This bit of wisdom passed on to us from Plato is as true and relevant today as it was when he first said those words. As an American Indian and chairman of the Jamestown S'Klallam Indian Tribe, I know firsthand, and at times with brutal clarity, the impact of apathy amongst voters.
Indian people have a unique perspective on our electoral system.
Unlike virtually any other population in America, since we signed our treaties, our history, culture, economic well-being, and legal status are inextricably intertwined with American politics. What has become clear is that while the public is strongly sympathetic to many issues of concern to American Indians, often there is a lack of understanding about some fundamental tenets, such as treaty rights and sovereignty. To attempt to downplay the significance of the resolution, in retrospect, is insufficient. Precisely because Indian people have so much at stake in who creates the policies that directly impact them, FAEP will focus its energies this year on helping educate the public about issues presented in this year's elections. The importance of increasing public awareness of the issues that directly impact Indian people is perhaps best illustrated by the actions of U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton.