Hey, JL. Let me show you around the Pine Ridge reservation some time. Those folks are living it up, big time!Gee, COG, why don't you help them out by giving them back the land your ancestors stole from them?
From 1980 to 2000, the counties that make up Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota comprised the poorest of our nation's 3,143 counties. The 2000 census found them the third poorest, not because things got better on Pine Ridge, but because things got worse on two other South Dakota Indian Reservations.
Population
While the 2000 census reported a population of 15,521, a study by Colorado State University and accepted by U.S. Housing & Urban Development (HUD) estimated the population at 28,000. Tribal Government records show 38,000 enrolled members living on Pine Ridge Reservation.
Extreme Poverty
The poverty on Pine Ridge can be described in no other terms than third world. It is common to find homes overcrowded, as those with homes take in whoever needs a roof over their heads. Many homes are without running water, and without sewer.
Pine Ridge Statistics as of 2007
Unemployment rate of 80-90%
Per capita income of $4,000
8 Times the United States rate of diabetes
5 Times the United States rate of cervical cancer
Twice the rate of heart disease
8 Times the United States rate of Tuberculosis
Alcoholism rate estimated as high as 80%
1 in 4 infants born with fetal alcohol syndrome or effects
Suicide rate more than twice the national rate
Teen suicide rate 4 times the national rate
Infant mortality is three times the national rate
Life expectancy on Pine Ridge is the lowest in the United States and the 2nd lowest in the Western Hemisphere. Only Haiti has a lower rate.
Yeah, it's great to be Native American.
http://www.re-member.org/pine_ridge_reservation.aspx Originally Posted by CuteOldGuy
Do they bear any responsibility for their own poverty, whilst other Indians are doing well?
In the 1960's, the Indians who now own Foxwoods were in poverty, but they beat it.
