Columnists take on gambling legislation


Since it was announced that House Speaker DeLeo, Senate President Murray, and Governor Patrick had reached a compromise to bring three Vegas-style casinos and one slot parlor to the state, much has been said on news programs and in newspaper columns about it.

Just today, Boston Globe columnist Joan Vennochi wrote about Governor Patrick’s broken promise in her column “Path is clear for slots, casinos.” She writes: “Patrick never fulfilled the pledge that he made on Dec. 9, 2009, to seek a ‘fresh, independent and transparent analysis of the benefits and costs of expanded gambling.’”

Vennochi continues by saying “few people seem to care that the rosy job and revenue projections” are outdated and that competition from bordering states is “inconsequential.” She also wonders allowed “why the public seems blissfully unaware of the outrages and scandals that are sure to arise.”

On Monday, Joe Fitzgerald wrote in the Boston Herald about the issue in his column “If state wins gaming fight, we all lose.” He starts out the column by talking about the reality that “who frames the question wins the issue.” He then makes the comparison to the fight over same-sex “marriage” that took place in Massachusetts a few years back.

“Gay marriage, a violation of an institution ordained by God and embraced through the ages by faiths and cultures all over the world, was camouflaged as a matter of civil rights, remember?

“Advocates, insisting that their rights had been violated, shamelessly compared themselves to bona fide martyrs such as Freedom Riders, thus achieving their goal while muzzling any input from the voters.”

Fitzgerald points out that the same thing is happening all over again on the issue of expanded predatory gambling. He explains that the issue is “bring fraudulently framed by those who insist it’s the answers to all of our fiscal woes…” He takes House Speaker DeLeo to task, saying he is “feather[ing] his own nest while masquerading as a statesman” and that what he is doing is “diabolically disingenuous than any of the students dreamed up by his three felonious predecessors.”

Its not that people shouldn’t have the right to gamble away their own money, Fitzgerald writes; it’s that the government should not be “leeching off the losses of its citizens.”

Sources:

Joan Vennochi – Boston Globe – “Path is clear for slots, casinos”
Joe Fitzgerald – Boston Herald – “If the state wins gaming fight, we all lose”

Share:

More Posts

Vote NO on Question 4: Keep Dangerous Drugs Illegal!

Dangerous drugs will once again be on the ballot in this upcoming election. On November 5th, we urge you to vote NO on Question 4.  If passed, Question 4 would: These drugs have been documented to cause psychosis, mania, and other mental health issues that can be long-lasting. That’s why Question 4

Highlights from MFI’s 33rd Annual Banquet Celebration

We are happy to report our 33rd Annual Fundraising Banquet was a resounding success! Thank you to our guests and sponsors for their generous donations, which enable our vital work. We enjoyed an inspiring evening celebrating our hard-won victories. The theme of our banquet was Advancing Together, One Win at

Social Emotional Learning Sparks Concern Among MA Parents

MFI recognizes the challenges that Massachusetts parents face in overseeing their children’s education. To support them, we stay informed about developments in K-12 public schools and provide parents with information on how to protect their kids from harmful agendas. One prominent and concerning issue in education today is Social Emotional

Take the Pledge. Pray. Vote. Engage.

Join one million voters who are taking the pledge to pray for our nation, vote in every election, and engage in the process of civic involvement. Christians Engaged exists to awaken, educate, and empower believers in Jesus Christ to: PRAY for our nation and elected officials regularly, VOTE in every local, state,