LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: GAMBLING EXPLOITS PEOPLE

To the Editor:

Over the course of these long months that we have been forced to debate riverboat gambling, I have had ample opportunity to consider why both my mind and my heart find the possibility of its introduction into the Cape Girardeau community so detestable. I can boil down my arguments in opposition to a single word: exploitation. The dictionary defines exploitation as "unethical utilization for selfish purposes."

This exploitation occurs on a number of levels.

1. Fundamental to gambling is the exploitation of those who come to gamble by those who own and operate. Gambling exists in order that a few people become wealthy at the expense of those who can be enticed to wager and lose.

2. In our local situation, there has been the exploitation of this community by the Las Vegas gambling money of the Boyd Group. Hiding behind the efforts of local citizens to promote gambling is an enormous amount of outside money.

3. There is the attempt by a few, who wrongly believe their businesses will profit from the arrival of gambling boats, to exploit the entire community for their benefit. Greed is a powerful motivator that warps human reasoning.

4. There is the attempt to exploit university students. Ever since the night in June when gambling was defeated, proponents have publicly stated that next time their campaign would enlist the support of college students. Such efforts to manipulate university students are misguided and misjudge the ability of students to think critically about this issue.

5. There is the exploitation of the general population by the local media in attempting to bias people in favor of gambling. The economic arguments presented by gambling proponents are taken directly from the figures supplied by the gambling interests and are treated as holy gospel. Such figures ignore a wealth of experience in other states and studies in the social sciences which document the damaging effects of gambling on individuals, families and communities. The media always seems to cast their lot with those who bring them the richest advertising dollars.

Cape Girardeau has the legal right to refuse to permit riverboat gambling as an activity which will undermine the quality of life in this community. The people of Cape Girardeau have the right to say "no" -- again.

The Rev. Craig L. Nessan

Cape Girardeau