American Indian Community standing up against "One Nation" Statement from United Native America
by Mike L. Graham
12/27/2004
The One Nation organization based in Oklahoma City is just another fear
mongering group focused on American Indian sovereignty, however U.S. treaties
made with Indian nations already cover that. One Nation boasts of a large
membership, so large that one has to think that they are counting all people
doing business with companies associated with One Nation. Most people doing
business with these companies have not heard of One Nation and are not aware of
what they stand for.
If they did you would see a lot of people leaving and doing business with other
companies not associated with One Nation. Indian groups around the country are
getting the word out to the public as to what One Nation really stands for, and
that is to do away with all Indian governments and their land rights.
One Nation is basically made up of oil and gas companies, plus some convenience
stores owned by them as well as realty groups. State and federal laws cover each
of them; they have no say over Indian business operations. One Nation wants
people to think Indian nations are ripping the taxpayers off and Indian nations
are bringing about the downfall of America due to the way they are allowed to
conduct business in our country.
What is really the case with One Nation is they want Indian nations out of the
way. Companies affiliated with this group would have access to millions of acres
of land held in federal trust for Indians, thus they would have a free hand in
getting access to more land for their companies to develop for their profit.
Eliminating tribal sovereignty competition would bring in hundreds of billions
of dollars each year for companies associated with One Nation and their stated
goals.
Under federal law Indian nations are allowed to operate casinos within a state.
Federal law mandates that the two parties work together bringing about a compact
that would allow the state to collect a tax from these tribal operations. Money
made by tribal businesses is used to support their programs within that state,
programs like education and care for the elderly. The point made here is that
their money stays in the state and helps other businesses and creates new
business in support of their operations. That brings about a tax dollar gain for
the state, not a loss for the state, as One Nation would have you believe.
Now, on the other hand, oil and gas companies, national realty companies,
convenience stores chains, and insurance companies are franchises, when they
come into your state and neighborhood a large part of their profits is sent
out-of-state to their corporate office. When a Wal-Mart opens in your community,
small businesses cannot compete and they have to close. You can almost hear the
sucking sound of money leaving your community and state.
State governments offer great tax breaks plus a ton of freebies to national
companies to locate within their state- is this fair to Mom and Pop businesses
in full support of their community and states well being?
You do not have to read between the lines to see what One Nation is all about.
They’re almost right when they say they do not hate Indians- they just believe
Native Americans are in the way of big business getting bigger. Big businesses
compete against each other all the time, no big deal, they have the money to
hang in there. But, they also have no problem going after Mom and Pop small
businesses in a community by cutting their prices and driving them out. You see
no matter what your race is it's just about doing business and running over
anyone that gets in his or her way no matter what it cost a community or state.
One Nation wants us to think they are being done wrong, stop the Indians, they
are being given special treatment, we cannot compete, the sky is falling. I have
never heard of any "big business" going bust because of an Indian operated
business, have you?
Now, lets not get into how Indians and their governments for decades have been
treated by federal and state governments and big business in this great land we
call America, one nation under God. One Nation says its name comes from the
American pledge of allegiance.
One Nation’s new leader Barbara Lindsay tells us she wants Indian leaders
reigned in, that they are over-reaching. Groups like One Nation are all about
one thing: filing unnecessary litigation against tribes in courts and bringing
about legislation in governments that will not stand up to any sort of judicial
scrutiny. Tribal nations have to spend millions of dollars each year in courts
countering these group’s actions against them and that alone keeps attorney’s
pockets full of money. Again, the state gets cash through the back door through
keeping tribes tied up in state court actions.
One issue you will not see groups like One Nation talking about or taking on is
big businesses ripping Americans off in the stock market. Groups like One Nation
are riding across America like the 1800’s U.S. Army in trying to contain
Indians, taking away their chance at the American dream that they are close to
having and that dream is one of financial independence.
One Nation wraps itself in patriotism; it's plain to see their just another
group in support of corporate financial pigs looking for a bigger feeding
trough. One Nation must think American Indians live in other countries and do
not pay tax on goods they buy here in the good old USA. As a member of the
Oklahoma Cherokee Nation I pay taxes everyday, what's up with this One Nation?
Where's my tax break?