LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: LET'S EARN OUR MONEY

To the Editor:

As Nov. 2 draws near, many of us are chagrined to have to fight the same battle again after only a few months. On the other hand, what a privilege to live in the U.S.A. where people can control the destiny of their own town, city or state. The only catch is that following the vote the majority decision rules and the rest have to abide by the decision - unless the majority didn't take the time to go to the polls and express themselves. Then they find themselves doing the will of the minority.

If you are an "occasional voter" who trusts the good judgment of your neighbors except in "special" cases, let us assure you that this is a "special" case. There is no doubt that lots of money will begin to flow in this area if Cape gets a riverboat casino, but just like the quarter that the magician supposedly pulls out of the ear of a wide-eyed child, the money that is magically pulled out of a community has to come from somewhere. If it came only from the recreational budget of the well-to-do, it may not matter so much, but our state lotteries have demonstrated that the money spent gambling comes in large quantities from people of all income levels whether their families can afford it or not and the gambler always loses in the long run. He has to -- the machines are set to guarantee it.

If you listen carefully to the promotional material of the "Yes" group, you will notice they make no attempt to hide the fact that the various kinds of happiness they promise if Cape gets a riverboat casino are all tied to money. No one would deny that in our system some money, at least, is essential for happiness, providing the basics of life. Likewise, anyone who has live din Cape as long as we have (26 years) cannot help having sympathy for the owners of high quality businesses in downtown Cape who have seen that area drained of its income by the development of, first, the Town Plaza and then the West Park Mall. The downtown merchants are fighting valiant battle to keep that area alive and attractive. More power to them!

You can't blame these merchants for forming a coalition to attract income to their area, but in this case you voters who have spent a lifetime observing what it takes to build a good community and what it takes to destroy one have good reason to say, "the price we would have to pay for this money is too high." Even Donald Trump, when recently asked if he would like to have a riverboat casino in his town, is quoted as saying, "Absolutely not!" He should know.

The argument has been given that much of the money would come from outsiders and not from Cape residents, but we suspect that there is still a majority of Cape Girardeau that would be no more comfortable fleecing outsiders than they would be fleecing their own friends and family.

Cape is a wonderful place to live! Let's make it even better by continuing to make money "the hard way," as they say in the Smith-Barney TV commercial, by earning it.

Ken and Bonnie G. Moxey

Cape Girardeau