anthony bhal, tulsa (7/31/2007 7:03:57 AM)

With the roads conditions in the State of Oklahoma tags should be free. Heck they sould be paying us to have are cars repaired.

ME, Tulsa (7/31/2007 7:04:29 AM)

Their tribes may be considered sovereign nations and their land may be exempt from state taxes. . . but . . . how many of these people that have purchased tribal tags actually live on indian land? Drive down any Tulsa raesidential street and you will see at least on tribal tag if not more on a car parked in a driveway where the owner resides.

Why isn't the state benefiting from the sale of tribal tags? These cars are all over our roads, these people don't live on indian land and drive only on indian land.

Who passed such a law anyway?

ME, Tulsa (7/31/2007 7:05:50 AM)

correction . . . should be . . . residential

Tony G., (7/31/2007 7:17:27 AM)

Don't get me started about Indians and the privileges they have. Free medicine

Smoke shops, gambling.

I'm a NATIVE Oklahoman, but since my skin color is WHITE, they can discriminate against me.

The cheap car tags, is just another perc

that is ONLY for a privileged few!

Kash, Charlottesville, VA (7/31/2007 8:12:52 AM)

This story is an interesting one, but there's really no meat.

As others have mentioned, the state has lost revenue due to such tags. It'd be nice to know how much and if any state programs have been cut due to the lack of revenue. Has the state had to raise taxes because of these tags?

I'd also like to see more about what the tribes do with the money they raise through the tags. It seems as though tribes have gone from "stewards" to "big business."

I'm not suggesting an opinion column, but I think everyone knows that the use of tribal tags has increased. It'd be nice to know the direct ramifications to tribal members and those not members.

SB, Tulsa (7/31/2007 8:44:39 AM)

"Don't get me started about Indians and the privileges they have."

Because don't you know we Indians are all living it up. "Free" medicine only gets you so far, buddy.

Rose , Broken Arrow (7/31/2007 8:54:03 AM)

Why is everyone so concerned about what Native Americans get anyway? If you're not Native American, then I don't think it's any of your business. Although, I'm very, very proud to be OTOE and PONCA, it's not always a "privilege" to be indian.

JW, (7/31/2007 8:54:20 AM)

Funny thing, I didn't know hispanic illegal aliens were tribal members. I think the tribes should have their tag privileges revoked for abusing the system and giving out tags to illegals. I have lost count of how many lawnmower crews being driven by OBVIOUS illegals have tribal plates.

VR, TULSA (7/31/2007 9:03:32 AM)

In case you've forgotten or maybe never knew that Oklahoma was only here for the sole reason to assimilate the Indians and then when oil was discovered and the land rush came about, the government took land away from them, to give to white settlers. It is still, in our eyes "Indian land" So if you have a problem with Indian tags then move somewhere else!

MC, Tulsa (7/31/2007 9:38:09 AM)

I think this topic can go both ways. I however believe that the Indians have more freedom then other citizens of the United States. I agree with others when they state there is way too many people driving around town with the tribal plates that live in and drive on the city streets. Why do they feel they shouldn't have to pay for the repairs? I think it is wrong the Indians still feel that the US owes them. The government takes land from whoever they want, (example at OSU to build their stadium, and along I-44 to build the highway) these people don't get treated differently for the rest of their lives why should the Indians? All my personal thoughts.

Jeff, (7/31/2007 10:03:38 AM)

The people complaining about this are upset because they are not Indians. I am not either but you bet your a** I would purchase one of these if I could. Much cheaper than the state tags plus it helps the Indians. The Indians have brought alot of revenue to the state and at the same time made themselves wealthy. Smart people if you ask me. Even the small cities they put their casinos in are benefiting from them. Regardless of politics or any of that bs, the bottom line is they have made an impact on our state and continue to do so after all these years.

PHB, Tulsa (7/31/2007 10:48:07 AM)

To JW in Tulsa:

WOW! You should go work for the government... you can tell an OBVIOUS illegal just by looking at them? That's incredible! Surely the federal government can put your super-power to work, can't they?

For those who don't quite get the satire: simply having brown skin doesn't make you an illegal. Speaking Spanish doesn't make you an illegal. You'd be amazed at the number of people who fit your stereotype that are LEGAL.

This reminds me of the "No Irish" pictures that were shown to me in grade school. Those who don't learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

JW, (7/31/2007 11:22:00 AM)

I don't know to many Cherokee who speak Spanish yet don't speak English or Cherokee. Must be a lost band of Cherokee from Mexico.

MW, (7/31/2007 11:47:26 AM)

Cherokee Nation donates 38% of the car tag revenue to schools that are in the historical Cherokee Nation jurisdiction. Both non-indian and Indian children benefit from this. We get free health care from the federal government because of the "trust responsibility" they have to Native American tribes. This is something that we do get. However, we lost almost all the United States to get this sub standard health care. The government funds inmates more than 100% more than they do Indian people. So if you want to complain, complain about that.

Darrel Drumm, Bunch, Oklahoma (7/31/2007 12:08:49 PM)

Over in Adair County, the Cherokee Nation has paved a number of county roads including at least 15 miles on our school bus routes. That saves the school money on bus repairs from driving on the rocky roads and saves the county money too.

letItGo, anytown (7/31/2007 12:14:47 PM)

I am owed compensation because I'm (insert heritage here) and my ancestors were wronged when (insert injustice here) by someone else's ancestors!

At some point one needs to put aside the past to better concentrate on today.

As far as the car tag issue; Would the state handle the funds any better? My presumption is "Probably not".

I don't mind the tribes having their own government, but what I want to know is "How do I sign up?"

Liz, Muskogee (7/31/2007 1:05:09 PM)

I agree with the comment Indian business is Indian business. You know every time you walk in some place that is supposed to be for the Indians you see more white people in there than Indians but you don't see anything being done about that or you walk in a casino what do u see I don't here anybobdy saying take down the free clinics or the casinos I think the only reason they want to get rid of tribal tag is cause they can't get it.Don't hate the Indians it ain't our fault

Bill, (7/31/2007 1:41:29 PM)

Let the tribes do this without interference from the state. The state would only squander the revenues anyway. I have more faith in tribal money for road paving than I do for state money

MH, tulsa (7/31/2007 2:00:26 PM)

As an auto dealer I hate to take an Indian tagged car because of the Okla. Tax commission hassle. A dealer has to have a copy of the Indians card in order to transfer the title . I can count on one hand how many trade their cars in but don't have the card with them. It becomes a real hassle.. local police have a hard time disquingishing OK tags from all the different colored Indian tags. They should have OK green and white tags then have some decal to recognize the tribe if they must...

JW, (7/31/2007 2:11:14 PM)

@letitgo

"How do I sign up?"

just ask the illegals, they apparently figured out how to become tribal members and get plates. apparently the Cherokee are kicking out the Freedmen and replacing them with the illegals.

Jeff, BA (7/31/2007 2:15:55 PM)

#19.. If you can count on one hand how many DO NOT have their card then apparently it isn't that much of a problem. The tags are not going away so the car dealers apparently just need to suck it up. I would think if they don't have the card, this prevents the dealer from pressuring the customer into buying something they can't afford or need. And if the dealer sells the car w/out having the correct info then that is the dealers fault and noone elses.

Also the Indian tags look nothing like a normal Oklahoma license plate so how can the police confuse them? They see more tags per day than we probably do in a week.

R F Goad Jr, Fairfax, Ok (7/31/2007 2:18:20 PM)

It's ironic that you show the "osage" tag. Back in the late 30's Osage men went to Washington and asked congress to approve raising our gross production tax and using the extra money for schools, bridges and roads in our area. (This money now goes into the state "general fund") The excess should be given back to the nation. So don't tell others that the indians don't pay taxes. Especially the Osage Nation.

Jon, Tulsa (7/31/2007 2:51:01 PM)

FYI - Every time you see a Tribal car tag, the state isn't losing money, its gaining money through federal impact aid. In the same way the state receives money for the loss of property tax revenue when a military base is located in a community, the state receives money by virtue of Indians/Indian lands. If you're an Indian in Tulsa, you'll remember that the school cared once per year that you were an indian - when the school had to fill out paperwork for impact aid (if your parents worked on federal property you had to do the same as well). So, the state doesn't lose a dime, but in fact benefits greatly from Tribes.

Verna, Denver (7/31/2007 4:26:32 PM)

It's funny how so many non-Indian people think Indian people get so many things free. Guess that's why I had to move to a different state in order to improve my family's life...because I just wasn't getting enough free things in order to support my family. It's about time the real Natives are getting something even though it's barely more than a crumb.

ginny b., sapulpa (7/31/2007 4:43:25 PM)

Soooo, today we are picking on the Native Americans, well, guess that the tribes will have to suck it all up..

Revenues from all the folks smoking their way to oblivion go for the programs that the tribes have, and they are improving,expanding and getting better everyday...Light up another one whitey!!

Car tag sales do the same, education programs,increased health benefits,such as eyeglasses, dental, more funding for medical equipment, provisions from some tribes for social services are improving due to the revenue...any illegal Hispanics want to sign up? You are welcome, the legal Whites are not,they do not know how to treat a gift...

Tribal tags are issued to anyone who is registered to that tribe,how the money collected from the sales is not decided by the driver of a vehicle, it determined by the inner government of the tribe...noticed more often than not, it is not a full blood tribal member that is driving but some blond, blue-eyed person, still it is their perogative where they bought a tag,not mine, and I think of them as supporting the tribes interest, a good thing to do. As for the cost, who doesn't want to save a dollar, we all go to Walmart for things we need, and if the tribe would open a huge discount store to rival them, it would not be empty even if the patrons were only Indian people!!

The best part of this, WE, are not going to go anywhere, legal,free,intelligent,and still buying tribal everything as long as it is something we can do..after all, even Oklahoma uses the Indian draw for tourism, and promotion, and look at the Capitol Dome, who is up there? You got it, the Indian,,,I love it, gooooooo tribal!!!!!!!