Throughout history, there have been man instances where the
ideas of the government have not agreed with the ideas of the American Indians.
For example, the removal of Indians from the east of the Mississippi River and
eventually the attempt of removing all Indians from the United States was a government
idea that was not agreed upon by the American Indians. On Wednesday, a
committee met in order to discuss issues in New York such as thruway tolls,
collecting taxes on tobacco, and expanding casinos. The Native Americans make
millions of dollar in revenue off of casinos and they want to expand their
profit. Instead of being ordered what to do by the government, Native Americans
are being part of the decision and making efforts to have their voices heard by
the government. I believe that this advances the social group as a whole because
they are rising as a social group to the point where they are actively involved
in government, and they help to make decisions with the government that affect their
lifestyle.
http://centralny.ynn.com/content/all_news/557957/senate-committee-examines-tribal-issues/
Why do you think that the government is letting the Native
Americans be more involved in the decision making of laws that affect them
instead of creating laws and forcing them upon the Native Americans such as in
the removal of Indians?
The United States government is letting Native Americans particapate in the decision of creating laws that affect Native Americans' economy and lifestyle. In doing so, the government is exercising a fair, equal balance between Native Americans and the government. In current government today, everyone foreighn and domestic to the United States all deserve an equal voice in court and any other decision that affects their particular group. Creating laws that unfairly contrast with Native American rights, such as forcing laws upon them without consideration and equal voice is wrong and unconstitutional. The government has to involve the Native Americans in their decision to pass a law also because since most of the Native Americans own resevations that are independent and somewhat self governed from the United States, the federal government is obligated to involve the Native Americans in the decision to create and pass laws that affect their lives.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Greg Doucet that the U.S. Government is just doing what is fair and balanced. Why should the government be able to make laws regarding the Native Americans without letting them have a say in it? That wouldn't be right. Back then in the 1800s it still wasn't right, but it was accepted. Today doing that sort of thing would just be unacceptable. Times have changed and now everyone deserves the right to be able to be involved in making laws that affect them. Native Americans are still U.S. citizens and they should have the same rights as everyone else. The government can't just force laws upon them without considering what they think. So it is just balanced and right that the government is allowing the Native Americans to be involved in the making of laws that affect them.
ReplyDeleteI think allowing them to finally have a say in laws that specifically apply to them will help them advance because after centuries of oppression it has decreased and delayed their peoples productivity and improvement. Giving the Native American people a chance to finally be treated with enough resepct to be asked their opinions and giving them the right to vote, I think, will allow them to become a prosperous people once again.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all that has been said so far. Native Americans deserve to have a say in how their lives are effected, both positively and negatively. I also feel as though it is in the government's best interest to cooperate with the Native Americans so that they two can earn as much money as possible. The people that are native to our country deserve respect and should not be treated as though they are visiting. In earlier times the Native Americans were mistreated and often could not do much about it. In the time period that we live in today, the Native Americans have earned the right to contribute to laws that effect them
ReplyDeleteI think that the government by letting the Native Americans a say in laws that are affecting is their way of trying to make up for all of the years of grief that they have caused these people. They are also trying to show the Native Americans that they are equal to everyone else and therefore should have a say, especially in things that concern them. The government may also be doing this because they want to make a statement that they are changing. In the past, the government would not have even considered consulting the Native Americans before they made a decision. They are saying that in this new age they are striving for equality and representation for all people.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what everyone is saying also, the United States have put these Native Americans though so much in history that this shouldn't be a privilege to them, it should be a right. Although I don't know much about the history of letting Native Americans have a say in what happens to them recently, I think it is about time. Based on what we are studying now, the U.S. government acted like they were doing good for the Native Americans and letting them have a say. The Trail of Tears and Indian Removal Act have proved that we actually didn't care. I hope this is much different from those instances so they will actually make more money and have a say in all the decisions. I think that it will be very successful because everyone can see how badly we treated Native Americans in the past, and know not to do it in the future.
ReplyDeleteI too can agree with everything that is being said. As part of being American citizens, it is our right to have a say in what laws are made that affect us individually, and I believe that the Native Americans are no different. If we get a say in what laws are made, why shouldn't they? They are no different than us except for their culture, and there is a law against discrimination. We all have a right to our own religion and speech, so they should too. Allowing them to be a part of the decision making helps to make up for any unfair decisions that have been made in the past. Back in the 1800's the Indian Removal policy aggravated most Indian tribes, and that creates bad blood between the Native Americans and our government. Allowing them to be part of this decision making is the right choice, because it positively effects both sides.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else. Native Americans deserve to have their voice heard as much as anyone else, especially on something that affects them this directly. If the US Government only made decisions without asking the people involved, like they did with the Indian Removal Act, then it just makes the Government hated. But by doing stuff like this then people will be happy with them.
ReplyDeleteI think the government is letting the Native Americans have a voice in the decision in what laws are laid upon them because they feel like they owe something to the Indians because of what their ancestors have been through and how it has affected their socio-economic rank in the present. But I think that they are pretty well off now, even better off than a lot of others in America. Maybe the government feels that the Indians should have some sort of advantage in life because some of the Indians still live on reservations today. I do not think is fair though, because there are so many other people that would love to have a say in laws mandated for them. But they don’t get the same opportunity. Many others actually need help in the situations that they are facing, where the Indians are getting help in becoming even MORE successful. There is a fine line between owing a group something and giving extra rights to that group, especially when others could use the same rights to a better extent.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the notion that the government is partly trying to make up for the atrocities that the Native Americans have experienced in the past. I also agree that the government is trying to amke up for the mistrust that has been built up over many years and that they are giving the NativeAmericans a somewhat equal voive. But I also think the government may have some selfish interests in play. Since Native Americans do own almost all of the biggest casinos, I think the government realizes that they ridiculous amount of profit could be given to some poor places in the US, to help them survive. If the government repairs the relations, the Native Americans could be persuaded to give some money to the government, which it desperately needs.
ReplyDelete