Casinos on Indian Reservations
Can Slot Machines Uplift a Nation?
When the subject of Native Americans or Indian reservations is brought up most people bring casino gambling to mind. Approximately five hundred and sixty tribes are recognized by the federal government, and only about one third conduct casino style gambling. (Light and Rand 9) Reservations are sovereign nations, meaning tribes are "Dependent on and subordinate to, only the federal government, not the states." (Light and Rand 36) This has been the tribes "Ace in the hole" that has allowed many reservations to prosper through the operation of casinos. Politics, crime, addiction, even suicide can all be tied to casinos on Indian reservations, as can better living conditions, basic health care, higher educational achievements, and even a way out of poverty. By looking at Indian casinos in a utilitarian view we will see how gambling has affected the tribes, and, is morally justified.
Utilitarianism is a philosophical view that states the end justifies the means, and creates the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill are two of the most well known philosophers of utilitarianism. Bentham's motto was, "Morality and law were made for man, not man for morality and law." (Pojman 111) Bentham wanted to improve on what he considered outdated deontological views of "an eye for an eye", which also kept the poor from enjoying a better life. Bentham's view was simple, to maximize pleasure and minimize suffering. Pain and pleasure were what Bentham thought should guide our actions. (Pojman 112) Mill thought it important to distinguish happiness from just the pain and pleasure of Bentham's utilitarianism. Mill derived the idea of two types of pleasure: the lower pleasures (sexuality, eating, and drinking) and the higher pleasures (spirituality, creativity, and scientific knowledge) Mill argued that these higher pleasures gave a more lasting happiness. (Pojman 114) Thus
When the subject of Native Americans or Indian reservations is brought up most people bring casino gambling to mind. Approximately five hundred and sixty tribes are recognized by the federal government, and only about one third conduct casino style gambling. (Light and Rand 9) Reservations are sovereign nations, meaning tribes are "Dependent on and subordinate to, only the federal government, not the states." (Light and Rand 36) This has been the tribes "Ace in the hole" that has allowed many reservations to prosper through the operation of casinos. Politics, crime, addiction, even suicide can all be tied to casinos on Indian reservations, as can better living conditions, basic health care, higher educational achievements, and even a way out of poverty. By looking at Indian casinos in a utilitarian view we will see how gambling has affected the tribes, and, is morally justified.
Utilitarianism is a philosophical view that states the end justifies the means, and creates the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill are two of the most well known philosophers of utilitarianism. Bentham's motto was, "Morality and law were made for man, not man for morality and law." (Pojman 111) Bentham wanted to improve on what he considered outdated deontological views of "an eye for an eye", which also kept the poor from enjoying a better life. Bentham's view was simple, to maximize pleasure and minimize suffering. Pain and pleasure were what Bentham thought should guide our actions. (Pojman 112) Mill thought it important to distinguish happiness from just the pain and pleasure of Bentham's utilitarianism. Mill derived the idea of two types of pleasure: the lower pleasures (sexuality, eating, and drinking) and the higher pleasures (spirituality, creativity, and scientific knowledge) Mill argued that these higher pleasures gave a more lasting happiness. (Pojman 114) Thus
Cited: "America 's Gambling Craze." U.S. News & World Report 14 Mar. 1994: 42-45. Proquest. Orcas Island Library. 18 Mar. 2006. Keyword: Casino Gambling. Knickerbocker, Brad Light, Steven A., and Kathryn R. Rand. Indian Gaming and Tribal Sovereignty the Indian Compromise. Kansas: University P of Kansas, 2005. Mansur, Stephanie, comp Pico, Anthony R. "Lessons Learned At the Thanksgiving Table of Sovereignty." INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY 3 Nov. 2004, sec. A3. Pittenger, Jasmine Pojman, Louis P. How Should We Live? CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2005. "Suicide." Casino Watch "Tribal Government in 2010 - Tribal Gaming." American Indian Policy Center. 1 Nov. 2005. 14 Nov. 2006 . Zelio, Judy