Remember the sequester? When it happened, I noted that its effects, not all felt at once and not felt by all Americans, would be a rolling disaster. Nowhere is this more true than on Indian reservations.
Richard Zephier, the executive director of the Oglala Sioux tribe, summed it up: “More people sick; fewer people educated; fewer people getting general assistance; more domestic violence; more alcoholism.”
On the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, the tribal police force is being cut 14 percent, and had to fire 14 officers. Pine Ridge is one of the poorest reservations (and that says a lot), noted for alcoholism, meth addiction, youth gangs, and suicides. Its schools are cutting back. It is cutting a program to bring meals to the homebound elderly. It is cutting back on mental health programs.
These are just a few examples from the New York Times editorial of July 24 (“Abandoned in Indian Country”) of how the sequester is affecting Indians.
I have two comments. First, I don’t expect members of Congress like Barletta and Toomey to care about Indians. They are too busy keeping our borders secure to worry about descendants of the first Americans.
Secondly, when I hear how Republicans are “pro-life,” it’s almost too much to bear.
You have to give the republicans credit for being a humorous lot. Everytime I hear them say they are pro-life or talk about family values, I have to laugh. Ethics is anoher good one. The last good republican was Lincoln.
ReplyDeleteI think we should claim Lincoln. It's clear to me that if Lincoln were alive today, he'd be a Democrat.
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