Your daily Letter to the Columnist — Sept. 25, 2012
Copyright 1909 A.L. Simpson (expired) | Wikimedia Commons
He liked my parable about the hotdog stands and gambling
Dear Mr. Casey,
Virginia colleagues forwarded me a copy of your very fine article “Casino gambling: glitz, glitter, then downward spiral.”
You are one of the few news reporters who has accurately conveyed to the public the true nature and consequences of legalized gambling. At the University of Illinois, my colleagues and I monitor news reports on gambling from around the world, but your article immediately captured our attention as you effectively detailed and explained the socio-economics of gambling activities. The academic reports, as well as the U.S. National Gambling Impact Study Commission completed in 1999, support your analysis 100 percent.
Unfortunately, too many news reporters just regurgitate the PR of the multi-billion dollar gambling interests. Accordingly, your analysis was particularly refreshing.
You may wish to go to the website for “60 Minutes” and watch two investigatory news videos utilizing our research–specifically, “Financial WMDs” and “Slot Machines: The Big Gamble.” Mr. Les Bernal, who is one of those interviewed in the latter story, maintains a well-respected informational website and it may benefit you in future stories–when the casinos and slot machine facilities try to leverage themselves into Virginia.
As a person who grew up in the Shenandoah Valley and attended U.Va. and William & Mary, I would personally be disappointed if the Virginia of our forefathers corrupted itself with the ubiquitous gambling corruption which has grown throughout Illinois since the Illinois legislature invited gambling into Illinois in 1990.
Best regards,
Prof. John Kindt, Senior Ed.
United States International Gambling(R) Report
University of Illinois
CHAMPAIGN, IL
September 25, 2012 - 1:30 PM
I wonder which “Virginia of our Forefathers” Professor Kindt is describing.
“[G]aming was a centerpiece of colonial life. Everybody did it—men, women, rich, poor, gentry, and slave. Like their English cousins, colonists bet on all sorts of things. They wagered on card games, like whist, piquet, cribbage, loo, put, and all-fours. Foreigners reported that card lovers could start a game after supper and play until dawn. Dice was a standard pastime, and betting on combative activities—bear baiting, cock fights, dog fights, dogs killing rats, target shooting, and wrestling matches—was popular.”
http://www.history.org/foundation/journal/autumn08/gamble.cfm
Good thing Libs don’t have to take an intelligence test to vote. You are lemmings doing just what you are told. What happened to closing GITMO? What happened to cutting the deficit in half or being a one term President? What about appointing 42 czars, some such as Van Jones as admitted communists? What about Cathleen Sabelius violating her oath of office? What about immigration reform? Why is Obama’s college and passport records sealed? OH, never mind – It’s somehow George Bush’s fault. Sandi – if you can pull yourself away from that dozen Krispy Kreme donuts maybe you will enlighten us with your answer?
@2 Comment by Matt — September 25, 2012 @ 6:08 pm
Posting that drivel demonstrates ignorance, unfamiliarity with factual data, your ability to parrot RW discredited memes, and shows a complete inability for civil discourse.
Your lies do not deserve nor require an answer matt, although an intelligence test (among others) does seem to be indicated, given the level of sophistry you parrot.
Hollins has to be bursting buttons over pride at “educating” you! Cowards who hide in the safety of anonymity to attack people are so often well educated, on paper. The truth belies that piece of paper just as often.
I wonder…if casino gambling did come to Virginia, would it come here, or would it stay in the areas that already draw most of the tourism, such as Va Beach and NoVa?
I also wonder if Matt knows what an open thread is, as opposed to a “Your daily letter to the columnist” thread.
Capital M Matt is the formerly beloved poster known as Dublin Dawg, btw.
Well Dan, that explains it all right there.
He never was much for reading.
Sandi,
Your apology for being unable to read names correctly is accepted. Next time, slow down a little bit and breathe before posting your tripe. You won’t look so foolish.
So exactly what is it about gambling that liberals don’t like. I mean I realize it raises revenue without implementing new taxes, but still. Among the negatives I recall being cited by liberals:
-Drinking: Despite the fact that liberals have oft cited the belief that liquor sales could privatized so corner stores selling liquor can pop up in every low-income neighborhood
-Drug dealing and use: Despite the fact that liberals have long argued that drug distribution and use is a personal choice that should be decriminalized
-Prostitution: Despite the fact that liberals have long argued that Republicans are the ones who are too uptight about sex and should loosen up
-People losing life savings and ending up on welfare: Despite the fact that liberal social and economic policies have put more people on the welfare roles than any amount of gambling ever could
If you look at the liberals past political platforms, you’d think they would want legalized gambling because to hear them tell it, it advances most everything they like.
Chuck, this liberal doesn’t care about gambling. How’s that?
#3 Shrillary, DD’s shown us all of that and more many times in the past. I mean, this is the guy who once tried to convince me that he had been secretly stalking me.
I like to gamble…especially on college football and especially against the Maryland Terps. They are a truly horrible football team.
But I don’t want casinos in Virginia. It is sad watching people who have very little money give it away to casinos. Virginia should be above that slimy business.
I do apologize Hollins matt, sincerely. Even you do not deserve to be confused with Dublin Dawg Matt! What is it with the multiple names and ID’s?
Please do not conflate not knowing there were now two anonymous attackers hiding in the safety of anonymity and using the name “matt” with being “foolish”. That honor goes to both of you, not me.
I see nothing good coming of casinos or more gambling in Virginia. It advances nothing that liberals “like” and everything that can demoralize and trash a community. Like a lot of other schemes, the real money is at and for the top and the customers, workers and community suffer from what I see. If that is our “jobs plan” we are in hotter water than I realized.
If you look at the conservatives political platforms and ideology, you’d know why they would want legalized gambling because it absolutely advances most everything they like.
Sandi,
No, the foolish part is attacking the wrong person because you failed to differentiate between capital M Matt and myself (matt). That’s okay. I’m sure no one ever accused you of being very perceptive anyway…
Either way, your apology is accepted. Thank you, and I mean that sincerely.
There is a Captial M Matt, who is the former Dublin Dawg.
Then, there is little m matt, who I nicknamed Master’s Degree matt, because he bragged about his from Hollins.
Everybody got that straight? I honestly understand the confusion. Frankly I think M-D-m is smarter but they have posted stuff that sounds similar.
“I honestly understand the confusion.” -Dano
Sure, I mean, we are taught the difference between capital and lowercase letters in kindergarten…but Dan understands the confusion these things cause his liberal buddies.
Lol.
Liberals are taught that capitalization of proper nouns is correct English. We understand the confusion these things cause the “conservatives” here.
Lol.
Nuts can also be written nuts. But there really isn’t any difference.
20.Liberals are taught that capitalization of proper nouns is correct English. We understand the confusion these things cause the “conservatives” here.
Comment by Kristen — September 26, 2012 @ 3:12 pm
21.Nuts can also be written nuts. But there really isn’t any difference.
Comment by dave — September 26, 2012 @ 3:17 pm
Oops!! Hey dave, sounds like Kristen and yourself have a lot to talk about. Lol. You guys are great. Please, keep commenting.
“21.Nuts can also be written nuts.”
Ha! FTW!
@23
All attempts at deflection aside, I’m sure ol’ dave forgives you.
Ha!
Pretty sure the “deflection” is from the guy who whines “we are taught the difference between capital and lowercase letters in kindergarten” and yet cannot correctly write his own name. You are correct, that should have been my clue.
Hey SS,
Lol.
I guess you didn’t understand how Kristen insulted your buddy dave by using that same line (that whole lack of perception thingy really is apparent). So now, you have insulted your buddy dave, too! Lol. Wow, you libs are great. Please, like I said earlier, keep commenting. It’s just one blunder after another.