The gambling addiction.
With another gambling referendum coming this fall you will soon be seeing all the hype about the pros and cons of gambling in Maine. I noticed that Hollywood Slots has recently completed their facility in Bangor and the local government seems to feel it is the best thing since sliced bread.
I followed a little old lady yesterday at the checkout at my local Cumberland Farms and had to wait a couple of minutes while she spent her money. $30.00 went to Megabucks and another $10.00 to scratch tickets. No other purchases were made and then she made her way to an old primer covered pickup truck in the parking lot and drove away. I'm sure that money is tight for her but she was all too glad to spend $40.00 to play at the governments gambling trough. Every time I hear Governor Baldacci or some other government so called leader tell how horrible gambling is I think of people like this old lady parting with their money.
I am not so concerned with the way a grown adult spends their money as I am with the lies of the politicians.
Going back for at least several administrations, all of our governors and a majority of our legislators have supported gambling in Maine - and then turned around and lied to the state (and the voters) by saying that they don't. Our government sits up front of the room and tells us how horrible gambling is then votes to continue and promote gambling operations by the state.
The simple fact of the matter is that the state wants all the money and doesn't want to share with any private operators. Approval of another gambling venture by some private company might reduce the sales of scratch tickets and we couldn't have that now could we?
If Baldacci or the legislature thinks that gambling is so bad then I would expect Megabuck, Powerball, and scratch tickets to disappear tomorow. I know this won't happen because - like the TV ads keep telling us all - gambling is an addiction and this state is addicted.
Now if we could only get our politicians to become addicted to honesty.
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I could not agree more in regard to the hypocrisy practiced by Maine government in regard to gambling (in their case, the lotteries, they have manipulated the odds to the point where anyone playing any of those games has precious little chance to break even). Mr. Fenn is correct when he postulates that the State simply does not want to share gambling revenue with any other enterprises.
The real addiction for Maine government is spending and the power resulting from building voting blocks consisting of those dependent upon state programs for their livelihood. Take into consideration the state employees, affiliated unions, welfare recepients and those in the "helping professions" and you can see why Democrats control Maine government.
Until the taxpayers revolt, we will continue to be saddled with one of the highest tax burdens in the nation and will have escalating taxes to contend with.
Posted by Pete Cutler
July 16, 2008 08:34 AM
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