To be changed

Are you familiar with Issue 3 in Ohio. Simply put: Casinos in Ohio, yes or no?

Perhaps voters in Ohio’s voting tomorrow (Tuesday, November 3) have been quick to dismiss value statements made about Issue 3, the effort to change the Ohio Constitution to allow four casinos to be built in the borders of the great state of Ohio. Perhaps voters have dismissed the talk about the dangers of gambling. Perhaps they have dismissed the statistics that show an increase in crime, depression, divorce and suicide in communities in which casinos have been built in neighboring states, like Indiana. Perhaps they find church leaders hypocritical to speak against Issue 3 while themselves benefiting from (Catholic) festivals that using gaming as a way to raise funds. Perhaps they have just dismissed the value statements made against the issue because they don’t want some pious religious fundamentalists telling them what to do.

Or maybe it isn’t what they are dismissing, but what they are accepting. Perhaps they have accepted the promise to bring in 34,000 new jobs into Ohio. Perhaps they have bought into the promise of taxes collected to benefit both state and local budgets. Perhaps they think those funds are needed in communities, like Cincinnati, to improve the schools or start or maintain government programs. Perhaps they just want a casino because they have bought into the talk about how “If Ohioans are going to gamble anyway in Kentucky or Indiana or Michigan, then why shouldn’t that money stay in Ohio.” Perhaps voters just want a casino nearby so they don’t have to drive as far to gamble responsibly.

You may think that it is no big deal. You may think that it would be good for local communities, like Cincinnati’s Broadway Commons. You may think it is alright to spend a night out at the casinos, gamble responsibly with a pre-determined amount and have a few drinks. You may find it silly that Ohio allows the lottery and horse racing but not casinos. You may even think that during times of financial difficulty when the state and local communities are struggling that they could use the additional jobs and tax revenue. Maybe you feel this is hopeful for these four communities in Ohio.

But friends of Ohio, this is a tragic hope. Regardless if you dismiss the value statements or statistics, casinos have systemic problems. Sure there may be some benefit to government programs but they do not out-weigh the problems caused by casino gambling. In fact the lottery is a regressive institution that hurts the poor with the hope to “strike it rich.” And do you think that the Ohio educational systems have really seen much benefit from the lottery? If so, how? And since when did Ohio voters start caring so much about raising tax revenue to support governmental programs and local community budgets?

Casinos are not the answer. Casinos are not the best way to improve local communities. Casinos are a slippery slope. The logic follows that legalized and taxes prostitution could benefit state and local budgets. But we know that prostitution has systemic problems. We have to care for others and consider how our “freedom” is harmful to others who will be greatly harmed. And in the end, it is only some millionaire who owns the casinos who stands to benefit the most.

So Ohioans if you plan to vote, I hope decide to vote NO on Issue 3. It is a tragic hope.