half Indian (Apache and Cherokee) in their ancestry. That meant nothing to them or me and we treasured our friendship. Call me selfish, but I would never have known them if they had grown up on a reservation instead of in suburban central Florida.

[muawiyah]

The best part about having a reservation is it's a great place to put a casino. you can also keep a trailer there as a "retreat".

I grew up in the suburbs in a neighborhood that half a dozen tribes represented ~ and a couple of the brothers found it a great location for jumping off to rob banks around the Midwest.

Who said anything about LIVING on the reservation. California tribes use theirs to sell water rights to Angelinos.

[muawiyah]

NOTE: You are all skipping right on by my comment on improving New York.

Are you hearing?