THE PUBLIC MIND: RIVERBOAT GAMBLING FOSTERS THE BELIEF THAT PEOPLE CAN GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING

To the Editor:

I am here to speak to my community from a viewpoint which is increasingly being looked down upon, ridiculed and even called crazy by our secular elite!

They say:

"You can't legislate morals."

"Separation of church and state."

"Beware of religious fanaticism."

But it is just for this reason I write, to state my belief in the statutes and laws of the Biblical God, to encourage others of the same conviction and to try to persuade any who are not currently accepting of this ideal.

As I have previously stated in a letter to the editor, I believe gambling to be a moral problem for our community and our nation as well.

"Well that does it, I've already divided the readers in 50 different ways! Well sometimes you can't win for losing!"

Which brings me to a major point. This is the whole premise of gambling. The odds are completely in the favor of the casino owners and lottery beneficiaries. So, in essence, casinos are banks offering incentives to foolish depositors, advertising the possibility of extremely high rates of interest on their deposits. All the while knowing their planned rate to be "little or nothing."

"All who are willing to invest in a bank set up this way contact me! I will be more than willing to help you lose your money. ... I mean, invest your money!"

Lotteries are set up in the same way. Every odd has been figured and the profits predistributed to be contributions (not taxes?) to our government so we don't have to pay higher taxes. Figure that one out!

Who if not the taxpayer is funding the lottery?

"But Bruce you're missing the point! It's just for fun."

I agree that for the minority this is true. But being a human being (believe it or not!) I know my own greed factor and rather than deny it, I have found that a healthy realization of my greed is a help to me in my everyday life. For when I choose to spend or give my money to someone or something, I expect something in return.

If I donate to the church, hospital or charity, I expect that my money will go to the real needs of these groups.

When buying food, cloths, necessities and wants I expect a good product, manufactured with good workmanship, worth the price asked.

Since I must pay taxes (definitely not my choice!) I expect all the more our elected officials to use wisdom in how and where to appropriate uses for my taxes, as well as that some will be held in reserve to help me in my time of need!

It's the same with gambling, the incentive is not the enjoyment of playing games of chance or to raise tax money for our schools. The true incentive for everyone is the hope of getting something in return. (Usually, a large return for a little investment or "something for nothing.")

If this is not true, then why is it we do not see casinos with non-betting games just for the fun of it? Why hasn't anyone developed a game you may purchase with cards that are just one big rub-off so that people could really enjoy the thrill of scratching the top off just to see what is written underneath?

No, we all know the truth of why people gamble, just as we all know the problems associated with gambling. So the questions I pose are:

Will this community live in denial of this reality or will we choose to live in the truth?

Will our ministers lead us to the voting booths to make a stand for righteousness?

Will our community leaders make decisions based on Godly principles, not only considering the outcome of these decisions now, but also the future?

Will we as a community justify this sin by saying "it will pay taxes that we don't want to pay, bring jobs and draw people and this area" without acknowledging our own involvement in tempting others in sin?

Do we really believe the end justifies the means with God? I think not. But many people today do.

I believe God's ways are the best and that the majority of the citizens of this community know this to be true. You that disagree, I will leave to time and fate to learn the lesson the hard way.

If this community is looking for a new business to locate here, I would suggest the purpose to be more jobs that have a long-term potential for workers, a business that believes in and builds with high moral standards, one that not just takes from the community and surrounding area but gives and in the future will prove to be an asset instead of a liability.

We have some businesses who exemplify these standards and they have shown themselves to be assets to this community.

Bruce Collier

Cape Girardeau