Just a short note.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Today still?

Eh, I think it's higher now, with a significant leap within our lifetime. But still shitty. And American indian males are still more likely to die of murder than any other demographic.

And replacing alcoholism with meth-addiction isn't really helping matters on that front. I've got a couple of friends with res privileges who avoid them now as a result of some nasty close calls.

Meth is hardly exclusive to Native Americans...But given the whole concept of a "reservation" as "built-in mayhem", I can't imagine how bad it would get with some of the poorer tribes.

Last time I was out on the Yakima Reservation I literally saw 8 year old kids riding around on their bikes....smoking meth from a lightbulb.

There's something inherently wrong with the institution of the reservation.  I can't quite put it into words, because it keeps sounding like something Ronald Reagan would say, rather than what I mean.

[Luna]

Today still?

Eh, I think it's higher now, with a significant leap within our lifetime. But still shitty. And American indian males are still more likely to die of murder than any other demographic.

And replacing alcoholism with meth-addiction isn't really helping matters on that front. I've got a couple of friends with res privileges who avoid them now as a result of some nasty close calls.

Meth is hardly exclusive to Native Americans...But given the whole concept of a "reservation" as "built-in mayhem", I can't imagine how bad it would get with some of the poorer tribes.

Last time I was out on the Yakima Reservation I literally saw 8 year old kids riding around on their bikes....smoking meth from a lightbulb.

There's something inherently wrong with the institution of the reservation.  I can't quite put it into words, because it keeps sounding like something Ronald Reagan would say, rather than what I mean.

Because it's a fancy name for "animal preserve." 

"Let's set aside some land for these animals.  We'll fence it off, put 'em in there, where they can survive, and they won't bother anybody."

You don't do that to people.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Today still?

Eh, I think it's higher now, with a significant leap within our lifetime. But still shitty. And American indian males are still more likely to die of murder than any other demographic.

And replacing alcoholism with meth-addiction isn't really helping matters on that front. I've got a couple of friends with res privileges who avoid them now as a result of some nasty close calls.

Meth is hardly exclusive to Native Americans...But given the whole concept of a "reservation" as "built-in mayhem", I can't imagine how bad it would get with some of the poorer tribes.

Last time I was out on the Yakima Reservation I literally saw 8 year old kids riding around on their bikes....smoking meth from a lightbulb.

There's something inherently wrong with the institution of the reservation.  I can't quite put it into words, because it keeps sounding like something Ronald Reagan would say, rather than what I mean.

Because it's a fancy name for "animal preserve." 

"Let's set aside some land for these animals.  We'll fence it off, put 'em in there, where they can survive, and they won't bother anybody."

You don't do that to people.

The argument given to that is "they can leave anytime they want".  All they have to do is, you know, give up any sense of belonging and community they've ever had.

[Luna]

Today still?

Eh, I think it's higher now, with a significant leap within our lifetime. But still shitty. And American indian males are still more likely to die of murder than any other demographic.

And replacing alcoholism with meth-addiction isn't really helping matters on that front. I've got a couple of friends with res privileges who avoid them now as a result of some nasty close calls.

Meth is hardly exclusive to Native Americans...But given the whole concept of a "reservation" as "built-in mayhem", I can't imagine how bad it would get with some of the poorer tribes.

Last time I was out on the Yakima Reservation I literally saw 8 year old kids riding around on their bikes....smoking meth from a lightbulb.

There's something inherently wrong with the institution of the reservation.  I can't quite put it into words, because it keeps sounding like something Ronald Reagan would say, rather than what I mean.

Because it's a fancy name for "animal preserve." 

"Let's set aside some land for these animals.  We'll fence it off, put 'em in there, where they can survive, and they won't bother anybody."

You don't do that to people.

The argument given to that is "they can leave anytime they want".  All they have to do is, you know, give up any sense of belonging and community they've ever had.

Sure, there are arguments to anything... but that's what hit me as wrong about them.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Today still?

Eh, I think it's higher now, with a significant leap within our lifetime. But still shitty. And American indian males are still more likely to die of murder than any other demographic.

And replacing alcoholism with meth-addiction isn't really helping matters on that front. I've got a couple of friends with res privileges who avoid them now as a result of some nasty close calls.

Meth is hardly exclusive to Native Americans...But given the whole concept of a "reservation" as "built-in mayhem", I can't imagine how bad it would get with some of the poorer tribes.

Last time I was out on the Yakima Reservation I literally saw 8 year old kids riding around on their bikes....smoking meth from a lightbulb.

There's something inherently wrong with the institution of the reservation.  I can't quite put it into words, because it keeps sounding like something Ronald Reagan would say, rather than what I mean.

Because it's a fancy name for "animal preserve." 

"Let's set aside some land for these animals.  We'll fence it off, put 'em in there, where they can survive, and they won't bother anybody."

You don't do that to people.

The argument given to that is "they can leave anytime they want".  All they have to do is, you know, give up any sense of belonging and community they've ever had.

Sure, there are arguments to anything... but that's what hit me as wrong about them.

Oh, yes, of course.  Not saying you're wrong...It's just that the trap was built a century and more ago.  It is of no use to say what we shouldn't have done.  It is more important to think about ways of fixing it without making the problem worse.  Simply ending the reservation system, as Reagan wanted to do, would compound the problem, not end it. 

[Luna]

Today still?

Eh, I think it's higher now, with a significant leap within our lifetime. But still shitty. And American indian males are still more likely to die of murder than any other demographic.

And replacing alcoholism with meth-addiction isn't really helping matters on that front. I've got a couple of friends with res privileges who avoid them now as a result of some nasty close calls.

Meth is hardly exclusive to Native Americans...But given the whole concept of a "reservation" as "built-in mayhem", I can't imagine how bad it would get with some of the poorer tribes.

Last time I was out on the Yakima Reservation I literally saw 8 year old kids riding around on their bikes....smoking meth from a lightbulb.

There's something inherently wrong with the institution of the reservation.  I can't quite put it into words, because it keeps sounding like something Ronald Reagan would say, rather than what I mean.

Because it's a fancy name for "animal preserve." 

"Let's set aside some land for these animals.  We'll fence it off, put 'em in there, where they can survive, and they won't bother anybody."

You don't do that to people.

The argument given to that is "they can leave anytime they want".  All they have to do is, you know, give up any sense of belonging and community they've ever had.

Sure, there are arguments to anything... but that's what hit me as wrong about them.

Oh, yes, of course.  Not saying you're wrong...It's just that the trap was built a century and more ago.  It is of no use to say what we shouldn't have done.  It is more important to think about ways of fixing it without making the problem worse.  Simply ending the reservation system, as Reagan wanted to do, would compound the problem, not end it.

Truth.

I have no solutions...  However, gotta say, I'm not wild about the trend toward building megacasinos...  Look deeper, most of the profits from those casinos aren't even going to the tribes.