Living on the Reservation-The Welfare System

[Shooterman]

This is a condemnation of the Welfare State and by inference, those that support it.,

Living on the Reservation - Mises Institute

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During a cross-country trip I took in early June, I drove past a number of Indian reservations in Arizona and New Mexico, and I must say that the sight was not exactly uplifting. I could see hundreds of tumble-down shacks and old trailers located on hillsides, and none of them were inviting places to live. It was obvious then that I was seeing something akin to a Third World scene with hundreds — perhaps thousands — of people living in great poverty.

American Indian poverty is not something on our "radar" for a couple of reasons. First, reservations are located in remote places and the largest ones are nowhere near major metropolitan areas. Second, because most Indians do not venture far from their reservations; the rest of us rarely come into personal contact with them.

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While we tend to think of the reservation system as applying only to American Indians, in truth, it is the system that is used in an attempt to deal with nearly all poor Americans, and nowhere were the failures of the reservation system more apparent than last year's Hurricane Katrina debacle in New Orleans. Indeed, we can say that the aftermath of the disaster (not to mention the flooding, which came from the breakage of government levees) was a massive government failure — but not the failure that is commonly associated with Katrina.

When most people speak of Katrina and government failure, they mean the supposed failure of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to take care of everyone affected immediately after the storm. Of course, as has been emphasized on this site, the idea that somehow FEMA could immediately set things right — or ever set things right — was a ludicrous idea in the first place.

Yet, as I noted last year and emphasize again and again, Katrina did not expose American poverty; indeed, it exposed the folly of the reservation system. Let me explain.

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I would add that the failure of government after the levees broke was not that it failed to provide the amenities of the welfare state, as Krugman and others contend. Instead, the human tragedy that produced the Lord of the Flies atmosphere in New Orleans was due to the fact that government had turned much of the Crescent City into an urban reservation via its welfare system, and when those who depended heavily upon that system for their sustenance found themselves on their own, they had no idea what to do or how to do it.

Not a real long read, but worth it.

[Scrappy]

Good find. The BIA's been a piss poor manager of "sovereign" territories. They've poorly managed straight economic funding of tribes, they've stiffled econonmic growth by indians, dumbed down the indian through poor eductation(at one time on purpose), and had rules for assistance that chained the americans to the reservation (revist economic growth). I had no idea until I did research for a public speaking class, my only conclusion I could come up with was either drastic change, or for the BIA to just go away.

I understand this article has more to do with NO, than the plight of the americans, but I can't "blame the gubment" without also blaming the people who feed from the teet of that same "gubment." For one thing the history of the welfare dependent in NO and the indians are vastly different. Another difference is just the location of the two populaces (back in 1990, McDonalds on Canal had a huge sign in the window "Starting pay $10/hour", if that's not opportunity what is? -- Try and find a McDonalds on a reservation with out a populous of 10K+ in the largest town).

That said, It's a great point "... when those who depended heavily upon that system for their sustenance found themselves on thier own, they had no idea what to do or how to do it." I for one say cut them off from the government's milk. Sink or swim, everyone just might be suprised at the number of people who teach themselves to swim

[BrianK]

Originally Posted by Shooterman

the human tragedy that produced the Lord of the Flies atmosphere in New Orleans was due to the fact that government had turned much of the Crescent City into an urban reservation via its welfare system, and when those who depended heavily upon that system for their sustenance found themselves on their own, they had no idea what to do or how to do it.

The article does a good job of setting up the above paragraph.

The statement the government turned much of the Cresent City into an urban reservation. I don't agree with that statement. I view that as the writer shifting the responsibility from the individual to the government. Accepting personal responsibilty for ones own circumstances is what being a responsible adult is about. The government doesn't force welfare on a recepient. It's a choice. A choice that can be temporary out of need, or lifelong because of IMO people have lost personal pride. Worse yet,as I've seen generational dependence developes into the idea that they have the right to live off the work ethic of others.

To extend this a tad. Knowing that people have been bought by politicians via welfare. What would happen if bin Laden's goal of economic chaos brought a massive amount of people to be dependent on leaders like Hugo Chavez & bin Laden himself?

I think about the loss of tax revenue to fund the social programs if chaos did occur. I think about the recent offer by Chavez and can't help but come to the conclusion that if American's can convert to a lifetime of welfare what would stop those same people plus other weaker individuals from converting to any belief system?

The plight of the American indian is a true tradgety. Finally though some tribes are gaining a standard of living. Still not evident though in the Navaho nations in Arizona & New Mexico. Even in abject poverty the indians retain pride. I don't see a comparison between indians & the decendents of those that claimed/took indian lands.

[Shooterman]

Originally Posted by BrianK

The article does a good job of setting up the above paragraph.

The statement the government turned much of the Cresent City into an urban reservation. I don't agree with that statement. I view that as the writer shifting the responsibility from the individual to the government. Accepting personal responsibilty for ones own circumstances is what being a responsible adult is about. The government doesn't force welfare on a recepient. It's a choice. A choice that can be temporary out of need, or lifelong because of IMO people have lost personal pride. Worse yet,as I've seen generational dependence developes into the idea that they have the right to live off the work ethic of others.

To extend this a tad. Knowing that people have been bought by politicians via welfare. What would happen if bin Laden's goal of economic chaos brought a massive amount of people to be dependent on leaders like Hugo Chavez & bin Laden himself?

I think about the loss of tax revenue to fund the social programs if chaos did occur. I think about the recent offer by Chavez and can't help but come to the conclusion that if American's can convert to a lifetime of welfare what would stop those same people plus other weaker individuals from converting to any belief system?

The plight of the American indian is a true tradgety. Finally though some tribes are gaining a standard of living. Still not evident though in the Navaho nations in Arizona & New Mexico. Even in abject poverty the indians retain pride. I don't see a comparison between indians & the decendents of those that claimed/took indian lands.

If chaos does become the reigning norm, and I've every reason to believe it will, the have nots, unable to suckle at the governments teat any longer will go on a rampage in the surrounding areas and countryside, taking what they consider their due. It will not be pretty, and no one will be safe.

[Scrappy]

Lets all remember when that day comes, Praise the Lord and pass the ammo.

[KBay84]

Originally Posted by Shooterman

If chaos does become the reigning norm, and I've every reason to believe it will, the have nots, unable to suckle at the governments teat any longer will go on a rampage in the surrounding areas and countryside, taking what they consider their due. It will not be pretty, and no one will be safe.

Gun owners unite....lol!

[BrianK]

Originally Posted by Shooterman

If chaos does become the reigning norm, and I've every reason to believe it will, the have nots, unable to suckle at the governments teat any longer will go on a rampage in the surrounding areas and countryside, taking what they consider their due. It will not be pretty, and no one will be safe.

That really is the bottom line of what I think the radical islamics expect for Americans to do. That is why the stated goal of causing economic chaos.

Once as you say, the rampage is in progress muslim leadership by offering anything I can envision as the way the muslim religion would make its way deep into the american way of life. Conquer from within isn't difficult when people that are used to suckling at the teat of gov. is replaced by suckling at the teat of those that can and would offer them what they wanted.

Terror is the tactic, religious domination is the goal. Liberal social programs and the effects shown to have caused in moral decline isn't lost on radicals like bin Laden. It's all a matter of time & the radicals have that on their side.