So last night Ohio voted to allow casinos to come into the state. A move that's long overdue. However, I voted against this issue. Not for any moral objections (I love Vegas), but because I didn't like the details behind the issue or the campaign to get it passed.
Here's the details behind the issue:
-Allows 4 casinos to be built starting immediately in Toledo, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland.
-It will create anywhere from 30K to 50K full time and part time jobs (backed up by a UofC study)
-It will provide several billion in taxes to the state (again, backed up by the UofC study)
All good so far right? Well, here's the rest:
-It amends the state constitution to allow gambling.
-It specifies EXACTLY where the casinos are to be located. I'm not talking just about which cities, but literally the street addresses.
-It contains loop holes allowing the casinos to get out of paying taxes on certain portions of their profits.
-I know there is also of issue of where the money will actually go and the percentages of the tax money generated given to schools, etc.
Anytime I see "constitutional amendment" the warning bells immediately go off.
But what really bugged me is that Ohioans helped a casino operator establish a monopoly in the state. The law doesn't allow for competition as it specifies the exact street addresses where these casinos can be located!
As for their campaign, they were calling folks and asking them if they were going to vote for the "jobs issue, Issue 3". Maybe that's politics as usual, but it doesn't make it any less shitty.
Casino
I was divided on the issue. It was slanted both ways. As for the 30 to 50 thousands jobs 16 thousand are temporary construction jobs. As for the one billion staying in the state. Is that if everyone stops going out of state? I don't plan on stopping going to Windsor. We get free rooms. They have great accommodations and I am not here. To me it was the same old bullshit of the lottery. The money benefits schools. Well it does in ways. But the state tells you what you can use the money on. Can't use the computer they have for you you lose out. How many computers can a school have? In the meantime here we have a school that badly needs allot of repair. But that is ok just go back to the taxpayers for help. Its bullshit.
Time will tell how bad or if this was a mistake.
Time will tell how bad or if this was a mistake.
In marriage there is always one person right. And the other one is the husband.