Reader shares thoughts on constitutional reform and tribal oil and gas “elbowoods” link

Thanks for your insight Max.

Here’s what Max has to say: “The problems with the old constitutions are they are unenforceable. The reason for the separation of powers is to hold elected officials accountable to the people. If there is no separation of powers the Tribal Councils have full authority over everything and anything. The idea behind sovereignty is that tribes are allowed to make their own laws and to be governed by those laws. The constitution document is the governing body not the Tribal Council members. The Tribal Councils are not supposed to act as supreme authority over their people they are to enforce the constitution. The average person has no where to take their issues to get a fair hearing. There is no one looking out for the best interest of the Tribes, people get elected and look out for number one and use their position to exploit the resources. Most council persons who get elected don’t have a clue what to do to better their people so they control them. Without Vision the people will perish. There is not one councilman who has an original idea to better their communities. They don’t know how and why should they the people might not need them next election.”

Note: After I read Max’s post, I followed a link that was attached. It led to a Web page about questionable oil activity on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. Read for yourself and share your thoughts. The Web site that has been shared has drawn more than 3,400 hits.

Jodi Rave