Rod Van Mechelen and another "myth-laden letter."

Good ol' Rod. Like the rest of his Tribe, totally and completely unconcerned about the effects of their megacasino on the rest of us, he rarely passes up an opportunity to stick his foot in his mouth, and this letter to the editor was no exception.

It's always a hoot when a tribal member led by a few folks that appear to have as much Cowlitz blood in them as my Schnauzer, AND WHO DOES NOT LIVE HERE, feels compelled to tell US what and how to think, as if THEIR knowledge and perspective is SO superior to our own. You know... the people who will actually be made to suffer because they've reservation-shopped to get their Megacasino shopping mall here?

Lie Number One: Tribes may not violate anyone's civil rights.

HHHmmmm.... Is it a "civil right" to vote? *I* always thought it was. Do non-tribal members living on reservations have the right to vote in local elections for their local government?

I don't THINK so.

Of course, Rod will tell us that is somehow "different." It isn't, of course. It's as blatant a violation of anyone's civil rights as Montgomery, Alabama in 1963 for Blacks. But no.... that's different.

Lie Number Two: The "what if."

Rod tells us:

"also agreed to a limited waiver of sovereign immunity, and to comply with a long list of county regulations, and to fund law enforcement and Fire District No. 12 services."

And "what if" they don't? Like the Mohegans in Connecticut who threatened to abrogate their treaty with the state and their $400 million dollar payment if non-tribal gaming was approved by the Connecticut Legislature, what if the Cowlitz say, in effect, "screw you." (More then they already are by placing their megacasino here, I mean)

How do we enforce these agreements? They are, as Rod and David Barnett like to remind us every ten minutes, a "Sovereign Nation" (Unless, of course, they want something.)

How long do you think it would take these people to invoke their sovereign status and tell us to "drop dead?" AND WHAT DO WE DO WHEN THEY MAKE THAT DECISION?

Rod.... David.... we don't want your megacasino here. We don't want the problems caused by an expansion of gambling. You know, Rod, problems like these:

Expansion of gambling and the megacasino

"is a short term solution that will create a host of long term problems. It will bring gambling into local neighborhoods, increase the amount of gambling, encourage more people to gamble, and ultimately enrich a relative few." (So, I guess that's OK when YOU, PERSONALLY, are one of the "relative few" standing to GET "enriched, eh, Rod?)

"Let's say, for the sake of discussion, that" Clark County has zero machines in it now. If a megacasino like the one envisioned by the Cowlitz/Mohegan combine is built "then that would mean" with machines everywhere in the Cowlitz/Mohegan casino, "common sense tells us that the amount of gambling will increase." But the Cowlitz don't care when THEY get the money.

The Cowlitz could care less about problem gambling... unless, of course, they're on the RECEIVING end of the "problem in question."

For example, when Rod was sniveling about I-892, he wrote this:

"False: It won't increase gambling or the number of gamblers

The first person I heard argue that I 892 would encourage and increase gambling, was Michael Medved, a Republican, conservative talk show host and a man whom I respect as a mentor. What he said wasn't stupid. It's just common sense. But Tim Eyman says that people who say this will increase gambling and the number of people who gamble are stupid. He's wrong.

Most people won't go out of their way to gamble.

(So tell me, why is it that you people want a megacasino again?)

"That's why state lottery tickets are sold at local grocery stores and convenience stores, where it's convenient. Because, for most us, gambling is impulsive rather than compulsive, and if it's not easy, we won't do it."

But our megacasino will make it easy,

"by putting electronic slot machines in"

one HUGE, easy to find and travel to location

"So, to say it will increase the number of people who gamble isn't stupid, but obvious, which is why King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng is worried:"

"Initiative 892 would legalize a massive expansion of gambling—thousands of video slot machines—and bring gambling into our neighborhood restaurants and bowling alleys," [King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng,] said in a statement released by the No on I 892 campaign. "We have enough gambling today." — Tribes mount effort against I 892, by Brad Shannon, The Olympian, June 29, 2004"

So, in the Cowlitz world, it's perfectly OK for Norm to be concerned about a "massive expansion of gambling" but we, those of us who actually live here, should turn a blind eye to this admitted problem?

And you see, this is the basic and blatant hypocrisy of Rod and David's position on this issue.

They were ALL about concern over the effects of expanding gambling when that expansion amounted to competition for their interests. Then, of course, these hypocrites were engaging in one of the tried and true tested "we're doing this for your own good" gambits.

But the Cowlitz efforts in Clark County, which would amount to the largest gambling expansion in the history of the Northwestern United States... well, that's "different."

It's different because ol' Rod, (Did I tell you he doesn't live here and won't have to deal with the fallout of this crap?) stands to benefit directly if this happens. Right, Rod?




Cowlitz obeys federal law

I was saddened by Katie Beecher's myth-laden letter on July 28, "Join local opposition," opposing the Cowlitz Tribe and would like to set the record straight. Federally recognized Indian tribes are sovereign nations, but must obey federal law, and may not violate anyone's civil rights.

Tribal casinos are the most highly regulated, with oversight from federal, tribal, and state governments. Federal law requires special oversight of tribal gaming by the National Indian Gaming Commission and Bureau of Indian Affairs. They are reviewed by the IRS, FBI, Justice Department and other federal agencies, and federal law also requires each gaming tribe to establish an independent commission to oversee gaming operations.

The Washington State Gambling Commission regulates tribal gaming and reviews commission records monthly. Tribes wishing to open casinos must negotiate compacts with state governments to set terms, and the U.S. Department of the Interior ensures these compacts are consistent with federal law and treaties.

The tribe has also agreed to a limited waiver of sovereign immunity, and to comply with a long list of county regulations, and to fund law enforcement and Fire District No. 12 services.

Rod Van Mechelen

Olympia