Lately, my city has been the focus of a debate as to whether we should allow a proposed casino to operate here. Our county has some dismal statistics: We rank in the lowest quarter of almost every State Department of Health statistic in terms of obesity (31%) and children living in poverty (49%). Unemployment rate is twice the national average, and our household income is lower than most other cities. We are in dire need of more business, more jobs, and higher wages. The question is: Will the wages of sin save us?
Since the city can boast five colleges and universities, it boggles the mind that we’re in this position. But most college graduates don’t want to live in a place with low wages and a deteriorating inner city. And so, we have a brain drain, with most of the educated young people heading for greener pastures.
The bill to bring a casino to our town has already passed the Indiana Senate. But it hasn’t passed the Indiana House, and some people are hoping that it won’t. Lots of our citizens—apparently those who don’t live in poverty—are objecting on grounds of morality.
The morality police say it’s better for our city to continue its downward spiral than to embrace the gambling business.. They believe that bringing in a casino will destroy families when a parent is addicted to gambling. They say it will attract criminals, prostitutes and drug dealers.
Considering the fact that our local jail is already overcrowded with drug dealers, I’m not sure a casino would add to that problem, but at least we could blame it on the gambling business.
If we’re going to ban potentially addictive businesses, why not outlaw all bars and liquor stores? Next, we might close down McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and all the other fast food restaurants because of Indiana’s escalating rate of obesity.
Over the years, my husband and I have visited casinos in, French Lick, Las Vegas, and Biloxi. We always enjoyed the shows and good food. We set ourselves a limit as to how much we would lose before stepping away from the slot machines. Neither one of us ever became addicted to gambling.