Letter to the Editor
Energy solution
Published Saturday, June 21, 2008
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Stumble It!June 17, 2008
We have a solution to the energy crisis in Alaska.
Adopt Oregon’s system of legalizing gambling. By adopting their proven system, all profits would go to legal Alaska residents to offset the rising costs due to the energy crisis.
Nancy Melchert
Denise Corell
Community Discussion
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Personally, the idea of Casinos/gambling/state lotto or somesuch is appealing. Pull-tabs, BINGO, duckie-races and the like are all forms of gambling, and they are legal, so other forms aren't too much of a stretch in my view. I'm not too sure about the profits going to residents to offset any costs, but other than that...?
'Course, I haven't researched the subject, so I'm open to furthering my knowledge from any that know more than I here.
Gambling could start a whole new problem, if you know what I mean.
Families might pack up and leave to their family in the lower 48 but I've seen gambling break up too many families.
My uncle was murdered in Texas over a poker game.
Let's not forget the Nenana Ice Classic, a classic case of gambling! Why not start a state Lotto, which I know would be small, but then join the multi-national Powerball. or another one? Gamblers will gamble anyway, it doesn't matter if it is legal or not. I still play the Powerball everytime I get a chance, it's just the state is not getting a cut of the money when it could! Also, talk about gambling, have you seen someone go into a Pull-Tab's place on Friday, or whatever day they get paid, they spend money faster than a person on speed at a slot machine!
Don't forget the rat races. You have opened the great moral debate of Alaska when it comes to gambling.
I lived in Las Vegas for 6 years. Folks! Those casinos weren't built that glamourous because people won. What Las Vegas did do is have really high sales tax, property tax, etc, it didn't have income tax in Nevada. They did use part of the bed tax to lower the costs for the airlines so it was cheaper to bring in the tourists.
When gambling too a big slump the state went to other industries such as Ford Aerospace etc and asked what it would take for them to move in and hire Nevadans and was told they needed to revamp the courses at UNLV and Nevada did it.
Nevada also capitalized on the Film industry allowing movie makers opportunities to work there.
That's what we need to do talk to other industries and find out what we can do. Use the money to provide training for Alaskans so we are ready for new industry. That will bring costs down and provide more jobs.
Historic gaming could revive Fairbanks much like Dawson City. I can see it now, a paddle wheel riverboat casino on the bank of the Chena River and a gold rush saloon/casino pumping money into the town and eliminating out property taxes.
Oh wait, I forgot that the great leaders of out State need to legislate morality and they know what is best for us peons.
The way Kansas City got around the rules of the casinos is they put them on river boats. I have no idea the jurisdiction of our rivers but this could be a way of bringing them in. They used to have gambling down on the River Key but the mafia blew them up.
"Lotteries are a tax on the stupid"
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/...
So what if lotteries are a tax on the stupid. I have no problem with stupid people supporting the stupid spendthrift policies of stupid legislators. In fact, it seems rather appropriate in an ironic sort of way.
If lotteries are taxes on the stupid, what's IRS? Disorganized crime?
it would be ok as long as they dont build those ugly casinos here.
i wonder how property taxes are affected? pro-con, someone. how is real estate affected? pro-con? anybody. based on the states that have gambleing, how much of the money actually trickles down to the residents? i cant find anything about it on the oregon sites.
They could put it in the old K-Mart....But hey there is no tax structure to benifit from it.
I love the idea very much. I would not be the one gambling but it sure sounds like it would save me a lot of money when almost all the losers are paying for my part.
Fairbanksgas:
"...the great leaders of out State need to legislate morality and they know what is best for us peons."
There it is, in a nutshell. The problem behind every problem. Doesnt matter if its gambling, royalty money, or anything else you can imagine; those in power want control, and to be able to decide what is done with what is rightfully YOUR money and freedom.
Morality? No two people think alike; making any private affair illegal is only placing more importance on one persons ideals over another...its just plain wrong.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go get drunk and play poker. Wish me luck; if I win I'm headed straight to the cathouse...
denali guy
be sure to cover your rig.
I liked all the posts here on this...
Personally, I always have a "back-up" when gambling, and never go to a game alone....their is no such thing as a "friendly" game. Also...I rarely gamble. As for the Casino's...the flashier the better...maybe we can work there??
Hey, if we flooded the area under The Nenana at Pioneer Park, we could float the boat and have gambling, and the park would make money, too.
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