I don’t trust them. I think the whole entire political system is corrupt, whether it’s the Republicans and George W. Bush, or the Democrats and Obama. I think they all serve the corporate fate. In general, the system is filled with lies and tokenism. As Native people, we’re so far down the list because we don’t have the numbers, and the politicians just show up for photo ops. When you look at the sovereignty, the economics, the cultural well-being of the Native people [Obama] hasn’t done one thing. He’s just like every other U.S. president. I think a lot of Native people are just glad to finally be acknowledged. You look at the time Obama has been in office, and the teen suicide rates on reservations are [still] out of control, the poverty is out of control. When you’re surrounded by these statistical dynamics, how can you have self-esteem? Being acknowledged is an illusion. It might make you feel good for a little while, but it doesn’t change the overall quality of life for our children. – John Trudell opinion of the Obama administration to Harlan McKosato ~
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Extremely Eloquent, Therefore Extremely Dangerous
John Trudell: In His Own Words