With November right around the corner, politics are a big topic here at Vice City. Gaming and adult entertainment are big ticket political items in local and regional elections and just under war, jobs, healthcare and same-sex marriage in the national races.
What's the Problem?
Looks like the political straw grasping continues and this time the straw is gambling. The headlines read "McCain Has Ties to Gambling." If it was just one publication, it wouldn't even register on my radar, but there are dozens of sites running stories as if it is a big deal. Clearly, after Senator John McCain's debate success, someone has a need to try and make an issue of this non-issue.
The political tactic could backfire. Gaming seems like a positive for Senator McCain. In fact, the New York Times credits Senator McCain, as chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, for turning Indian casino gaming into a $26-billion business. That sounds like a positive, yes? The man likes to play craps and is apparently adhering to responsible gaming principles so what is the big deal? Maybe as President, he could transform some other small industries into multi-billion businesses.
Gambling is here to stay and as pork-barrel earmark programs are pressured out of existence and states overspend and the bailout continues, gaming tax revenues are going to be the only saviors for government coffers. Cigarette taxes are already maxed out to the level that any additional increases will cause a significant decrease in consumption and therefore a steep decline in nicotine tax revenues.
Let the Voters Decide
Casino gambling is big news in Ohio, but in a positive sign of democracy in action, voters are actually getting to decide if they get a casino or not. A $600 million casino project is planned in Clinton County between Cincinnati and Columbus. In a bellwether, battleground and finincaially struggling state like Ohio, that means jobs -- jobs to build the casino and jobs to operate the casino.
Voters will decide in November on the fate of the project. If the signature process to get the issue on teh ballot is any indication of the final result, the casino should pass easily. MyOhioNow.com submitted 480,000 signatures from 77 counties. The minimum requirements were 402,275 signatures from 44 counties.
Notable Quotable
A gambler is nothing but a man who makes his living out of hope. -William Bolitho
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Posted on Sep 29th 2008
By Logicat
Aw, come on! Pointing to McCain's occasional Crap shooting, and in a responsible manner no less, as being somehow evil or a sign of something seriously wrong is like arresting someone for having a glass of wine with dinner and forcing them into an AA 12-step program. Get over it! Lots of people gamble occasionally and it hurts no one. The ones that have a serious problem with it have a personal problem.
I am not a McCain supporter and will be voting for someone else but this attack on McCain is silly! I live in one of the only two states that do not allow gaming of any sort but we all run for the state line with our money to gamble in the neighboring states. This state would do well to relax it's laws and allow more of that money to stay here.
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