Indian Gaming Regulatory Act Essay Example for Free

Indian play Regulatory Act EssayIn 1988, Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act establishing maneuver on Indian reservations as a means of helping tribes become self-sufficient and less dependent on government dole-outs. Donald Bartlett and James B. Steele co-wrote an condition which appeared in Time magazine on December 16, 2002 entitled Wheel of Misfortune negatively criticizing the consequences of instituting the said Act. A day later, the Native American propagation published an editorial which contains dissenting arguments against the first article.According to Bartlett and Steele, the major defect of the Act is the unequal redistribution of profits derived from gaming in the reserves It gives billions of dollars to the exsanguinous backers of Indian businesses and nothing to hundred of Native Americans living in povertyhundreds of millions of dollars to one Indian tribe with a few dozen numbersand not a penny to a tribe with hundreds of thousands of members(78) The bulk of the essay expounds and provides evidence to these assertions. It also points to the fact that while these tribes earn tax-free revenues, they happen to collect millions in government aid.The Native American Times editorial, meanwhile, accuses the Time magazine article as simply a piece that fan the flames of racism with lies (Indian Gaming 84) and proceeds to either disown or justify the points raised of the latter. Bartlett and Steele claim that unless a few Indians are benefiting financi completelyy from the Native-American gaming labor thus defeating the purpose of the act, which is to raise the average Native American out of poverty. At the same time, a high percentage of the profits from these lucrative casinos go to the wealthy leaders of tribes.The editorial counters this argument by stating that there are varied reasons why some tribes do well than others. It cites the case of Oklahoma, home to to a greater extent Native Americans than any other state. Th e state prohibits Class III gambling thus preventing an opportunity for the Native Americans in Oklahoma from realizing the Congressional Act. Today tribes continue to fight with every resource available to them to hold off those who would send them back to the metaphoric reservation (Indian Gaming 85). The editorial also praises the winner story of the Shakopee tribe which the Time magazine article derides.The success is well-deserved, according to the editorial, since this group has experienced one of the most harrowing histories of violence inflicted against Native Americans. For all its passionate defense and criticism of the Time magazine article, the editorial of the Native American Times does not touch on the other issues raised by the former comparable cronyism among the tribal leaders, the involvement of white Americans behind the casino operations, and the applications for recognition by extinct tribes that suddenly resurrects because of the business opportunity.Then aga in, the former is a lengthier and more detailed presentation complete with figures and facts, in keeping also with its being an investigative article. Nevertheless, it can be argued that the editorial does not need to refute the Time magazine article point by point and that its entire argument is summed up when the editorial writer states that the reason why people like Bartlett and Steele are being too critical about the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is because the thought of rich Indians is against nature we can only assume (85). Inequality, anomalies, and other issues about the Native American and their casinos may exist but they are no different to those in regular gaming industries. disrespect some wealthy members, Native Americans are still the poorest and most victimized people in America.