**Click here for the latest news on Native gaming and Proposition 5**
(California's Modern Indian War)
Are Native Americans for or against Proposition 5?
A look at the opposition's latests claims
All source links are at the bottom to make reading this more smooth
The nice homes, rich and poor ad
1. "Proposition 5 just makes a few casino owners richer."
Anyone who knows anything about proposition 5 knows that the provisions are valid for all 108 of California's federally recognized tribes. Some tribes are too isolated to bring in gaming customers and that is why it was written into Proposition 5 that any non-gaming tribes can share up to 2% of the gaming tribes' proceeds. (1.) If they wanted a "special deal" they would have made the initiative only apply to the few tribes the ads are referring to so as to avoid competition like Nevada is trying to do.
Asking yourself one question should clear this up: Are the 88 tribes that represent 96% of Indians on California reservations (2.) in this fight so that they can stay poor and the few tribes mentioned in the ad can get richer?
What kind of image are they trying to paint with these nice homes? Most of us dream of having a nice home. Is there anything wrong with a Native American achieving that dream? Can Native Americans only be respected in their more subordinate status? And this coming from an industry, the Nevada gaming industry, that just spent 1.6 billion on the lavish Bellagio resort casino? (3.) Who is being extravagant?
2. Eighty-five percent of California's American Indians will ``get nothing from Prop 5,'' ?
This is very deceiving. This analysis says it best:
"The ad also claims that 85 percent of California's American Indians will ``get nothing from Prop 5,'' but it doesn't explain that the figure includes Indians from tribes that aren't federally recognized and Indians who belong to tribes in other states. The remaining 15 percent -- 31,542 Indians -- is made up of members of California tribes." (3.)
Indians oppose Proposition 5 ad
1. Are Native Americans for or against Proposition 5?
88 tribes have signed on with the official Yes on 5 campaign (2.), while the opposition can claim no more than 4 tribes.
2. "The fact is, no tribe needs Proposition 5 to conduct gaming..."
Wrong. Governor Wilson readily admits that he refuses to negotiate with any gaming tribe unless they shut down their video terminals, which is about 80% of their revenue, resulting in a lay-off of as many as 80% of their employees. At the same time he tried to bend federal agents arms to seize their operations by force. This is why Proposition 5 became neccessary.
**See also: Taking apart one of the arguments in the official voter guide
[1.] Proceeds go to non-gaming tribes and emergency medical programs statewide
[2.] Vast majority of California tribes support Proposition 5
[3.] San Francisco Chronicle article 10/26/98
Link to: California's Modern Indian War