LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: TASTELESS CARTOON, DISAPPOINTING LETTER

Dear Editor,

To Mr. Bruce Collier, in reference to your letter and cartoon in Thursday's edition of the Southeast Missourian, the most important thing that people need to realize and accept is that there is, has, and always will be a good and bad. That comes with everything, regardless! And jobs, business, community growth, all involve money -- or haven't you noticed lately?

On the matter of gambling companies, you may note they give away an awful lot of money to charitable causes, create a vast amount of jobs, invest heavily in land development and infrastructure improvement, and many other positive (and expensive) enterprises. You, meanwhile, make it sound like they get a free lunch. But even the lower-skilled positions with the companies pay over $1 more than minimum wage, which is required by law!

The destructive effects you say gambling invokes are minimal compared to drugs, alcohol, etc. As far as state and local governments becoming dependent on gambling revenues, where is the proof here?

Mr. Collier, unless you can come up with a more viable proposal for jobs in the area, maybe more people would take stock in what you say. But waging fear tactics and invoking worry and making wild accusations, these things suggest to me you can only attack others.

I noticed during the election a candidate running for office suggested we use gambling revenue to help repair our infrastructure. Do you care to come up with a suggestion on how to replace that revenue (and the accompanying jobs)? Maybe you are in favor of being taxed more?

Jobs do not grow on trees, Mr. Collier. The Boyd Group has expressed a strong interest in our community for establishing a major entertainment and tourism destination site. In Nevada and nationwide, the company is well-respected and thought of as a solid corporate citizen. Universities and many others think highly of them. Your problem, Mr. Collier, is that you should read more and listen more to the good deeds of the company, instead of hanging up on the word gambling.

And by the way, what you immplied in your cartoon was tasteless. You talked about morality in your letter, then drew lewd and degrading pictures of women. Perhaps you ARE schizophrenic.

MONTE SKILES

Cape Girardeau