LETTERS: VOTE FOR SLOT MACHINES IS A VOTE TO ENCOURAGE ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR

To the editor:

In a seemingly never-ending political struggle, Missourians are yet again asked to vote on riverboat gambling. The issues remain as before: A vote for slot machines is a vote to encourage a potentially ruinous addictive behavior and to allow out-of-state parasites to suck money from (mainly) Missourians. Big Money Gambling will gladly spout off about "community development" and throw a few paychecks our way for the privilege of fleecing us. Yet it is clear that they take more than they give. Unlike our federal government, they don't believe in deficit spending. Big Money Gambling believes only in a very positive bottom line. Summon the energy to vote no again.

JIM FLETCHER

Cape Girardeau