Friday, April 27, 2012

Are beer firms to blame for Native American drink woe?

This news article from the BBC actually has a refreshing view from both sides of the fence, although much more time is given to those filing the lawsuit than those on the other side. 

My view agrees with the general store owner on this one.  The beer sales in this small town are legal.  The people buying the beer have made a conscious decision to buy and consume the beer.  While I fully support Native American tribes working to better the life of their members (because god knows they have been generally screwed over for the last 200+ years) this is generally the wrong way to do it.  Blaming the beer companies for the state of your reservation will not solve the issue.  Will a big payoff from the beer companies solve the problem?  Nope.  Your tribe will have a lot of money, which when dispensed to the members of the tribe will be used to...  buy beer.  They may have to drive farther to get it, since you will have bankrupted the store owners, but it will still happen.  In fact, you will likely create more crime in the form of bootleggers who will charge much more money for their services and product. 

Do I have a better solution for you?  No.  However, suing people for conducting legal business transactions is not the solution to your problems.  Unless you live in California, then it appears to be a way of life.

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