Incapable

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

"Imagine if the government were responsible for looking after your best interests. All of your assets must be managed by bureaucrats on your behalf. A special bureau is even set up to oversee your affairs. Every important decision you make requires approval, and every approval comes with a mountain of regulations.

"How well would this work? Just ask Native Americans." 

image: wikipedia

Reservations are "islands of poverty in a sea of prosperity." 

Part of the problem is that the federal government owns and manages Indian land. The land they live on can't be leveraged in order to borrow money to invest. If a company wants to develop an energy resource like oil or coal, they'll have to go through 49 steps and four federal agencies. But off-reservation that enterprise would require only four steps.

Behind all this "is the notion that tribes are not capable of owning or managing their lands."

(cont'd tomorrow)