I Mis-Spoke

Isn't that what the politicians say when they want to weasel out of a statement that they previously made? The more I think about it, I'm more concerned about the people than I am about the land. My confusion may be attributed to the fact that the people and the land generally go together, but not always. I no longer worry about our local Indians taking over because I found out that there are not nearly so many of them as I previously thought. These guys are pretty tribal, so I don't think they are going to bring in more Indians from the outside and settle them on the land they have bought.

When I first moved here, a lot of vacant land in the area was owned by real estate speculators and development companies. Most of this land was subdivided and developed during the 70s when we experienced our last population surge. A plateau was reached after that, and we even lost a few people in the last census. I don't think the Indians have any plans like that for their recent acquisitions. They still want to build another casino-hotel complex next to Mackinaw City, which will attract more tourists, but no permanent residents. Mackinaw City thrives on the tourist trade, and most of their citizens are looking forward to it. Being at least 15 miles away from Beaglesonia, I doubt that it will ruin our neighborhood. Swamps and junkyards are not a big tourist draw anyway. The fact that the feds are unlikely to sell the tribal lands out from under the Indians is so much the better. Although the feds have done exactly that in the past, our modern Indians have learned how to hire good lawyers and play the courts to their advantage. Besides, they have money now, so nobody minds living next door to them anymore. Pass the peace pipe, brothers!

I agree that our European ancestors came here mostly to get rich or richer but, in those days, cash money was scarce and land represented wealth.

If you search "immigration" on Wiki, you will find reference to the immigration act that was passed in the late 1960s. It's been awhile since I've read it, but I seem to remember that the old quota system was replaced with a formula that gives preference to people who already have relatives here. This didn't help people like us because most of our living relatives are already here. It basically favored Asians and Hispanics because they tend to have larger families and they're not all here yet. Since then, the Asian and Hispanic percentages of our population have soared, contrary to what the politicians predicted when they were trying to get this bill passed. One story is that the politicians were mistaken, and the other story is that they did it on purpose. Can you guess which story I am inclined to believe? Anyway, a system that allowed an equal number of White folks and colored folks into the country would be a big improvement.

I asked you once if the Hispanics saved Chicago by creating a buffer zone between the Blacks and the Whites, and you said no. Now you tell me that our old neighborhood has gone Hispanic while the Blacks are still to the east and the Whites are still to the west. Sounds like a buffer zone to me. Nevertheless, I'm happy that you guys were able to come to some kind of accommodation, which makes it less likely that a bunch of you will come up here and try to take over.

There ain't no "we" about it, but I do generally approve of what the Tea Party types have been doing. Throwing a monkey wrench, or at least some sand in the gears, of the federal government is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. We already have too many laws in this country, many of which are not being enforced. Piling laws on top of laws serves no useful purpose except to provide job security to the lawyers which, when you think about it, isn't really a useful purpose. It would be a good thing if nobody took that speaker's job, but that's not going to happen, anymore than the next government shut down is going to really shut the government down.

We do not pay on the national debt, they just keep refinancing it by borrowing more money, some of it from some of us. Therefore, an increase in interest rates is a good thing. If the time ever comes that nobody wants to loan them any more money, they will just default and start all over again. This will send economic shock waves around the world, which is what the world deserves for establishing a global economy. It will not, however, be the end of the world, or even the end of the United States. Argentina did it a few years ago, and they're still Argentina.