This final paper is on experiences with socialism and capitalism in United States and will draw on many of other aspects of business history we learned this term. Now as we all know United States is considered a capitalistic country. So one would question how could a capitalistic country have socialism within its own borders?

During week one our objective study was to understand several key problem areas of world. One of main issues of learning during that week addressed was difference between capitalism and socialism. For this I used a different approach than what was normally expected. Instead of going with classical approach of using other countries like Russia to show socialism; I used something closer to home, Native American Tribes residing in United States.

I found an article in Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indian’s newspaper on its election process and used it to write my own paper showing how even within borders of United States you could find socialism being actively practiced by Native American Tribes.

I completely showed how a Native American Tribe could use sovereign immunity to protect its socialistic ways, which goes against United States Constitution even though it is housed in same physical boundaries of this country, which uses a capitalistic approach to its government. To begin next part is a summary of article on elections from Sault Tribe newspaper.

Source: Sault Tribe News March 2002 edition Title: Election committee ensures fair process

The main title of article was Election committee ensures fair process. The article starts out explaining that over 17,000 notices of election were recently sent out, which explains election process to members. The election committee consisting of 13 members oversees entire election process. Currently there is one seat open for appointment. They meet a few times during non-election years and as elections draw near amount of meetings increase. They serve 4 years terms and try to ensure a fair election process. “They come in all shapes, sizes and ages on committee.” Said Chairperson Lori Jump.

The committee is always looking for volunteers to help them with all of their work, such as mailing and counting ballots. Last election ballot returns were up 64%. The committee hopes to increase this to even greater numbers in future. The committee is also responsible for checking personal financial information and doing criminal checks on all candidates. After each election committee gets together to brainstorm to see what went right or wrong and how it can be fixed or made better. One current idea committee is looking into to present to Main Board is electronic balloting, which will speed up counting process considerably.

The final section of article again ask for volunteers and gives a little more description on work committee does. They register voters, prepare a list of eligible voters, prepare and send out ballots, prepare and post a list of eligible candidates, account for all returning ballots and count them and in event of a tie committee decides election by drawing lots.

First of all this paper travels all over United States. I feel article itself was written poorly and even comment of chairperson is odd. Now what article does not tell you is that it is current Board of Directors who appoints these people to their terms not members of Tribe. If they fail to follow Boards directives they find themselves replaced with people who will comply with Chairman of Board of Directors. You can see how this looks very socialistic.

I really liked title of article Election committee ensures fair process. Yet in entire article it did not mention what they do to make things fair. Why? Could it be Government at hand does not want a fair election, but wishes you to think that it actually does have one? Also during election time incumbents try to tell you how much they have helped Tribe and how great things are. While they each have large incomes and majority of tribal members live below national poverty level.

The Board of Directors and Chairman also control what is printed in that newspaper. There is no such thing as freedom of press and if you try to raise a fight against these ideas you could be labeled as a dissident or if you try to take them to a real court to fight for your rights as a United States citizen or if any group or part of U.S. Government tries to go against them or charge them with crimes they claim Tribal Sovereignty.

What many of Native Tribes in United States claim is Tribal Sovereignty or sovereign immunity. This is basically their claim to govern themselves with out outside interference from United States Government. It is also claim used to justify that they are in fact their own nation residing in borders of United States, almost similar to another country having an embassy here. This is simplest way to briefly explain sovereign immunity.

Now we shall get a little more background on Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians and their elections since this is an election year for its board. The board consists of twelve elected officials whom are believed to represent rest of members of Sault Tribe. The Sault owns several businesses though out Michigan. Its main businesses are its seven casinos, one of which was just opened in Detroit.

The Tribe provides several services to membership. However membership services are limited to a seven county area in Upper Peninsula, if you live outside of these areas you receive no services. This service area takes care of about 10,000 members out of a total Tribal membership of 30,000.

Now even though board is suppose to be making decisions of what happens within Tribe and all of laws and resolutions, it does not quit happen this way, because we have a group that we like to refer to as golden trio. The golden trio actually influences all of decisions by their blatant conflicts of interest, which will be plain to see in a moment.

The top two positions on board are chairman and vice-chairman. We will start with chairman. The chairman is also Chief Executive Officer of new Greektown Casino in Detroit, which is a million dollar a day business. As CEO he reports to Tribal Board of Directors, which he is chairman of.

If you read regular articles in newspapers and magazines you will be inundated with information about how much money is lost every year to business. There is a list, stress, alcohol, drugs, mismanagement, union issues and many more. If figures are to be believed billions are lost every year because of these issues. It is a wonder we make any money in business at all.

So what is at core of these issues? It is extremely simple it is something which has been with mankind since we first walked upon this earth. At centre of all these issues is ‘Blame Factor'.

Throughout history whether we were going to war, enslaving peoples or burning witches at stake, it has been all to fulfil our base instinct to blame someone or something. Blaming others stops us having to look at our own shortcomings in life.

Are we evolving into a more civilised society as we move into twenty first century, we are not. The powerful use of media and advanced communication mean we are able to point finger more readily and more often. Whether it be governments, businesses, health services, judiciary, our neighbours and a thousand more organisations and individuals, we can blame someone else. It is even becoming basis of our television shows.

Does it matter?

Yes it does matter. When we blame, we sabotage our lives and that or our neighbours. We damage infrastructure of our society and believe ourselves to be disempowered.

When we take responsibility for our lives and issues and problems we face, then we can do something about changing things and travel towards personal and organisational empowerment.