Editorial: Ho-Chunk Nation wise to consider per capita changes

According to The Wisconsin State Journal newspaper in Madison, the Ho-Chunk tribal legislature recently proposed scaling back the "18 money" and staggering the payments over a longer period to coincide with certain benchmarks. Some of the conditions mentioned include working full time, going to college and taking classes in financial literacy and Ho-Chunk history.

This proposal is important for the future of the Ho-Chunk Nation. Frankly, most 18-year-olds don't give a second thought to such seemingly far-off obligations as a mortgage, health insurance, the cost of raising a child or the fact the GTO you bought in cash isn't going to run forever and will have to be replaced.

The smartest thing an 18-year-old with $110,000 could do is pretend he doesn't have it, or most of it, anyway. Equally smart is to invest most of it and hopefully have it gain interest. History shows it will.

Equally smart is to get an education, learn a skill an employer needs and live off your paycheck. Meanwhile, the $110,000 will grow in the bank, or wherever, and in the event of an emergency you have a nest egg most people don't.