Opinion: Reservation system an unqualified failure

Opinion

Thursday, August 7, 2008

"From every human standpoint, the reservation system is broken. There is extreme poverty, rampant alcoholism, high infant mortality rates, terrible joblessness and lawlessness. FBI reports show that rates of all of violent crime doubled between 2005 and 2006, partly fueled by a raging methamphetamine epidemic on reservations and high rates of alcohol use.

So while increased law enforcement is the right thing to do, what's really needed is to eliminate the reservation system and replace it with a new model. The reservation system cannot be "improved" or "reformed," because the problems are so vast.

Yes, we recognize that treaties signed in the 1800s were bad. Yes, we realize that federal government officials and tribal officials made many mistakes over the past 150 years. This is not a time for finger-pointing, but developing a new system that allows human beings to live with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Developing a new system and way of life is one of the hardest jobs imaginable for federal and tribal leaders. But they shouldn't be afraid of the difficulty, because the terrible problems on the reservation must be solved."

Get the Story:
Jon M. Hunter: Fighting crime on reservations is good, but missing the cause (The Madison Daily Leader 8/6)

S.3320, Tribal Law and Order Act:
Sen. Dorgan on Senate Floor | Text of Bill

Relevant Documents:
Sen. Dorgan Statement | Sen. Biden Statement | Sen. Baucus/Sen. Tester Statement | Sen. Johnson Statement | Sen. Thune Statement