From the San Francisco Examiner: Also, $3.4 billion would go to Indian landowners who claim they were swindled out of royalties by the Interior Department. The legislation was approved in the Senate by voice vote Friday and sent to the House. Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/politics/congress/senate-approves-46-billion-in-settlements-for-black-farmers-american-indians-109290694.html#ixzz164OCGRdK
The case with Native Americans has been going on for years and the Federal government has been stealing money from the Indians for decades, if not longer. The Native Americans are entitled to that money. They are probably owed much more than that, but that is what they settled for.
But, now that they have the money, can they rely less on the U.S. government and the BIA? Why does the Federal government continue to provide medical care to the Indians? Talk about a scandal, the medical care for Native Americans is the worst, period. The Native Americans have the worst medical care anywhere in the U.S., probably even worse than prisoners receive in prison. You want to see what single payer health care looks like- go to an Indian Reservation and find out. (I used to live in communities that are right next to Indian Reservations in North Dakota and Montana and I have seen first hand how bad the medical care is in these communities. I also have seen how bad the education system is and corruption in the reservation governments. I have also seen the good side of Native Americans- some of the nicest people you want to meet and very family orientated) Perhaps, now the Native Americans can pick their type of health care.
And perhaps now they don't have to rely on the U.S. government for housing. When I lived in North Dakota and worked on a volunteer fire department, part of our coverage area was Native American trust land. The BIA would pay and build houses for the family. On more than one occasion, a person was dissatisfied with their house and so they burned it down and the BIA would then build them another house at no cost. We also had so many calls when a person would get drunk, and ended up burning down their house and the BIA would build them another. No need for insurance. Maybe it has changed since then, but those were my experiences.
I would love for the Native Americans break free from the Federal government and be self reliant. Maybe the $3.4 billion plus casino money will help the Native Americans become less reliant on the Federal government.
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American Indians will likely never fully forgo reliance on the federal government. This is because the federal government established a government to government relationship with American Indian Tribes.
ReplyDeleteTreaties between the United States Government and American Indian Tribes frequently called for the provision of health care. The United States Constitution, The Snyder Act of 1921, The Transfer Action of 1954, and the Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 1976 provide the legal basis for federal health services to American Indians. The legal basis for these provisions is viewed very much like a contract. Just as veterans are provided health care services for having served in an armed service, American Indians are provided health care based on historical agreements and concessions made by the federal government.
You are correct in your position that federal prisoners are provided better health care than American Indians at least in terms of dollars. In 2005, the expenditure for each American Indian patient was $2130 compared to $3900 for health care of federal prisoners (USA Congressional Record, Volume 153, Part 2). However, great progress has been made in terms of public health outcomes (Source: http://info.ihs.gov/QuickLook2010.asp). In fact, some believe the American Indian health care system should be examined as a possible alternative national model.
I find it ironic that in today’s society nobody wants the federal government acting on their behalf; yet, it was decided years ago that American Indians are better off having the federal government act on their behalf. By reason and logic, my assumption is that you are also ready for veteran’s to be less reliant on the federal government as well (Veteran’s Administration) regardless of agreements made between the federal government and this nation’s armed servicemen? I didn’t think so.
Imnteresting comments but some things are wrong. To say Native Americans are receiving good or very good health care is just flat out wrong. Commonsense says when you live on a reservation in the middle of no where, you are not going to get good medical care. Very few medical professionals will set up shop and stay at one place for extended time. Most are just out of medical school and are paying off student loans.
ReplyDeleteSecond, as far as veterans, I think a good private/public sector would be more beneficial than just government handling veterans affairs.
you are also mistaken about veterans. Not many veterans qualify for free medical care.
Fair enough. My position is that, considering health outcomes, great strides have been made to address certain health problems such as diabetes and injuries (Source: http://info.ihs.gov/Diabetes.asp). In other words, the system is not a total loss.
ReplyDeleteAs you point out, not many veterans qualify for free medical care. On the other hand, I also know of many American Indians who have private insurance that elect to utilize the American Indian Health care system.
I understand your position on access. And, I agree "good or very good" should be defined for our purposes here. However, to concede the health care system is a waste of time is to needlessly insult those professionals who have dedicated their lives to helping people. The facts certainly do not support this type of conclusion or outcome.
Fair enough. But, a point of clarification: I did not say the system was good or very good. My point was that some aspects of this public health care system are working and worthy of examination and perhaps consideration as part of an alternative national model. For example, the average life expectancy for American Indians has increased by 10 years since 1955. From 1954 to 1998, the total injury rate among American Indians decreased by approximately 36% . By 2000, infant mortality was reduced to 9 deaths per 1,000 live births, almost one-tenth of the infant mortality rate of 1955 (Source: http://info.ihs.gov/Files/GOLD_BOOK_part3.pdf). These data simply do not characterize a broken health care system.
ReplyDeleteJust as not all veterans do not qualify for free health care, the same can be said of American Indians. On the other hand, I know many American Indians who have private insurance and also elect to utilize the American Indian health care system.
Simply put, American Indians can certainly start relying less on the federal government. But, why should they? American Indian health care is a federal contractual obligation and not a federally funded welfare based program.