Comments on: “Self Reliance” – Native American Media Brilliance http://philcooke.com/self_reliance/ Change Revolution Tue, 22 May 2012 20:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Good Commentary http://philcooke.com/self_reliance/#comment-3811 Good Commentary Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/self_reliance#comment-3811 <p>Sounds like a bit of an oxymoron doesn't it?</p><p>I have not seen that advertising, as I live almost as far away from CA as you can get and still be in the US!  </p><p>When I first read your headline I was expecting to hear about a request for more land, so that they could live off the land, and not rely on outside influence!  But in reality it is the OPPOSITE?  Come visit our land, so that we can live off of your money and in doing so achieve "Self - Reliance".</p><p>Now, I can understand how our (anyone that is not a Native American) ancestors did encroach on their land, and were not considerate in the least, and were more accurately hostile to the natives.  I also can see that Native Americans were wronged like so many nations have been wronged throughout history.  So please don't read my comments as racist or an attack.  But I have to agree that is a very interesting manner of campaigning!!!</p><p>What's next?  A TV show requesting donations and in return they will do a rain-dance for your drought - stricken part of the country?  <wink></p> Sounds like a bit of an oxymoron doesn't it?

I have not seen that advertising, as I live almost as far away from CA as you can get and still be in the US! 

When I first read your headline I was expecting to hear about a request for more land, so that they could live off the land, and not rely on outside influence!  But in reality it is the OPPOSITE?  Come visit our land, so that we can live off of your money and in doing so achieve "Self – Reliance".

Now, I can understand how our (anyone that is not a Native American) ancestors did encroach on their land, and were not considerate in the least, and were more accurately hostile to the natives.  I also can see that Native Americans were wronged like so many nations have been wronged throughout history.  So please don't read my comments as racist or an attack.  But I have to agree that is a very interesting manner of campaigning!!!

What's next?  A TV show requesting donations and in return they will do a rain-dance for your drought – stricken part of the country?  <wink>

]]> By: Brian Sinks http://philcooke.com/self_reliance/#comment-3812 Brian Sinks Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/self_reliance#comment-3812 It was interesting to see, down the street, in the Biblebelt of Tulsa, what was a Native American industrial building, used for Bingo, has turned into a multi-million dollar casino that has a packed parking lot everyday and is about to build a new mall size complex.  I know several local businesses that believe their income has suffered because of it and the other large casino in the area.  There slogan is "we know what you want". It was interesting to see, down the street, in the Biblebelt of Tulsa, what was a Native American industrial building, used for Bingo, has turned into a multi-million dollar casino that has a packed parking lot everyday and is about to build a new mall size complex.  I know several local businesses that believe their income has suffered because of it and the other large casino in the area.  There slogan is "we know what you want".

]]> By: tm http://philcooke.com/self_reliance/#comment-3813 tm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/self_reliance#comment-3813 Self-reliant? while relying on our finances? Interesting thought...<div><br /></div><div>As soon as they stop taking the huge federal grants (all while not paying a penny of federal & state tax), then I'll start considering them somewhat self-reliant.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not sure that I'm aware of any culture that has not fallen into dispare while being given everything for nothing (ie. free handouts). Look at the rampant alcoholism and unenployment in the Native American communities.</div><div><br /></div><div>I did not grow up around Native Americans, but my college was right around the corner from the capitol of the Cherokee Nation. I studied them my first year of college. By no means to I consider myself overly knowledgable about Native Americans, but I have quite a bit of knowledge when it comes to community/culture development.</div> Self-reliant? while relying on our finances? Interesting thought…
As soon as they stop taking the huge federal grants (all while not paying a penny of federal & state tax), then I'll start considering them somewhat self-reliant.
I'm not sure that I'm aware of any culture that has not fallen into dispare while being given everything for nothing (ie. free handouts). Look at the rampant alcoholism and unenployment in the Native American communities.
I did not grow up around Native Americans, but my college was right around the corner from the capitol of the Cherokee Nation. I studied them my first year of college. By no means to I consider myself overly knowledgable about Native Americans, but I have quite a bit of knowledge when it comes to community/culture development.
]]> By: roger scheid http://philcooke.com/self_reliance/#comment-3814 roger scheid Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/self_reliance#comment-3814 <p>California voters approved Indian gaming in two separate referenda and it is generally understood and accepted that the vote was, to some degree, a way to make up for all of the terrible things we non-natives did to Native Americans. Voters basically said: "Sure, we agree that you can have gaming on tribal lands as a way to perhaps finally have some source of economic self-sufficiency." So the concept of self-reliance is not some new spin. In fact, gaming is the sole source of self-sufficiency for many gaming tribes. By law, revenues from Tribal Governmentalgaming must be used in five specific areas.<br />The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2710 [Sec. 11]), stipulates that revenues from any tribal gaming are not to be used for purposes other than- </p><ul><li>To fund Tribal Government operations or programs; </li><li>To provide for the general welfare of the Indian tribe and its members; </li><li>To promote Tribal economic development; </li><li>To donate to charitable organizations; or </li><li>To help fund operations of local government agencies.</li></ul><p>Gaming revenues provide tribal members with housing, health care, education, police and fire protection, elder care, roads, sewer & water, etc. And in California, gaming tribes pay into a fund that provides money to non-gaming tribes. They also contribute significantly to charitable and civic organizations in their local communities. This is in addition to creating thousands of local jobs, providing good wages and salaries to empolyees from surrounding communities and working with thousands of vendors, mostly local. </p><p>By the way, ALL Indian people pay federal income, FICA and social security taxes. Only the small percentage of Indians who live and work on their own federally recognized reservations – not unlike soldiers and their families living on military installations – are exempt from paying state income and property taxes. However, they still pay taxes such as sales and all other special and excise taxes. And members of gaming tribes who receive per capita payments must pay federal income taxes on those payments. </p><p> </p> California voters approved Indian gaming in two separate referenda and it is generally understood and accepted that the vote was, to some degree, a way to make up for all of the terrible things we non-natives did to Native Americans. Voters basically said: "Sure, we agree that you can have gaming on tribal lands as a way to perhaps finally have some source of economic self-sufficiency." So the concept of self-reliance is not some new spin. In fact, gaming is the sole source of self-sufficiency for many gaming tribes. By law, revenues from Tribal Governmentalgaming must be used in five specific areas.
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2710 [Sec. 11]), stipulates that revenues from any tribal gaming are not to be used for purposes other than-

  • To fund Tribal Government operations or programs;
  • To provide for the general welfare of the Indian tribe and its members;
  • To promote Tribal economic development;
  • To donate to charitable organizations; or
  • To help fund operations of local government agencies.

Gaming revenues provide tribal members with housing, health care, education, police and fire protection, elder care, roads, sewer & water, etc. And in California, gaming tribes pay into a fund that provides money to non-gaming tribes. They also contribute significantly to charitable and civic organizations in their local communities. This is in addition to creating thousands of local jobs, providing good wages and salaries to empolyees from surrounding communities and working with thousands of vendors, mostly local.

By the way, ALL Indian people pay federal income, FICA and social security taxes. Only the small percentage of Indians who live and work on their own federally recognized reservations – not unlike soldiers and their families living on military installations – are exempt from paying state income and property taxes. However, they still pay taxes such as sales and all other special and excise taxes. And members of gaming tribes who receive per capita payments must pay federal income taxes on those payments.

 

]]> By: Brian Sinks http://philcooke.com/self_reliance/#comment-3815 Brian Sinks Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/self_reliance#comment-3815 Correction, the slogan is "we know why you play". Correction, the slogan is "we know why you play".

]]> By: Kathy http://philcooke.com/self_reliance/#comment-3816 Kathy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/self_reliance#comment-3816 Still doesn't make much sense to me.  So look what happened to African-Americans in this country, but we don't allow them to become "self-reliant" through the heroin business.  What kind of "self-reliance" comes from getting paid for gambling?  Does that build anything?  if tomorrow, gambling were to go away, chances are, the old situation with Native Americans would be right back to where it was years ago.  Surely, they have more pride than that.  Besides, I wonder who's really making the money here? Still doesn't make much sense to me.  So look what happened to African-Americans in this country, but we don't allow them to become "self-reliant" through the heroin business.  What kind of "self-reliance" comes from getting paid for gambling?  Does that build anything?  if tomorrow, gambling were to go away, chances are, the old situation with Native Americans would be right back to where it was years ago.  Surely, they have more pride than that.  Besides, I wonder who's really making the money here?

]]> By: tm http://philcooke.com/self_reliance/#comment-3817 tm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/self_reliance#comment-3817 To be specific, yes, you are right, the Indians who live and work on the reservation do not pay taxes. None of the indians working in the casino pay it (the casinos are on reservations) and more importantly, not a dime from the casino goes to the federal, state, or local governments.<div><br /></div><div>At least that's my understanding.</div><div><br /></div><div>PS. I get the feeling that you are insinuating that all of these great community development projects are all that matters. 'The ends justify the means' ????</div><div><br /></div><div>Final thought, promise. Being that the majority of people losing tons of money in the casinos are receiving the majority of federal and local financial assistance in the form of food stamps, medicare, medicade & welfare, this would mean that the tribes are receiving even more federal, state and local funding than we are giving them credit for. Hardley self-sufficient. Sad.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm now climbing off my soapbox.</div> To be specific, yes, you are right, the Indians who live and work on the reservation do not pay taxes. None of the indians working in the casino pay it (the casinos are on reservations) and more importantly, not a dime from the casino goes to the federal, state, or local governments.
At least that's my understanding.
PS. I get the feeling that you are insinuating that all of these great community development projects are all that matters. 'The ends justify the means' ????
Final thought, promise. Being that the majority of people losing tons of money in the casinos are receiving the majority of federal and local financial assistance in the form of food stamps, medicare, medicade & welfare, this would mean that the tribes are receiving even more federal, state and local funding than we are giving them credit for. Hardley self-sufficient. Sad.
I'm now climbing off my soapbox.
]]> By: roger http://philcooke.com/self_reliance/#comment-3818 roger Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/self_reliance#comment-3818 Again, any income that a member of a gaming tribe earns from tribal gaming revenue (known as Per Capita payments) IS taxed as federal income. That's just a fact. TM says "not a dime from the casino goes to the federal, state or local government." Not correct. While the casinos are located on reservation lands and therefore are not directly taxed, they more than make up for that in the compact fees they pay to the state -- multiple billions in the case of California. If you really wanted to tax them like any other business, their share of federal and state taxes would be less than what they pay now. Kathy suggests that Tribes that become self reliant from a legal activity -- an activity that state governments even run (lotteries) -- are like heroin dealers. Is the governor of your state (assuming they run a lottery) like a drug kingpin? Are the schools that accept state lottery revenues heroin users? Or does that parallel only apply to Indians who become self-reliant from this particular legal enterprise. Listen...if you are on a moral high horse and just don't like gambling, fine. Don't gamble. But it's a legitimate, highly regulated industry that many, many thousands (millions?) of people enjoy and take part in with no adverse impact. Again, any income that a member of a gaming tribe earns from tribal gaming revenue (known as Per Capita payments) IS taxed as federal income. That's just a fact. TM says "not a dime from the casino goes to the federal, state or local government." Not correct. While the casinos are located on reservation lands and therefore are not directly taxed, they more than make up for that in the compact fees they pay to the state — multiple billions in the case of California. If you really wanted to tax them like any other business, their share of federal and state taxes would be less than what they pay now. Kathy suggests that Tribes that become self reliant from a legal activity — an activity that state governments even run (lotteries) — are like heroin dealers. Is the governor of your state (assuming they run a lottery) like a drug kingpin? Are the schools that accept state lottery revenues heroin users? Or does that parallel only apply to Indians who become self-reliant from this particular legal enterprise. Listen…if you are on a moral high horse and just don't like gambling, fine. Don't gamble. But it's a legitimate, highly regulated industry that many, many thousands (millions?) of people enjoy and take part in with no adverse impact.

]]> By: Phil http://philcooke.com/self_reliance/#comment-3819 Phil Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/self_reliance#comment-3819 <p>"No adverse impact"? That's not what the Las Vegas <a href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Feb-13-Thu-2003/news/20669247.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Review Journal</a> thinks:</p><p>http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Feb-13-Thu-2003/news/20669247.html<br /> </p><p> </p><p>Either way, my post wasn't about gambling pros and cons, but about cloaking a very controversial issue in such a "high minded" idea. Great marketing concept, but not a very honest approach. </p> "No adverse impact"? That's not what the Las Vegas Review Journal thinks:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Feb-13-Thu-2003/news/20669247.html

 

Either way, my post wasn't about gambling pros and cons, but about cloaking a very controversial issue in such a "high minded" idea. Great marketing concept, but not a very honest approach.

]]> By: tm http://philcooke.com/self_reliance/#comment-3820 tm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://philcooke.vintom.com/self_reliance#comment-3820 I was refering specifically to taxes, that thing normal buinesses (and employees) pay. I was refering specifically to taxes, that thing normal buinesses (and employees) pay.

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