West Wing Fantasy Camp: Things I'd Like to See under a New Administration - #1

#1 (not in order of priority): Stand by Your American Indian

They crossed the African continent, following game to cooler climes. Their skin lightened and hair straightened to absorb more UV light in the northern hemisphere where it was both colder and less sunny. They walked across Asia, and a land bridge to the Americas, and spread far and wide, winning the distinction of being here first. Native Americans, American Indians, Eskimos, Pacific Islanders… a group composed of many nations, tribes, cultures, ethnicities, having one thing in common: they were here first, and we screwed them over.

This isn’t white man’s guilt, its just fact. Whenever possible, European settlers pushed them aside, made war, spread disease, or simply made deals and treaties with no intention of keeping them. After all that, how much recognition are they given? They are taught about in broad strokes in elementary schools, they are sepia-toned in our films, they are sometimes fetishized or caricatured in our culture, and to what end? Though once numbering in the millions, in total, all of these groups make up less than 2% of our total population, and much of that is so spread out and integrated into the rest of our society, that truly cultural American Indians make up only a few hundred thousand of our 300 million population.

We pushed them west, we traded them trinkets for acres of valuable land, we forced integration upon them, or encouraged our worst traits. Then, finally, when we outnumbered them in population, in land, in weapons, in wealth, we decided… sure, you can be a sovereign nation. So, on the worst land, with few resources, we let them govern what was left of their nations with financial handouts - growing smaller all the time - from Uncle Sam.

What was left to govern? While the United States unemployment rate wavers around 5 or 6 percent in times of sluggish growth, the unemployment rate on reservations tends to be more like 50 or 60 percent. Water is scarce, because most of the natural sources of water are already tapped by the federal government, and electricity or industry of any kind is sparse. This impoverished existence leads to increased rates of alcohol abuse, and by extension crime, and thus, even more hardship. Within a generation or two, many traditions will be lost, and some native languages will disappear.

So, where am I going with this? Consider this: the war in Iraq has, thus far, cost us about 500 billion dollars in deficit spending. Add to that the cost of lost productivity due to so many of our resources being stretched overseas rather than put to use in the United States. On top of that, add the billions of dollars continuing to be spent in Afghanistan, a war that very well could have been wrapped up by now if not for our disastrous diversion to Iraq. Add the lost GDP of the plunging American Economy due to our mishandling both these wars and our interactions with other nations. Think about the destruction we’ve caused and how much we are spending to rebuild countries that we have torn apart.
For a fraction of that cost, we could be rebuilding a country right within our own borders. Every dollar that we give to Halliburton or other private contractors to - slowly - build schools, roads, and power stations in Iraq could be spent with greater efficiency building vital infrastructure on reservations in the United States. Roads, power lines, water pipes, schools, homes and farms… the basics for a people to lift themselves out of poverty when they no longer have to spend all of their time figuring out how to scrape through another day.

It’s not sexy, it’s not bold, it’s not great politics, but it is valuable. The world views Americans as culturally devoid, as people who demolish their history for a bright, new shopping center. I disagree, but I also think that there is something for us to gain in protecting the heritage of our nation, of the people who came before, and the diversity that exists within our borders. Think what could be possible if Reservations could raise money not through casinos but through cultural tourism, unique Universities, or green industries.

We have so many challenges to face, so much work to be done, so many mistakes to overcome in this coming administration. My hope is that amid the chaos of war and the tumultuous economy, that we won’t forget the debts we owe - the responsibilities we still have - to the people that we stepped on, and then stepped over. These aren’t people that need handouts, or pity, or special privilege. What they do need, and what we would benefit from, is real effort and cooperation to help them help themselves. If the sons of former slaves can become billionaires and politicians, then why shouldn’t the people who were here long before most of us be able to have their own sustainable society without becoming ours.