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John Kerry offers to buy Indian country
by Rod Van Mechelen
Conservative American Indian Republicans—ConservativeAIR.com™
Posted November 2, 2004 5:00AM PST
Many Indian leaders support Kerry
According to Ron Allen, respected chairman chairman of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe of Sequim, Wash., Kerry is his man:
If we want an administration in the White House that will give us a seat at the table and address our concerns, we must get out and vote for John Kerry Nov. 2. — Kerry will address Indian concerns, by W. Ron Allen, Seattle Post‑Intelligencer, October 26, 2004
Although a Republican, Allen supports Kerry because he's disappointed in Bush and believes that Kerry has a plan:
Kerry has a comprehensive plan to improve the lives of American Indians and Alaskan Natives through respect and honor of tribal sovereignty and treaty rights. He will increase funding for health care and will appoint American Indians and Alaska Natives to key positions in the administration. Further, I believe that he will improve educational opportunities for our tribal communities. — Kerry will address Indian concerns, by W. Ron Allen, Seattle Post‑Intelligencer, October 26, 2004
Without a doubt, Kerry does plan to give money to Indian tribes. It's what the Democrats do best. They are, after all, the party of entitlements. But while there are many other reasons, in my opinion, to support Bush, his administration has provided more than $1.1 billion for school construction and repairs, his 2005 budget provides $3.7 billion for Indian Health Service, and he increased diabetes prevention funding by 50 percent, to $150 million.
He has also respected tribal sovereignty and self-determination, most recently by signing the Government‑to‑Government Relationship with Tribal Governments Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies. More important, however, his 2005 budget includes $1 million to develop uniform business codes for all tribes.
Okay, $1 million isn't a lot of money for a national budget item, but the amount isn't as important as what it's for. Indian country needs commercial investments. Until investors feel comfortable pouring money into development relationships with Indian tribes, most are doomed to struggle in poverty. Uniform business codes that apply to all Indian country will solve that problem.
It has to do with tribal sovereignty. Some tribes—not many, just a few—have lured investors to put money into tribal projects. Once the project was complete, the tribe exercised "tribal sovereignty" to renege on the deal. In effect, they stole the money, bilked the investors, and did it with impunity. So now investors are reluctant to risk putting their money into tribal projects. "Once bitten, twice shy," so the saying goes.
Uniform business codes, that protect investors and stabilize business practices throughout Indian country, will reduce that risk and help attract billions in investment dollars to everything from tribal wind farms to high tech assembly plants.
This marks one of the main differences between the Democrats and Republicans. While Democrats, like John Kerry, just promise to keep throwing money at our problems today, Republican administrations, like George W. Bush, give us the means to solve our own problems today and prosper tomorrow. And that, is worth more than all the money Kerry could give us.
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