LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: LITTLE MORE THAN `FOOL'S GOLD'

Dear Editor:

When I was a boy one of my friends had a real slot machine which was played with artificial coins. I learned early in life why slot machines were called "one arm bandits." Chris could set the machine to pay off often or seldom. The machine never gave back as much as we put into it. The machine always won! The only questions were, "how much?" and "how quickly?" would it win what we put in.

On April 5 we are being asked to repeal the wisdom of our constitution which has protected our citizens from machines that require little effort and no skill but are very effective at taking their money. Studies have shown that the younger people are when they begin to gamble the more likely they are to become addicted to the get rich appeal. Do we want to make these machines more accessible to a larger portion of our citizens? Some legislators want these machines in bars and restaurants all across our state. Voting "no" to this amendment will prevent their use on riverboats and buildings throughout Missouri.

Last year I bought some pyrite which is better known as "fool's gold." It got its name during the gold rush years when it's bright yellow color with a metallic luster caused people to mistake it for real gold.

To my surprise I discovered that pyrite does have gold values. However, it promises more than it delivers. I believe the jobs and tax benefits that riverboat gambling offers are real. However, national news magazines like "U.S. News and World Reports" and "Newsweek" have recently featured articles that describe the broken dreams of communities that expected "gold" and got "fool's gold."

John Kindt, commerce and legal policy professor at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, reported that for every job created by gambling activities the rest of the economy would lose two jobs. He referred to Alton, Illinois and to a study of Chicago that may have influenced Gov. Edgar's veto of a proposed land-based casino. Kindt also stated, "For every dollar the legalized gambling interests indicate is being contributed in taxes it really costs the taxpayers at least three dollars."

IS GAMBLING GOLD OR FOOL'S GOLD? I believe the gambling industry promises more than it can deliver. Our best chance to prevent higher taxes and tremendous social costs is to keep our constitution like it is. "VOTE NO" on April 5!

ROY JONES

Cape Girardeau