This is basically both seditionist and treasonous, though Mr. Means certainly could not care, and I am certain he can defend the act as reasonable, certainly in his eyes.
But I wonder if both state and federal governments should take him, and the tribes, at their word. The treaties are null and void? Fine, then they are null and void. Mr. Means has as much standing to renounce US citizenship and declare himself soveriegn as I do, or, for that matter, Peter Griffin, and his nation of 'Petoria' .
Therefore, all involved governments can now treat Mr. Means and his followers as they treat me: I can declare myself soveriegn before each morning cup of joe, but it don't mean squat come tax time, and if I violate standing laws, the courts will laugh at my declarations as they fit my hindquarters for the rack. Same thing for Russ and his boys.
I have not the slightest doubt that the Lakota Indians were screwed by the US and by history itself. Thus they are racial / cultural / ethnic group #74,612 on planet Earth to get the short end of historical forces. But the US nation is the nation, and the laws are the laws, and today Mr. Means and co are not one bit inferior or superior to the black, white, hispanic, or asian families that likely live within a few miles of him. Like them, he can now start working to elect legislators, state and federal, to get what he wants, just like you and me. And if the Feds are gonna bust my chops when I decide that laws don't apply to me, they can damn sure bust his, and, as a citizen, I say they damn well better.
Come to think of it, that treaty withdrawl works for me. Nice work, Russ.
hello
· 2 years ago
Is there an mp3 or a stream for this show?
captained
· 2 years ago
Each show has its own podcast; just go to the link. If you want to hear the show off the web, you can stream it through the player on this site, on the sidebar.
Mark1971
· 2 years ago
Means mentioned Putin in the interview. I could see the Russians at least paying lip service to the Lakota cause if the US pushes for independence for Kosovo.
tim
· 2 years ago
As they have ended every treaty with the U.S. and are renouncing there U.S. Citizenship we no longer need to pass on the them tax payer money or social security or any other tribal support right.
So Cal Jim
· 2 years ago
Withdraw from all the treaties with the US? Great! Now they an be just ordinary citizens of the county and state in which they reside. No more special privileges. No more pretense of being any different in any way from any other American. I like it. Maybe we can get every other tribe to declare themselves free from their treaties too. The sooner we can rid ourselves of all reservations the better.
Douglas Watts
· 2 years ago
Contrary to some of the 'drive by' commenters here, there is quite a bit of substance to the Lakota claims. Native American sovereignty is very real legal quantity and is also horrendously complex.
Howee
· 2 years ago
Is Russell Means the elected leader of the Lakota people? Or simply another in a- too- long line of self-appointed, self-annointed "activists" purporting to speak on behalf of their entire people?
All Comments
You will also be talking to a Ron Paul doppelganger
But I wonder if both state and federal governments should take him, and the tribes, at their word. The treaties are null and void? Fine, then they are null and void. Mr. Means has as much standing to renounce US citizenship and declare himself soveriegn as I do, or, for that matter, Peter Griffin, and his nation of 'Petoria' .
Therefore, all involved governments can now treat Mr. Means and his followers as they treat me: I can declare myself soveriegn before each morning cup of joe, but it don't mean squat come tax time, and if I violate standing laws, the courts will laugh at my declarations as they fit my hindquarters for the rack. Same thing for Russ and his boys.
I have not the slightest doubt that the Lakota Indians were screwed by the US and by history itself. Thus they are racial / cultural / ethnic group #74,612 on planet Earth to get the short end of historical forces. But the US nation is the nation, and the laws are the laws, and today Mr. Means and co are not one bit inferior or superior to the black, white, hispanic, or asian families that likely live within a few miles of him. Like them, he can now start working to elect legislators, state and federal, to get what he wants, just like you and me. And if the Feds are gonna bust my chops when I decide that laws don't apply to me, they can damn sure bust his, and, as a citizen, I say they damn well better.
Come to think of it, that treaty withdrawl works for me. Nice work, Russ.