For over a hundred years it has been known that the federal government has
plenary [total, complete] control over Indian policy and Indian reservations. In
the past the federal government has used this plenary power to remove tribes
west of the Mississippi river, disestablish tribes through a policy of
assimilation, reestablish tribal governments, embark on a plan to terminate
reservations and finally to establish tribes as "sovereign nations."
Strange
things happen in politics, however. While the federal government officially
controls reservation Indians, radical tribal governments informally control the
federal government's Indian policies. In fact, it really isn't that unusual for
regulated industries to slowly gain control of the regulation process for their
own benefit. A similar process has evolved with federal Indian policy.
The
process starts with lots of money. Modern Indian policy involves billions of
dollars of federal tax dollars annually. Specially protected casinos, local
governments and foundations add billions more. Perhaps only six to twelve
percent actually reaches Indians on reservations. The remaining billions buy
impressive influence throughout our country. From Washington to Main Street,
this money buys the allegiance of armies of bureaucrats and others. A
significant amount directly and indirectly influences national and state
elections. Other money is used to establish impressive networks of tribal
lobbyists and law firms.
Part
of this money establishes a very effective public relations campaign. Tribal
representatives have spent years successfully cultivating a sympathetic
relationship with the media and the public. Books, movies, television,
newspapers and educational materials focus on a one-sided, distorted view of
history. A primary purpose of this campaign is to establish a sense of guilt in
America in order to justify special entitlements for tribal governments.
Another
part of the process involves federal staffs. Essentially every office that deals
with significant Indian issues hires Indian staff. The Bureau of Indian Affairs,
which is roughly ninety percent Indian, is only one example. Congressional
offices often have Indian staffers that focus on Indian issues. This means that
when tribal chairmen and lobbyists come to Washington to negotiate with the
federal government, they are usually dealing with members of their own "club."
In
this environment, few senators or representatives relish the thought of opposing
this powerful financial and public relations lobby. Referring to her boss, one
Senator's aid asked a simple question, "Why would he?" To answer that it would
be in the best interests of Indian people and our country would, unfortunately,
be hopelessly naive. As a result, very few laws have passed Congress in the last
few decades against the organized opposition of tribal governments.
Another
powerful way that tribes control Congress is through the power of human nature.
It is a part of our nature to seek to justify ourselves. Congressmen and
bureaucrats who sell out the constitutional rights of hundreds of thousands of
American citizens, consigning them to continuing poverty and social destruction
convince themselves that they are making good tough decisions. The alternative
is simply too painful for many of them. Some of them even become principled
advocates of the nonsense they perpetuate.
Unfortunately,
a similar process explains why the federal government has become so extreme on
many issues. Too often, radical special interests control the process.
Fortunately, it appears that the Supreme Court is intent on reestablishing
constitutional protections and a growing number of citizens are becoming aware
of the devastation that federal Indian policy creates.