The Observation Deck

Posted: **Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:53 am**

It's not working Bret, which is why my vote would be NO.

Posted: **Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:54 am**

stephen davis wrote: The Ohio Lottery money is promised to go to education. Technically it does, but it only supplants money from the general fund. If more people buy lottery tickets, it does not add an extra dime to the education budget.

Prairie Meadows has provided a very profitable return on Polk County taxpayers' investment since the casino opened. From 1995 through 2003, Prairie Meadows returned over $308.5 million to Polk County in the form of lease payments, taxes and grant funding. Those monies are used by the county for funding education, human services, infrastructure and economic development projects, and for property tax relief.

Nearly $23 million charitable donations has been awarded from Prairie Meadows to worthwhile community organizations since 1995. Prairie Meadows donated more than $3 million to many of these charities in 2003 alone. Furthermore, Prairie Meadows has committed $1 million each to the Public Library of Des Moines, the Science Center of Iowa, and Drake University Stadium for their new building projects to be funded over a five-year period.

PM puts their money where their mouth is.

Posted: **Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:56 am**

Shawn,
Yes I did interject my personal opinion on other issues surround casinos but I still stated my reason for voting NO which is the exact example of the lottery mentioned here. I don't believe there is enough good coming from the money for our state as evidenced by the lottery and I don't think putting the money in the wrong hands helps the state overall. I guess you missed that part.

Posted: **Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:58 am**

PM puts their money where their mouth is-and Ohio puts it where? The schools are on the bottom of the list. Action speaks louder than words.

Posted: **Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:59 am**

Bret Callentine wrote:
I would never want it in Cleveland or anywhere in Ohio unless we waited until it was done right and children in inner city schools could benefit by getting proper books and toilet paper in their schools.
Justine, right now the state of Ohio runs the lottery and instant lottery system. How's that working out for the schools?

It is not a morality issue for me but the truth is, there are pawn shops ouside of every casion for a reason.
That is an inaccurate assesment. there are only pawn shops outside of casinos that target that type of clientel.

For instance, I can tell you, there isn't a single pawn shop outside the Casino in Baden Baden. But there are a few nice jewelry stores.

Down the street from the Hotel Casino I stayed at in London was the Lamborghini/Ferrari dealership, but no pawn shops.

Which American casinos don't have pawn shops outside of them? Atlantic City, Vegas, Detroit, W. Va?

Posted: **Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:01 pm**

Justine, so is your argument that since our state and county officials are corrupt, we shouldn't allow a new industry to add to the incoming funds?

Posted: **Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:05 pm**

Which American casinos don't have pawn shops outside of them? Atlantic City, Vegas, Detroit, W. Va?

While I have not been there personally, I don't believe Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods are in areas where you would find a pawn shop.

Posted: **Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:05 pm**

Bret Callentine wrote:Justine, so is your argument that since our state and county officials are corrupt, we shouldn't allow a new industry to add to the incoming funds?

Did she say corrupt? I didn't see that. Help me find it.

Steve

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Posted: **Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:05 pm**

Justine Cooper wrote: Which American casinos don't have pawn shops outside of them? Atlantic City, Vegas, Detroit, W. Va?

I could be wrong, but when I was at Greektown Casino in Detroit I didn't see any around...

Posted: **Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:06 pm**

Would it be better if the promise of the lottery or the casino gambling supporting education was removed and simply privatized. Why should education be funded by gambling anyway? Seems it may just be a way to sway those who feel it's morally wrong to gamble.

Posted: **Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:08 pm**

The good that could come from a casino has not been proven to me by the lottery and the monopoly set up so my vote is no. Even you admitted that there are problems with it so why are you so surprised some would vote no?

Posted: **Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:09 pm**

Did she say corrupt? I didn't see that. Help me find it.

well...

I don't believe there is enough good coming from the money for our state as evidenced by the lottery and I don't think putting the money in the wrong hands helps the state overall.

she didn't say corrupt, however, would this not suggest at least "inept"?

and as the money would be going directly to the counties, then perhaps she should further define why she considers them to be the "wrong hands".

Posted: **Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:10 pm**

Shawn Juris wrote:Would it be better if the promise of the lottery or the casino gambling supporting education was removed and simply privatized. Why should education be funded by gambling anyway? Seems it may just be a way to sway those who feel it's morally wrong to gamble.

I gamble so its not about that for me.

Posted: **Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:13 pm**

Since you are asking in the third person I will let someone answer what I mean or what is in my head. I have a unit on the Civil War to write and avoiding it by arguing here won't change my vote or yours.

Posted: **Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:24 pm**

Shawn Juris wrote:Would it be better if the promise of the lottery or the casino gambling supporting education was removed and simply privatized.

Shawn,

I'm not even sure what you mean by that.

Shawn Juris wrote:Why should education be funded by gambling anyway? Seems it may just be a way to sway those who feel it's morally wrong to gamble.

Education should be supported by the general budget. Using people's interest in education to install a lottery that is said to ADD money to the education budget, but, in fact, does not, is just not honest. THAT is morally wrong.

Again, I'm not against gambling. I am in favor of honest and good government.

Issue 6 is not passing the smell test for me.

Steve

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