I was reading this private letter from President Jefferson to a governor and thought some of you might find it interesting.
In the letter Jefferson lays out a plan where the government will establish trading posts to barter with the native tribes of Indiana. These trading posts would operate at cost, thereby driving out all private competition; forcing the Indians to deal with the government. "Influential" Indians will be granted as much credit as they want. Since the prices would be irresistibly cheap these Indians would soon find themselves far in debt. Then the government would take their land in payment for the debt.
Does this all sound vaguely familiar?
This policy was carried out by the Governor of the Indiana Territory, William Henry Harrison. Who, yes, later became president.
http://www.adl.org/education/curriculum_connections/Excerpt_Jefferson1803.aspA succession of crooks all the way back to the founding fathers.
Aren't I being terribly cynical today?