LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: DESPICABLE MEANS OF GETTING MONEY

Dear Editor:

I was very pleased and, frankly, somewhat surprised to see the excellent article by Jay Eastlick on the front page about Dr. Robert Goodman's two year study on the aspects of casino gambling.

You know full well my feeling about what a threat casino gambling is regarding not only Cape Girardeau but the entire Southeast Missouri area. Only a handful of people will profit financially from this influx of thrill seekers. Those who walk on the boat will suffer most. Wherever they come from, they will take back less money than they came with. The bottom line is that it is just a sad waste of time and money. Money that could be used for the betterment of mankind or to improve one's own situation is laid down on the table in hopes that you can take away somebody else's money. However, in reality, in the long run it goes to the casino operator.

Perhaps the saddest commentary of this whole scenario is the excitement and anticipation of the legislature, who maintains full partnership in this venture with the hope of a 20 percent take of the gross revenue for the state. I think this is a despicable means of obtaining money to run the government. It will simply encourage further corruption in our upper echelon of government agencies. In the long run as we begin to depend on income from the casinos, the ultimate course in three to five years will be the collapse for this "flash in the pan" and the programs that are established on the basis of the income obtained. I would be very cautious about establishing programs on such a source of income.

I question whether anybody has enough money or enough free time to be spending it the way it is spent on casinos. Yet, if this is brought into our city, there will be a number of people who will waste their time, spend their money, and sacrifice their talent, their friends, and their family to this effort.

RICHARD A. MARTIN, M.D.

Cape Girardeau