by Max Staff

April 25, 2008 9:30 AM MDT

Opinion/Editorial:

This shameful, felonious approach to politics has been practiced so long the Navajo people have given up any possible hope of seeing justice done.  If they dare to point a finger at these corrupt politicians, strange things are likely to start happening to them and their families.  As a result, the people have become so demoralized with political misrepresentation they don’t even try to stop it from happening.  Double-tongued fraud and deceit has become normal operating procedure for these disreputable elected politicians.

This reporter has made many attempts to schedule an appointment to consult with four different presidents in Window Rock, Arizona, the seat of the Navajo Nation.  Every time I’d show up for my appointment, the President was busy in meetings or was out of the office.  I’d reschedule, and the same excuse would be used again and again.  They hate reporters and give anyone, Navajo or white, who may have a grievance to discuss the runaround. This dereliction of duty to the Navajo peoples’ needs may eventually cause the Navajo people to lose their inheritance for the future.  These reprehensible politicians might literally cause the disinheritance of their own people without batting an eye.  The Dine have been abandoned and left to their own devices.  Every year when winter comes, many Navajos freeze to death and their animals starve because some politician has embezzled the money through deception and collusion that was meant to help people through tough times.   As I stated earlier, it would be a miracle if anyone could discover how they camouflaged the funds.

President McDonald was elected to office twice.  The first time he robbed them blind and got away with millions.  During his second term, his Judas-kiss approach to the misappropriation of funds was so severe he got caught with his hands in the proverbial cookie jar.  He was sent to prison for a short period of time.  Essentially, all he received was a slap on the wrist and was then released.  The instant he got out of prison, he began spending the funds he had rat-holed and had himself a ball.  He is still living a lavish lifestyle at the expense of the Navajo people.   Why was he allowed to keep the money after he was caught? Why was he elected a second time when the people knew he was crooked and underhanded in his dealings?  His embezzlement cost the Navajo people more than they realized.  The actual amount of funds he pillaged is still in question. 

When will the Navajos find the nerve to picket their seat of government in Window Rock?   Let these dishonest politicians know that the Dine have had enough and intend to do something about this continual hypocrisy.  If the Navajos don’t learn to stand strong against this kind of fraudulent misrepresentation and trickery, they will simply keep on suffering and continue to do without.  Their forefathers had the right to fight the white man to the death but their descendents now refuse to do anything about fighting their own elected officials. 

Navajo code talkers were directly responsible for helping win the Second World War.  What great men they were!  What happened to that spirit willing to give up life itself to fight oppression?  Where did the warriors go?

It ‘s time to make the politicians accountable for their every action and prove to the people where all the funds are being spent.  There is no public accountability, so why should the politicians worry about proving their discreditable actions to anyone?  If the Navajo people were to force them to produce records, you can bet they will be falsified records to make them look squeaky clean.  This is par for the course.  The real records, if there ever were any, were destroyed the instant any funds were pocketed with no possible trace left to expose the guilty parties.  When will this piracy stop? 

I am a white man with an Indian heart.  I can no longer stand by and let this kleptomania continue. I intend to spend what’s left of the rest of my life fighting the treacherous misbehavior of these sinful politicians.  They will come to regret their transgressions.   I will discover the reasons why these graceless crooks are rarely caught and made to pay for their crimes.

This flagrant fleecing of funds must come to an end.  It’s time to stand together and tell these evasive, smooth-tongued politicians that the people will no longer accept their duplicity.  Like President Harry Truman stated, “The Buck Stops Here!” These are powerful words that need to be remembered for all time.  The people have the power (or have we all forgotten this fact?). This masquerade of government swindling of appropriated funds must stop immediately or everything will be lost to the people themselves yet again, this time at the hands of their very own people.

This article is designed to let these guilty, villainous politicians realize the ‘big eye’ is on them for the first time in decades.  If any Navajo politician is guiltless of any criminality, you have nothing to fear from this reporter.  I will applaud your faithful service and stand behind you 100 percent in future reports.  I will be an additional voice to help you succeed with future developments within the Navajo Nation. 

The Navajo people live in one of the most beautiful geological places on Earth.  Hopefully, someday the Navajo Nation will become the truly great homeland it was possible to become.  Don’t let this chicanery continue to oppress good people who need the same equal chance to live productive, happy lives as the true Americans they are. 

Now that the disreputable politicians have been informed that a secret group of nameless people are presently digging for dirt to help bring an end to the confiscation of funds, they are advised to take heed.  We have big-money backing and also have powerful friends in high places in the U.S. government; people who care about the plight of the Native Americans.  We are in place.  Men and women in unmarked vehicles are watching and following certain politicians to discover where you go and who you deal with.  We have acquired portable listening devices to monitor conversations and record your statements.  You’d be surprised at the new technology available to the general public for surveillance purposes.  Did I mention telescopic cameras and other electronic devices that can be planted easily at any location? 

We’re not about to give up all our secrets concerning how we are going to catch you in the act of misappropriating the Navajo peoples’ funds. You criminal politicians have been duly warned.  We are eyeballing your every move.  You may lose some sleep.  When we compile enough evidence to nail you in court, the proper governmental agencies will swoop in and nail you to the cross.  You won’t see us following you.  We are professionals.  I love these new micro GPS locators.  We are military high-tech and we are mobile.   We are going to catch you.  Your days are numbered.