"In 2000, the tribes were granted permission to erect casinos in California, thanks to voters driven in large part by guilt over historic treatment of Indians. The tribes began reaping vast profits and now rival Las Vegas for income. A monthly income of $30,000 for every man, woman and child in a gaming tribe is no longer big news.

But the once-popular tribes earned the enmity of California voters by getting greedy. They squabbled to eject members from tribes so the remaining members wouldn't have to share. Battles erupted over bloodlines; some families dug up grandma to provide ancestral DNA.

Worse, the tribes abandoned their campaign promise of casinos only on 'Indian land.' Today, 'Indian land' is any land the staggeringly rich gaming tribes can buy with acquiescence from politicians."

Get the Story:
Jill Stewart: It's time for Arnold to change his tune (The Long Beach Press-Telegram 10/2)