Free the American Natives

   Abolish the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Sell off -- I mean give -- the reservation land to the American natives. And, give them their own state.
  We suppose ourselves wards to these people. That might be good, but they will prosper more if we release them from our thumb.
  "5 Ways the Government Keeps Native Americans in Poverty," says the headline to an article. They cannot mortgage their property to start a business. They face government regulation on most any decision they make. They cannot sell coal or other natural resources without going through more hoops than the rest of us.
   When I first read the headline, I thought how it was a little unfair, suggesting the government is trying to keep them in poverty. The system might, indeed, be doing that. But, it seemed unlikely it was doing it on purpose.
   Then, I thought back to the day the BIA was created. Back then, they might well have had a bias against these original Americans. They might, indeed, have intended to hold them back in the name of doing everything for them.
   It is over. Or, it should be. Free the American Natives. Freedom is not freedom if it doesn't come with the right to own your own property. It is time we said goodbye to the charade of the past, time we set the American Natives free. Divide up the land among all the Native Americans, giving each a parcel to own as their own.
   Take the roughly 310 reservations in America and make them a single state. This would be different, having so many islands of land combined into a single state. But, off top, I see no reason it can't or shouldn't work. Let them make their own rules on who shall be allowed to buy property in their state. If they want to keep it to only those who have Native American blood in them, so be it.
   It would be wonderful to preserve their heritage. It would be nice to let them retain their race.
   And, it would be good to see them prosper. If we free them, perhaps they will.