by Pa Rock
Weary Traveler
I have covered quite a bit of the American southwest today, leaving Litchfield Park, AZ, at 5:30 a.m. and dropping anchor at Santa Rosa, NM,at 6:00 p.m. - local time. The trip, all 610 miles of it ran north, from Phoenix to Flagstaff along Highway 17, coming within eight miles of the west's most beautiful city, Sedona. The giant saguaro cactus that populate the desert around Phoenix like watchful sentries, are in bloom and were wondrous to behold.
At Flagstaff I took a right turn onto Interstate 40 and have followed it the rest of the day. Interstate 40 parallels the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and the historic Route 66. It slices through one scenic vista after another. It is also punctuated with numerous "genuine" Native American market places, each and everyone guaranteed not to rely on "phony" discounts!
Some interesting signage appeared along the way. I pulled in behind the Dairy Queen in Holbrook, AZ, to readjust the load in the back of the pick-up. There I discovered an unusually large parking lot (large for a Dairy Queen) along with a big sign that read simply, "No Milking Animals" along with a drawing of a goat! Pulling in behind the Dairy Queen and quickly milking a goat or two must qualify for fun times in Holbrook!
But if goats aren't your thing, and horses are - there's a sign along the interstate near Thoreau, NM, advertising "RV and Horse Motel!" I wonder if our genius governor, Jan Brewer, has thought about encouraging the development of the Horse Motel business?
I had a late lunch at the Dancing Eagle Casino forty miles west of Albuquerque. I knew that the food would be great because I have eaten there before. What I had forgotten about the Dancing Eagle was the strong Native American influence - something that is very appropriate since its trademark in an Indian fancy dancer. Many of the casino employees - and all of the restaurant workers - were Native Americans, so it must be a boon to the local economy in that respect. Unfortunately, almost all of the customers at the slot machines were also Native Americans. As soon as I stepped through the door I felt that I was at a tribal convention.
Has gambling become this century's replacement plague for the firewater that decimated the health and pride of the Indian Nations over the past dozen generations?
Why must we continue to fund government on the backs of the poor?
1 comment:
Government is funded on the backs of the poor because the top 1% of our population has captured over 70% of the nation's wealth.
The rich buy the best government available.
Despite the spectral musing of Ronnie Reagan, wealth doesn't trickle down. Greed congests wealth at the top.
And, no, gambling is not the replacement to firewater. That is still meth! Although I have seen folks of all creeds and color fall to the insidious temptations of these games of chance.
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