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Ponca have right on their side

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Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 - 12:07:21 am CDT

The Ponca Tribe faces an array of powerful forces as it tries to develop a casino in Carter Lake, Iowa.

Gov. Dave Heineman opposes it. So does Attorney General Jon Bruning. The list goes on to include the Omaha City Council and the state of Iowa. Gambling with the Good Life, the anti-gambling advocacy group, has blasted the plan.

The tribe has a few allies. Carter Lake Mayor Russ Kramer supports the proposed casino, but perhaps the tribe’s most important ally is the federal Department of Justice.

Story Photo
Attorney General Jon Bruning

And there’s this: The tribe has right on its side.

The Ponca have jumped through hoops and battled through a thicket of rules.

Last year they won a ruling from the National Indian Gaming Commission that authorizes a casino on the tribe’s five-acre site in Carter Lake.

That ought to be the end of the story.

The Journal Star editorial page, although generally looking on gambling with disfavor, long has supported the right of tribes to develop casinos on reservation land as a matter of tribal sovereignty and the right of Natives to determine their own destiny.

The same philosophy applies here, although, admittedly, the Ponca’s situation is complicated.

The Ponca Tribe, once led by the legendary Chief Standing Bear, was terminated by Congress in 1962, and restored to tribal status by Congress in 1990. The Ponca acquired the Carter Lake property in 1999, saying they intended to build a health clinic.

Ponca Tribal Chairman Larry Wright Jr. says the tribe has a right to change its mind. Now it wants to build a luxury resort that will create 1,800 jobs, draw 2.9 million visitors and generate nearly $130 million in economic activity.

Nebraska officials are up in arms because Carter Lake, Iowa, actually is on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River. Nebraska voters on several occasions have rejected casino proposals.

Nonetheless, the law and a sense of justice say the Ponca should get their casino. So does the Justice Department, which last week argued in court that Bruning had no standing to stop the tribe.

In addition, the Justice Department said the NIGC’s approval of the Ponca casino was “consistent with prior decisions of both the NIGC and Interior and with existing case law.”

Exactly.

Carter Lake’s Mayor Kramer makes a lot of sense, too, when he talks about the social ills attributed to casinos.

“For crying out loud, we’re 10 minutes away from the casinos in Council Bluffs,” Kramer told reporters last month. “I don’t know what 10 minutes is gonna make it worse.”

Enough already. Nebraska officials should bow out. Iowa should negotiate a compact with the tribe.

Let the Ponca build their casino.


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PBJ wrote on July 30, 2008 12:56 am:
" Wow. For once, I agree with an LJS editorial! "

 Bon Vivant wrote on July 30, 2008 6:21 am:
" Never have I encountered a state like NE that wants to force its ways on other people. The phony moralism is ridiculous and even extends to the simplest of actions. Example: When I was visiting in NE last month, I made a joke to a sales clerk about my eyes. She replied, "just be thankful you have eyes." Not everyone accepts your hypocritical values.....including the FIRST Americans. "

 Grundle wrote on July 30, 2008 8:44 am:
" Though I am a firm supporter of tribal rights, and I don't condemn the Ponca for wanting build a casino...you have to admit that it is one HECK of a 180 to go from wanting to build a health clinic to wanting to build a casino. Then again, maybe it's not. With the costs of health care nowadays, a clinic could be just as successful as a casino in separating people from their money...at least the latter lets you have a little fun while doing it. "

 For Cripes sake wrote on July 30, 2008 9:26 am:
" We just need to allow Nebraska to compete with these casinos... Legalizing gaming in Nebraska already!!!

"if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!!!" "

 Lauren wrote on July 30, 2008 9:57 am:
" So deception and exploitation of your neighbors with VICE is "RIGHT." This is another example of how far off of true north our "moral compass" has moved as a society. We call exploitive and addictive VICE "gaming" and then argue that it is "economic development" instead of the deceptive and exploitive practice it has always been. Then we play "ain't it too bad" around the failure of Indian and non-Indian people to come to terms with bad behavior and policy regarding old wounds and wars and in order to salve our guilt. Then we allow practices that cause more pain and give LaVegas interests the last laugh while we sit on our moral scrupples and let the devil have his due so to speak. How any intelligent and responsible human being can call that "right" is beyond comprehension let alone a news source declaring it to be the "last word." What a bunch of nonsense. The "last word" will come from a "higher power" than the Lincoln Journal Star Editorial writer and I am not talking about the U.S. Department of Justice. Right will rule over wrong in the long run and "Casino's" will not fit in the picture according to every tenet of religious or non-religious definition of human decency and right relations. "

 Lauren wrote on July 30, 2008 10:58 am:
" If you don't want to gamble I suggest you don't go. However you don't need to tell me I can't or try to get the law to stop me from doing a legal activity. The Ponca tribe owns the land on Iowa soil. you and Jon Bruning need to back off and shut up. I bet the failure of prohibition still boils your blood. "

 Laurens response to Lauren wrote on July 30, 2008 11:53 am:
" Two wrongs have never made a right and "yes" prohibition still boils my blood because of the carnage of ruined lives that has followed in its wake. You can gamble in LostWages and Atlantic City but that doesn't mean it has to be on every street corner where we live. I don't gamble because like Warren Buffet I believe it is a tax on stupidity and damages the lives of families especially where addiction is a problem. It is exploitive of the economy in that it produces no goods or services and overburdens society with Social Costs that triple the revenues generated if they are generated at all. In fact the Indian Casino's do not have to pay taxes and as has already been shown their word is worthless when it comes to saying what they intend to do ie, land purchase at Carter Lake. "

 Bob wrote on July 30, 2008 11:54 am:
" Bon Vivant: That is a hilarious example to back up your point. You must have been on the Debate team.... "

 semantics wrote on July 30, 2008 1:17 pm:
" Let's not confuse a "right" to do somethings (an entitlement) with the "right" thing to do - which this isn't. More gambling in the metro area of Omaha is the last thing needed.

Why is an addictive behavior like drinking bad (see LJS coverage of Whiteclay) but addictive behavior like gambling good? Why do the Ponca want to perpetuate a force like gambling that keeps people poor? "

 Bon Vivant wrote on July 30, 2008 2:09 pm:
" My point is the moralism of Nebraskans. Whether it’s gambling or admonishments about personal behavior or even jokes, Nebraskans seem to think they have the right to tell others what they should do and what they should be grateful for. Here’s something to be grateful about: one billion dollars per year in farm subsidies. The next time you are tempted to give a lecture, think about that one. "

 CS wrote on July 30, 2008 2:51 pm:
" How is it a 180 to go from aqcuiring the land in 1999 to building a casino on it today? That's 9 years, not 9 months. For whatever reason a health clinic didn't work, so they are using the land for something else. Their land, their prerogative. All the Nebraskans and Omahans that don't want to gamble certainly aren't being forced to do so. Anyone with a gambling problem in NE probably already has the issues from it since NE allows Keno, Scratch, and PB/Pick 5/Pick 3. I think the actual argument should be to prove that this form of gambling is any worse than any other. "

 JB wrote on July 30, 2008 3:08 pm:
" Listen to you people. Talking about "higher powers" and the "devil", etc. It's just rediculous to associate any of that with a simple game of chance. Gambling may be stupid, but it is fun. Believe it or not, some people, like my wife and I, enjoy dropping $100 once a year or so, and playing games. There's a chance I could break even (which I have) or a chance that I could actually WIN some money (which I have), and have fun at the same time. And even if I lose, I still had fun in the process. So maybe gaming isn't your cup of tea... but who cares what you think. You and your self proclaimed moral superiority is what gives ALL religous zealouts a bad name. I believe in God, go to church, and pray like the rest of you... but I also like to have good old fashioned adult fun from time to time.

There's are many reasons people from Iowa laugh at Nebraskans. And this sissy-nanny Nebraska attitude that God actually cares if you gamble or not is one of the big ones. If your God (which is obviously different from my God) is opposed to any sort of fun, then I prefer not to go to your, or His, heaven. "

 Gambling is not evil wrote on July 30, 2008 6:38 pm:
" Gambling is not evil or a problem. The relationship that some people have with gambling is the problem. Gambling is not a "right" or "wrong" thing. It is just a thing. What some people do with it may be right or wrong for them. If the Ponca have the right to build the casino, they should be able to build it. It's their land and it is Iowa. Jon Bruning and our current governor are just playing the moral right political game with this. If they were really so interested in what was morally right, they'd be taking care of business at BSDC, making Nebraska's services to the developmentally disabled something to be proud of. Instead, they are both going for the more profitable political investment. They are both a shame to our state and poor excuses for public servants. "

 whatever wrote on July 30, 2008 7:07 pm:
" I agree with the Journal Star. However, I disagree that gambling is fun as some state. Myself like thousands of others believe in our Christian Faith and that Faith believes gambling is a sin. PERIOD. We could have all sorts of fun discussing the merits of that argument but you will NEVER change my mind or the minds of thousands of others on that issue. Having said that we do live in a somewhat free society(please put the flags away) and differing political jurisdicitions can do as they see fit for their people. And like it or not Iowa is a different political jurisdiction than Nebraska, and the Ponca are a quasi sovereign nation. Besides more harm that good comes from gambling from social costs, business costs and government costs. A few profit from gambling, but it's only a few. Think of the good that could be done in this country if all gambling revenue was diverted to say the rebuilding of infrastructure. And actually JB, God does care whether you gamble or not. "

 JPJ wrote on July 30, 2008 8:49 pm:
" Quote: The Journal Star editorial page, although generally looking on gambling with disfavor, long has supported the right of tribes to develop casinos on reservation land as a matter of tribal sovereignty and the right of Natives to determine their own destiny.

Funny, you recognize tribal sovereignty? Should not the United States of America deserve at least the same recognition? How about taking the same stand against illegal immigration and the US being allowed to act like a sovereign nation and keep these people out and not fund their helthcare, schooling, food etc.? "

 Al wrote on July 30, 2008 9:44 pm:
" Let them build their casino. The white man took their land centuries ago and now the white Nebraska man wants to do it again. It amazes me that Bruning wants to forbid a casino on IOWA land, yet he allows alcohol to flow freely from White Clay. I wonder if Heineman will call out the national guard and make a Bush-style land grab to "liberate" carter lake from the evil Iowans. "

 living proof wrote on July 30, 2008 11:28 pm:
" The editorial board has an interesting sense of what is right or wrong. The Ponca tribe lies to Iowa, lies to the Secretary of Interior and breaks their written commitment but the Tribe has "right" on their side. Nioe. Most folks refer to that kind of behavior as fraud. "

 theright wrote on July 31, 2008 10:32 am:
" just because someone has the right to do something doesnt mean its the right thing to do. but hay all of us phony moralist and religious right wingers have no right to tell others how we'd like our society so open the flood gates to hell. bring on all the casinos, legalize gambling and prostitution, eliminate the drinking age and drugs laws. maybe the hippies of the 60's were right. 'if it feels good, do it'. what could possibly be wrong with that. "

 For the religous.... wrote on July 31, 2008 11:04 am:
" Those of you that hammer gambling as a sin and how you will never participate - I hope none of you own your own businesses! It is the exact same core concept - you put up a certain amount of capital and expect a percentage return.....its just a much quicker turn around, but a gamble non the less. Get off your high horse and let them build this. "

 As response to Laurens response to Lauren wrote on July 31, 2008 11:58 am:
" Who says she and Warren Buffett agree about gambling that "It is exploitive of the economy in that it produces no goods or services. . ." This sounds like the oil speculators we are also reading about today. So gambling seems to be a good capitalistic enterprise when it takes place on the floor of an exchange but a vice, moral degradation when it takes place on the floor of a casino. I happen to agree with you that gambling ought to be discouraged and then I am called a saint, I also happen to think speculators ought to be discouraged and then I am called a Socialist.

As far as Indians going back on their word? Ain't that the pot calling the kettle black. What's Bruning got to do with this anyway? Carter Lake IOWA? Oh right this is the publicity hound in him. I'm weary of his antics. "

 Rob wrote on July 31, 2008 1:12 pm:
" My god, if you don't like gambling DON"T GO!!. There are several other casinos 10 minutes away. Adding this casino will just give the current gamblers another choice. Its not going to bring out 1000's of new gamblers who will bet away their house and family and create a corrupt society. Besides, its THEIR land. All the religous nuts love to tell everyone else how to live their lives. Please, worry about your kind and quite dictating what everyone else should do. "

 The Omega Man wrote on July 31, 2008 9:17 pm:
" Running a business and gambling are completely different. If you are running a business like a day at the casino you WILL go out of business and YOU will be bankrupt. It's simplistic thinking and I'm being generous that really makes it tough to govern this country. There is room in this country for an oasis of gambling and an oasis away from gambling. The Journal Star is correct in it's opinion. Many of you on both sides of the issue need to realize we live in a BIG country and there is room for everyone to live in areas where they are FREE from things they don't like. Otherwise what's the point of the United States? Let's just tune up the weapons and live like the Middle East, right? "

 BF wrote on August 1, 2008 4:13 pm:
" I agree with CS. How is the Ponca proposal any worse than Keno/PB/Pick 5/Pick 3? That state-sponsored gambling, here in Nebraska, is not addressed indicates that this whole argument is specious at best, racist at worst. "

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