Community Perspective
Commission could expand gambling
Authority exceeds the stated intent
Published Saturday, August 23, 2008
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Stumble It!I’m no war history buff, but tactical strategies used in the past intrigue me. During the Trojan War, the Greeks couldn’t muster up what was needed to get into Troy so they built a large wooden horse with a hollowed-out belly for soldiers to hide in. The Trojans marveled at the creation and ushered it into their city. That night, when people were asleep or in a drunken stupor, the Greek warriors came out from inside the horse and slaughtered the Trojans.
Mark Twain has said that while history doesn’t necessarily repeat itself, it rhymes.
Alaskans go to the polls soon to cast their vote on Ballot Measure 1, an effort to create the Alaska Gaming Commission that will indisputably have the ability to expand gambling in our state.
Here’s why the Trojan Horse analogy exists.
Those pushing this measure have tried to expand gambling in Alaska legislatively and they’ve failed each time. This effort, they insist, is simply about enhanced regulation of current charitable gaming activities.
They state that Ballot Measure 1 will “only create a gaming commission” and that the “initiative, in itself, would not increase gambling in Alaska.” Sounds a bit defensive doesn’t it? If that truly is the case, why does Ballot Measure 1 state that “the Alaska Gaming Commission is established for the purposes of generating revenue for the state” and that the commission will have the ability to “authorize gaming activities”?
They claim that the “will of the people, not the Legislature, would decide what gaming activities would or would not be authorized.” Really? Three members of the seven-person commission will “constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.” And what is their business? Having “the authority to allow games of chance, such as lotteries and casino games, in the future.” How do three people represent the “will of the people?”
What about the revenue they assert will be generated by additional gambling? That, too, is a ruse. A former Nevada governor has said that, “For years, our economy has depended almost exclusively on tourism and gaming (gambling), rather than by exporting goods and services. Implicit in this tax strategy was a belief that the revenues from gaming and tourism could keep pace with our growing and diverse population. Unfortunately, this strategy has failed. … My fellow Nevadans, the lesson from the last 20 years is clear; our revenue system is broken because it has relied on regressive and unstable taxes (from gambling).”
While some Alaskans may consider gambling to be a harmless pastime, many underestimate the costs in dollars and human suffering associated with it.
Studies show that 2.5 million Americans are pathological gamblers, and another 3 million are problem gamblers with higher rates of suicide, depression, mania, alcohol and drug abuse and arrest rates.
According to the American Insurance Institute, gambling is the main cause of white-collar crime and is the third-leading cause of individual bankruptcy in America. Is this the industry that promoters of Ballot Measure 1 say would create a “new, stable and consistent entertainment industry” in Alaska?
Why not just create the Alaska Prostitution Commission? That would certainly generate revenue but at what cost? Someone once said that “It is good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it’s good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure you haven’t lost the things money can’t buy.”
Gambling entices people with unrealistic hopes of escape from poverty through instant riches, and it undermines the work ethic. It’s based on the premise of something for nothing, a concept that sanctions idleness rather than industriousness.
Obviously, not all who gamble are addicts, but the overall economic and social costs are shared by everyone. Alaskans should ultimately have the final say as to whether our government should be partially funded by gambling. Voting “no” on Ballot Measure 1 keeps Alaskans in charge of that decision.
Supporters of Ballot Measure 1 have presented a house of cards. Alaskans need to call their bluff by voting “no” on Tuesday.
Jim Minnery of Anchorage is president and a founding member of the Alaska Family Council. A lifelong Alaskan, he worked in management and fundraising for the March of Dimes, American Red Cross of Alaska, Alaska Legal Services Corp. and, most recently, the Crisis Pregnancy Center of Alaska.
Community Discussion
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Gambling is a tax on stupidity.
If I want to pitch my money to the wind, too bad; its mine to pitch. Any pull-tab parlor will suffice and in fact those who are addictive gamblers already know this and take complete advantage of it.
Arguments of the cost to society don't hold water either; if this was a reason for the existence of laws, cigarettes and alcohol would become illegal overnight, a national speed limit of 30 mph would be rigidly enforced, and those below a minimum income who wish to have children would face mandatory abortion and sterilization.
MY constitutions, both federal and state, guarantee me a right to the pursuit of happiness, and I would like to take advantage of that right, thank you.
Yes on 1.
Voting is such a gamble.
DenaliGuy - As a historical note, the Constitution of the United States of America does not define any right to pursuit of happiness. That phrase is found in the Declaration of Independence, which does not have the authority of law.
On another historical note, lotteries were very common fund-raisers in the original 13 colonies for both the colonial governments and for private enterprise. In fact, the colony at Jamestown Virginia was funded by a government lottery in 1612.
Gambling is common to all human cultures, whether legal or illegal. No amount of preaching, beating, imprisonment, or other punishment can quell the practice.
Since humans are always going to play games of chance, and nothing can be done to effectively stop it, the government might as well get their cut of the action.
If the gaming laws are changed at proposed the nonprofits that now benefit from it will be cut out. They will have to resort begging the government for handouts. Why not leave gaming as it is? Thousands of non profits depend on it for all or some of their funding. Don't get me wrong, some of the nonprofits are not exactly charities. But there are many who are deserving of this funding.
Vote YES on 1
People will gamble no matter what. We can have card games in the basement of someones house or we can have it out in the open and collect taxes from it. The biggest reason to legalize it is the boom we would see from tourism. A historic gambling area near Pioneer Park would bring people in from all over the world. If we modeled it after Dawson City we would be sure winners.
DenaliGuy, I am with you!! (but you already know that we think pretty much alike) Hey, my Girlfriend sells pulltabs, and her livelyhood kind of depends on this NOT passing, but even with that, I am pressing everyone I know to PLEASE vote YES on BM#1. We NEED historic gaming and Pioneer Park would be the perfect venue. Oh, and about the non-profits...they have been hamstrung ever since the State decided that they cannot have Monte Carlo nights, or any other gambling type activity. Let's get back to some principles that the founding fathers wanted us to have....fun!!!
Again, Anchorage would most likely control the commission and Fairbanks will be lucky to get a few card tables. This needs more definition as to who would make up the commission.
Well written Perspective. In the life of gambling there are no winners. Only the House wins, ultimatly.
Let the Alaskan gaming laws the way it is! vote (NO) on ballot one!
Currently it is the state lawyers that are concern that locals are getting to much revenues and control from the gaming and they are after the profits. Again they are trying to control local
community economy.
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