American Indians Not Thriving

by Jack

The latest health study shows American Indians living on reservations are 60 percent more obese than the average American. One key factor is… free stuff. That doesn’t sound very scientific, but it is what it is. Free stuff has unmotivated Indians, just like it has unmotivated many of our chronic welfare recipients.

Indians don’t need to be hunters, they don’t need to be gatherers, they have abundant food that is provided to them…which means less exercise and a lifestyle change. Now its just a simple matter of caloric intake verses more sedentary living. But, unfortunately, it gets worse. They also suffer from higher rates of depression, suicide, alcoholism and substance abuse.

The root cause of these maladies is subject to some debate, but I would say entitlements (free stuff) and low expectations for personal growth (achievement) has a lot to do with it.

There’s a lesson to be learned from the Indian experience, because our nation is following their example. We’re relying more on entitlements and less on individual responsibility with every passing year. As much as free stuff may appeal to us, it ironically comes at a high price and just like the Indians, we can’t afford it and we don’t need it, if we know whats good for us. I suspect we’ll continue to take the free stuff…it’s so much easier.