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We live in a democracy with a “free” market economy. So the guys from Lake Oswego who want to go into the gambling business have every right to try. But, the license to have a gaming establishment is a franchise granted by the state and the federal government. Governments are empowered by their citizens to be catalysts and stewards for the Common Good.

Two kinds of governments in Oregon are authorized to be in or to grant a franchise for the gaming business—the State and nine tribal governments. The guys from Lake Oswego are trying to get one of those franchises, using the initiative process to validate it.  This raises what might be considered by them as simple business proposition to a public policy question.  Here are some things to consider as we do so.

Tribal governments have leveraged their federally chartered and state sanctioned franchise to build stronger communities and stronger bonds with their neighbors.  They have leveraged their advantage in the marketplace not to enrich their individual members but to provide better community infrastructure, social service programs, and restore rich cultures that have been decimated by cruel and unjust treatment and bad policies of the past. Being generous and forgiving, the tribes use their capital to rebuild their communities and the communities of their distressed rural neighbors.  As the tribes ramp up their campaign, they will provide all the data on their unprecedented contributions to the state’s overall well-being. 

What they won’t say, because they are characteristically humble and understated is this.  Tribal governments, their enterprises, and their people have the potential to perfect community and economic development business models that are sustainable long term and light on the planet far beyond what any other government can or will do. This is because they have value systems that treats the interests of all creatures and the land as equal and recognize the importance of inclusiveness in bringing the benefits of their efforts to all people within their territories. 

If we want earth friendly and sustainable development in Oregon, the tribes are our best bet. Letting the guys from Lake Oswego and their carpet bagger investors in on the action would be a poor wager and not be in our public interest.

posted 1 year, 8 months ago
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I fought fire for five seasons as part of my work with BLM and the Forest Service, the last two in and around the Eagle Cap Wilderness in the Wallowa Whitman Forest. Fire suppression was generally good duty. Hard, dirty, adventurous--rewarding for the camaradarie, the 'nobility' of the work, the fire pay. But, honestly,  most of the fires we worked in the wilderness area should have been allowed to burn. Most were not going anywhere. We cut one lone snag on the top of ridge over the Imnaha, rolled it in the snow, and tried to finish as many of the excellent smoke jumper rations as we could before packing out. 

The many years of following the Smokey the Bear ethic lead us to be part of the problem with the heavy fuel loads we now see in the forest. 

A large fire burned the south end of Ollalie Lake, one of our favorite spots on the Mt. Hood. It was a crown fire and burned hot--baking the duff...it's a beautiful snag riddled bleakscape but it has nothing to recommend it in comparison to the diverse alpine forests that surround it and echo its previous life.  Now another fire is burning in another very favorite spot not far from there.

These burns will return to a state similar to the lush forests around them, but not in my life time, so for us they are a sad transformation...not unlike losing a favorite pet or neighborhood woodland to a subdivision.

It makes me want to say, "stop that one if you can" it's just too beautiful to lose. Nature has no such sentimental standards. Nature has a different standard and different scale of time and sense of place.  Like so many situations where we "engage", "improve" or "meddle" in nature--depending how we might view our intention--we never know the full impact of our actions until many generations later.   Who has such a well polished glass that they can look into the future and confidently see the new forest for the trees?

posted 1 year, 8 months ago
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Jacob,

Your perspective is a common one and is based on misunderstanding and lack of information.  Any of the guests on the program or any other persons familiar with Indian economic development programs would be happy to provide you with information that would help you understand what tribes are doing in economic development and the role of gaming (if any) in their economic development mix.

posted 2 years, 2 months ago
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The opposition to the bill cites "fairness" as a reason, comparing the interests of out-of-state students to those of in-state. This is not a "fair" comparison. Let's not forget that the residency requirements for any state services are designed to ensure that Oregonians, those that reside here and have paid into it's coffers and have been contributors to the state's well-being are given opportunities and benefits consistent with that status.  The  people in question meet all those requirements.  Their status, or their parents status as legal or illegal is a very different question and should really have nothing to do with this issue. It is unfair to bring immigration status in argument against them. We are talking about residency benefits.

Those who want to mix the issue, who feign concern for illegal immigrant working conditions or the "brain drain" in Mexico, seem to be disengenous in their regard, since I don't see them advocating for workers rights or Mexico in general. But some, as evidenced by this comment chain, are just mean spirited and should concentrate on making at least as valuable a contribution to the state's well-being as those they would like to exclude. 

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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