Tribal Loyalties

IN recent months, Washington has been abuzz with the scandal of lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who has been accused of bilking Native American tribes. To understand the roots of this scandal—and of a very, very sleazy business-it’s a good idea to go to northwestern Connecticut, and visit Kent, a town of 3,000 people. Kent is, by all accounts, an idyllic place-a rural community containing three state parks, two state forests, two wildlife sanctuaries, and a corridor of the Appalachian Trail.

What Kent lacks is a casino.