In an unprecedented move the FBI has turned over information gathered by their massive investigative organization pursuant to complaints of an irate business person / Lobiest ( who no doubt has bought and sold numerous favors from un-indicted co-conspirators) and condemned elected officials without benefit of hearing or trial , gained control of, and undermined the La. electoral process an given rise to an un-issue.
Well it’s good to see the people at least haven’t bought it but numerous political “wanna bees” offer a un-solution ,that in the final analysis can only be resolved by the people, and gambling away the single largest revenue source for our childrens education. It seems that the large out of state interest and the radical right hopped in the same bed again. Though I am not associating by analogy, it always amazes me how religious interest and organized crime come together on election day seemingly falling into the same fluff & feathers bed of solidarity . Organized crime of course has it’s own agenda,(Do away with legal gambling) and the well meaning right in the interest of humanity and the balance of the immoral masses unable to maintain an unswerving path to the foot of the cross..A vote against state controlled gaming, is a vote in favor of organized crime and those that find a way to capitalize on any illegal opportunity.
I am speaking only to the financial aspects of gambling not the moral. From a pure moralist standpoint if gambling is against the public interest then it should be entirely eliminated The included categories to be eliminated would be ;Racetracks,Riverboats,Lottery,Tribal Casinos, Land base casinos, all video Poker including Truck stops, Bingo, including churches and all other forms of personal and charitable gambling that may devised in the future.
It Seems a minor miscarriage that the Church and other “charitable interests” can run rampant against the public interest and shun their tax, civic and moral responsibility.
The pay to play concept would certainly be in order. If profits are to be gained from any form of gambling the public should share in the gains, not only the sheltered special interest group that is sanctioned by your vote to operate games of chance and raffles.
There is nothing inherently good or bad about gambling or risk taking. our nation was built by risk takers, which has long been part of our heritage,well before the Kentucky Derby. Whether we like it or not,the individual still has certain constitutional rights, Among those is the right to wager, granted by the federal government and regulated by the state. State law requires all video poker machines(except Indian concessions) contain a computer chip programmed to return minimum of 93% to the players. This does not mean there is a state guarantee in effect, but that statistically the funds deposited in video poker machines will be redistributed to whoever happens to be “ lucky “. The people who participate in gambling whether for amusement or profit will vary in skill and knowledge.The skill level tends to give the regular player the advantage. The alternative to winning or losing money is don’t gamble. Sort of like hospital insurance,social security, medicaid, etc. Some people will pay premiums and never get a return, whereas others will no doubt pay less and need constant medical treatment. Statistically those that are never ill pay for the ones who are.To win that wager you have to get sick.
It is not necessary to risk your money for enterprise or speculation.Those who are not risk takers benefit by the voluntary tax paid by the speculator. In the case of video poker everyone in the state should benefit individually and/or collectively from millions of monthly tax revenue and the thousands of new jobs created by the gambling industry.
The real trick is to employ people from this state as opposed to bringing in personnel from other states and enforcing the accountability and distribution of the millions in tax revenue derived from gaming. The real issue is not whether to vote gambling in or out, but rather to vote to have a voice in the distribution of the massive revenue that is generated legalized gaming. Why kill the goose that lays the golden egg. In order to remove the gambling revenues from the budget ( to paraphrase Eddie) we must find a way to replace the loss to the state budget.Why not vote to hold all funds from gaming in trust and give voters in each parish the right to vote on distribution. Let your representatives be held accountable for the funds.Let them set licensing fees and procedure to avoid charges of impropriety or political corruption. Buy a bond on all officials involved in case of errors, omissions or criminal wrong doing. You can believe a bonding company will take a closer look than the average voter at the politician who is responsible for billions of state funds. You could vote to use these funds in part to reduce or eliminate personal income tax and sales taxes, solve school budget problems, repair roads and solve a myriad of our states financial problems. Think of the tremendous savings in time alone if individuals and businesses were not required to fill out the forms. Take a gander at your personal income and give your self a mental raise of 10% by eliminating sales and personal income tax. Why not vote to approve a reduction in taxes for a change rather than to approve a bond issue or other forms of escalating tax..Why not use the funds for unemployment insurance or workman's compensation there by reducing the taxes to manufacturers which could trickle down to your pocket in terms of lower retail prices. No there is nothing inherently wrong with gambling as a tax medium but as to the distribution and the administration that is another matter. The only problem with gambling is the massive amounts of tax derived which may open a window for dishonest administrators. Why use gambling for a whipping post? Why go through the shuffle to discredit gambling, why throw out the baby with the water, why not instead throw out the bums that are stealing money from well meaning citizens and business owners who are attempting to set up a business that richly rewards the people in the state. Native Americans have a federal right by treaty, regardless of state regulation to operate gaming facilities. I think a preemptive right or special consideration should be given to Native Americans but they should pay the same state taxes as video poker or other regulated gambling interests. Charitable gifts are not good enough In all fairness it would seem that if a fed federal ruling involving personal freedoms is changed by the state those changes should effect every ones deal with the state including Indian reservations who are flourishing through a loop hole never intended by our forefathers. The original spirit of treaties was to assure that native Americans would be allowed their properties for traditional use without interference of game laws, allow them to practice their age old traditions without interference by government or citizenry. Natural resources and minerals on reservations are exclusively for their use. Retribution was extended through numerous tax incentives. I am in full agreement with retribution in the traditional sense, provided that the lands and revenue acquired from the lands are for the purpose of furthering tribal requirements, but if lands are removed from the tax roles for the purpose of enterprise the venture should be treated as any other competitive venture.and revenue should be taxed. The Large,(take the money and, run out of state) gambling interest would certainly jump at the opportunity to remove the small operators who offer video poker to customers for amusement, eliminate all of the truck stops that generate millions monthly in taxes,the lottery, river boats,buy out all of the tribes or consult with them, and probably would be delighted if you closed every casino in the state with the exception of theirs. Out of state operators should take their profit motive back home and quit draining taxes and profits from Louisiana’s revenue stream. I have first hand knowledge of a small home owned and operated restaurant the has added 2 employees and added $ 250,000 to the tax roles per year as a direct result of video poker. Residents in the Alex-Pine metroplex would have to favor that business with $3,275,000 in retail sales including tax order to generate this $250,000 in additional tax revenue.The economy is on the upswing in the area, BUT COME ON!!!!!! Bob Grove Anns’ Coffee Shop Alexandria, La
Bob Grove Anns’ Coffee Shop Alexandria, La
Copyright © 1996 BOB GROVE
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