View Full Version : Haiti-Like Poverty Rages in the American Heartland, but Media Silence is Deafening
BuddyRey
05-05-2010, 10:52 AM
As much as the American press loves a good human interest story, I'm continually amazed that the plight of the Lakota Nation and their reservations in North and South Dakota isn't front-page news every day. First, a few figures for you:
American Lakota have the second-lowest life expectancy in the entire western world, second only to Haiti. And that's only if you factor in the Haitian AIDS epidemic.
60% of the homes on Lakota reservations have dangerous levels of highly deadly black mold. Many homes also lack the most basic necessities like indoor plumbing, refrigeration, and in-home heating. It's not uncommon for Lakota elders to freeze to death in their own homes.
Because of poor nutrition, the rate of Diabetes for Lakota is 800% higher than the national average, with half of all adults over 40 suffering from the disease. Tuberculosis rates are also 800% higher.
Teenage suicide rates among the Lakota are 150% higher than the national average. Infant mortality is 300% higher!
Lakota unemployment is ascertained to be in the neighborhood of 85% to 95%. Per-Capita household incomes for predominantly-Lakota Buffalo and Shannon Counties in South Dakota are $5,000 and $6,000 respectively. Industry is almost nonexistent in these areas thanks to the iron-fisted bureaucracy of the Department of the Interior and its Bureau of Indian Affairs. Because of this, most Lakota are driven to lives of welfare and food stamps. When I first found out about all this a few days ago, I was so outraged I could hardly see straight. I'd really like to help these folks, but I'm not sure what I can do. One thing is for sure...the sooner Russell Means can get the Republic of Lakotah off-the-ground, the better!
Anti Federalist
05-05-2010, 10:55 AM
One thing is for sure...the sooner Russell Means can get the Republic of Lakotah off-the-ground, the better!
+1
BuddyRey
05-05-2010, 11:31 AM
This is so f'ed up. These people deserve so much better! :(
YouTube - Images of Pine Ridge Reservation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH-Z0l24h88)
YouTube - Toxic Housing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM-tVR1wsd4)
Stary Hickory
05-05-2010, 11:35 AM
Well do you want government handouts and welfare for them? I say give them freedom and that is the best we can do. Unless it's private charity. It sounds like you want govermment programs to solve the self created problems there.
I am against that.
BuddyRey
05-05-2010, 11:40 AM
Well do you want government handouts and welfare for them? I say give them freedom and that is the best we can do. Unless it's private charity. It sounds like you want govermment programs to solve the self created problems there.
I am against that.
What did I say that even remotely resembled a plea for more government intervention? It's the BIA and the accompanying complacency of people who think government is taking care of these tribes that caused the situation to begin with. Government housing, government foodstuffs, and government regulation of business have wrought an incredible toll on the health and morale of the Lakota.
I'm just advocating awareness and maybe some private help/volunteering. Trouble is, I have no idea where it would start, or even if it's possible to stem the tide of the pervasive squalor and degradation facing them.
Stary Hickory
05-05-2010, 11:48 AM
What did I say that even remotely resembled a plea for more government intervention? It's the BIA and the accompanying complacency of people who think government is taking care of these tribes that caused the situation to begin with. Government housing, government foodstuffs, and government regulation of business have wrought an incredible toll on the health and morale of the Lakota.
I'm just advocating awareness and maybe some private help/volunteering. Trouble is, I have no idea where it would start, or even if it's possible to stem the tide of the pervasive squalor and degradation facing them.
Hmm well ok, It seems it's too late for them. They are hooked on welfare and handouts. I don't know alot about these reservations, but I am pretty sure they have way more freedom then most Americans do. If they cannot make use of it and improve their situation I am not sure what you or I can do to help them.
Brian4Liberty
05-05-2010, 11:55 AM
The 100% American Indians that I know left the reservations and live just like everyone else. IMHO, the (current) disaster on the reservations is the result of government handouts. Not that being pushed onto the reservations in the first place wasn't a tragedy.
Yes, the mainstream media silence is deafening.
Badger Paul
05-05-2010, 12:02 PM
"iron-fisted bureaucracy of the Department of the Interior and its Bureau of Indian Affairs"
Now there's something we can agree on. Get rid of the BIA!
BuddyRey
05-05-2010, 06:18 PM
Bump!
james1906
05-05-2010, 06:45 PM
What's sad now is that everyone thinks the Reservations are flush with cash because of gambling.
Zippyjuan
05-05-2010, 06:48 PM
So what are they trying to do to improve their own situation? How are they seeking to bring employment to their lands or create jobs?
BuddyRey
05-05-2010, 08:05 PM
So what are they trying to do to improve their own situation? How are they seeking to bring employment to their lands or create jobs?
Russell Means, one of the leaders of the Lakota, nullified all treaties with the U.S. two years ago and declared the Republic of Lakotah a sovereign nation, but I don't think they've been able to do much to spark their economy yet. Sadly, there just isn't any capital in the area. Nobody will invest in it, and because of the bureaucratic nature of the BIA, tribal councils have to approve of any business that wants to start up. Development there has become completely choked off by regulation.
dr. hfn
05-05-2010, 08:10 PM
they are probably like this because there is so much govt involvement
Vessol
05-05-2010, 08:15 PM
they are probably like this because there is so much govt involvement
Their like this because the government a hundred years ago after wiping out a good deal of innocent natives, then forced them onto the shittiest land in the nation. Land that can't grow crops, has little rain, and very poor grazing. They gave them land with absolutely no economic opportunity what-so-ever. They then closed them off and denied them access to the nation that was once theirs, made them prisoners.
Years ago due to outrage of well-minded, but stupid people, they gave them Federal Assistance and made them wholly dependent on the U.S government.
If they declare independence, I'd support them 100%. I think that the Lakota and many other tribes should declare independence and form their own nation or nations. Problem is though that the land they do have has very little economic prospects, so they'll still have problems.
andrewh817
05-05-2010, 08:28 PM
Years ago due to outrage of well-minded, but stupid people, they gave them Federal Assistance and made them wholly dependent on the U.S government.
Stupid, no. Well-minded, I don't think so. I agree with everything else you said. These people would still be poor, but without government involvement they could make (slow) progress towards bettering their living situations.
BuddyRey
05-06-2010, 02:10 AM
Their like this because the government a hundred years ago after wiping out a good deal of innocent natives, then forced them onto the shittiest land in the nation. Land that can't grow crops, has little rain, and very poor grazing. They gave them land with absolutely no economic opportunity what-so-ever. They then closed them off and denied them access to the nation that was once theirs, made them prisoners.
Years ago due to outrage of well-minded, but stupid people, they gave them Federal Assistance and made them wholly dependent on the U.S government.
If they declare independence, I'd support them 100%. I think that the Lakota and many other tribes should declare independence and form their own nation or nations. Problem is though that the land they do have has very little economic prospects, so they'll still have problems.
Good point! The government locked them onto the most arid and inhospitable agricultural land it could find, and completely screwed them out of their ownership of the Black Hills or Paha Sapa, which is sacred territory to the Lakota people. They got a real raw deal. Even more evidence to me that government doesn't care whose lives it ruins as long as there's money and power in it.
Travlyr
05-06-2010, 04:09 AM
One thing they could do is to start growing hemp. Hemp paper and other hemp products would sell if they were inexpensive and readily available.
BuddyRey
05-06-2010, 04:12 AM
One thing they could do is to start growing hemp. Hemp paper and other hemp products would sell if they were inexpensive and readily available.
That would be a great idea! I'm not sure however, whether or not the Lakota are subject to the same federal laws against hemp production as the rest of us are.
Travlyr
05-06-2010, 04:17 AM
That would be a great idea! I'm not sure however, whether or not the Lakota are subject to the same federal laws against hemp production as the rest of us are.
I don't know either, but a friend of mine knows Russell and I'll ask.
james1906
05-06-2010, 06:33 AM
That would be a great idea! I'm not sure however, whether or not the Lakota are subject to the same federal laws against hemp production as the rest of us are.
Seeing as Obama destroyed the Seneca Reservation's cigarette industry, I have no doubt the DEA would come out in force to destroy the Lakota.
KCIndy
05-06-2010, 10:26 AM
The fastest way to turn things around would be to figure out a way to start some sort of industry in the area to provide steady and reliable jobs.
Unfortunately, getting industrial start-ups is problematic almost everywhere these days.
What is a product almost everyone needs? What product could have sales driven not just by need, but by a "Made in America" appeal, and especially by the appeal of a product produced by Native Americans?
Figure that out and you're halfway there....
BuddyRey
05-24-2010, 11:59 PM
I don't know either, but a friend of mine knows Russell and I'll ask.
Awesome! Please let us know what he has to say, and if there's any way people outside the Dakotas can help.
BuddyRey
05-25-2010, 03:45 PM
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