LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: SHORTCOMINGS ARE CONTROLLABLE

To the Editor:

In a recent letter to the editor, John Blue stated some concerns about the forthcoming election. He opts to have his opinion heard, while wanting to deny university students their legal right to express their opinion through voting. But I am sure that as a proponent of a vote on a school bond issue, a flood control plan or a new sales tax, he would not object to the students being courted for their positive vote. Neither would he call them "transient young people," nor would he say they were being used as pawns for political or selfish purposes.

The university is a vital part of Cape and the students meeting the legal requirements have exactly the same voting rights as any other citizen of the community. And contrary to what Mr. Blue may think, both sides of the riverboat gambling issue are vying for the university vote.

The overused 4 percent unemployment figure for this area is misleading in what it leaves unsaid. It does not include those who are no longer eligible for unemployment. Employment at minimum wage, while getting only twenty hours of work a week, is considered as being employed. By helping some of these people become gainfully employed, we create the stable community that enhances the quality of life for this entire area.

We now have a chance to have a premium gambling casino on the riverfront attracting many thousands of visitors. These folks, many of them on weekend tour buses, are generally law-abiding, honest, senior citizens seeking entertainment with their own age groups. The money they spend will help pay employees and purchase supplies. These employees in turn will use that money for food, clothing and, yes, even church offerings. This without even considering the tax gain to city and state for budgetary purposes.

We absolutely must take advantage of this windfall. We are pleased when a new industry selects Cape as a home even at 25 or 50 jobs. We don't worry about pollution, smog, odor, part-time jobs or competition with established businesses. Let us not reject this last, maybe only, chance for such economic growth. We need to work together to gain this facility and accept any "perceived shortcomings" as incidental and controllable and much more a gain than a detriment to our community.

John L.E. Boardman

Cape Girardeau