There are just too many treaties and laws in place and judicial precedent to ever end the reservations, so the congresswoman is about to kick over a hornet's nest for herself.
Today, more than 70% of Native Americans live off reservation.
And
they’re now spending time responding to the proposed resolution rather than focusing on their own legislative priorities
IE, give us more money.
I am not well studied on Indian affairs. But the language of the resolution is true and highlighted by the tribes themselves when they want more funds for this and that.
Changing the system would upset a huge money making apple cart, I am guessing from the response.
“led to substance abuse, domestic violence, welfare dependence, poverty and substandard education.”
A lot of this is due to bad personal choices.
End special federal services for tribes & their members.
If Central American Indians can be highly productive in the USA, so can US Indians.
Tribal land belongs to the tribe and it is their decision to make, not Uncle Sam’s.
The idea of a “sovereign nation” within a sovereign nation is ridiculous. Either they’re Americans, or they’re not. Choose one.
They get special privileges, special taxation, special benefits, and don’t have to obey US laws if they’re on the land of the “sovereign nation.”
They’re a specially-privileged, government-certified victim group with special benefits. Time for this nonsense to stop. They were once proud self-sufficient people. The current system ruined them.
Where’s my casino ?
There’s no problem with the reservation system other than the welfare part. Buy out the welfare part, then allow each tribe to prosper or go bankrupt as they choose.
Montana is a good example. The Flathead reservation is well-managed and any tribal member can be proud, ditto visitors. But, the Blackfeet reservation is desolate, poor, riddled with substance abuse. The members of the Blackfeet who stay on the reservation do so for the welfare benefits worked into their treaty. Yes, differences between these two tribes include that the Flathead were a civilized tribe at the time of their encounter with the whites, while the Blackfeet were a nomadic people. But, these differences don’t have to continue forever.
Let the tribes decide their rules for membership. If they want to tie membership with living on the reservation and, so, condemn their young people to severely reduced economic opportunities, that’s on them. But, if they want to convert their reservations into homelands, so their history and culture will be sustained into the future there, while members can come and go as opportunities open to them. Well, I suspect they’ll do just fine.
Somebody explain treaties to the Montana law maker.
Maybe they should admit they are American citizens and join the club
You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.
Government destroyed the most uplifting course correction in human history — the teaching and preaching of the Gospel in the public square.
Now government wants to invent a synthetic behavioral system devoid of any underlying morality, other than “we’re the government, and we want your vote in exchange for ineffectual programs.”