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8

PD endorsed casino amendment in ‘06 but blasts video games now


Okay. Whatever. But this kind of editorial wishy-washiness is exactly why I gave up my subscription:

Strickland is on record opposing casinos in Ohio. Our support for them has been tepid, but at least casinos generate big money for government and create thousands of jobs. Gambling machines in bars do neither. What’s more, as much as slot machines sap disposable income, they’re a wise investment compared to the odds of winning lottery-sponsored games.

In 2006, Ohio voters rejected casino gambling for the third time. But that loss can be attributed largely to the fact that proponents waged an awful campaign trying to justify a horribly crafted plan that would have simply handed casino franchises to developers and racetrack owners absent a scintilla of competition.

The ongoing proliferation of casinos in states bordering Ohio makes it increasingly likely that voters would approve a thoughtful plan that would award a few casinos to the highest bidders.

“Thoughtful” must be the operative word when it comes to any expansion of gambling in the state. And there’s nothing the least bit thoughtful about Strickland’s idea of expanding it by putting gambling machines in bars.

Of course, as we all know, you can no longer read the Plain Dealer’s Sunday, October 15, 2006 endorsement of Issue 3, aka the Ohio Learn and Earn amendment.

But here are the posts I wrote about it:

October 16, 2006

November 9, 2006

Again, whatever.

Does no one remember that the lottery commission was going to be able to get its hands on the casinos if the proper new commission didn’t get formed?  And what would be difference, which commission controlled the gambling?

Why the splicing and dicing, I don’t know.  Issue 3 was lousy and this lottery commission-run bar-focused video game is likewise lousy.  Why can’t the PD just say that? Because it made a bad endorsement of Issue 3 and now has to CYA for it.  I didn’t buy it then, I don’t buy it now and it’s why any flames thrown by traditional journalists at citizen journalists sputter to embers: no adequate transparency.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:54 pm February 8th, 2008 in Blogging, Cleveland+, Economy, Gambling, Government, Media, Ohio, Politics, Statehouse, Ted Strickland 

Comments

3 Responses to “PD endorsed casino amendment in ‘06 but blasts video games now”

  1. 1 Village Green on February 8th, 2008 8:56 pm

    I’m so ambivalent about gambling. Personally, I’d rather throw money off a bridge and watch it float away than participate in any kind of gambling activity. However, that doesn’t give me the right to tell others they can’t do it. Yet on the other hand, some people screw up their lives doing it. And I suppose that is their right to do so.

    As for Strickland’s proposal, it just seems so sad and desperate — making money for the state off of people who have an urge to gamble.

  2. 2 Jill Miller Zimon on February 8th, 2008 11:16 pm

    I think that’s a very, very honest comment that reflects how many people feel. And I agree – the proposal seems sad and desperate – I’m really pretty surprised – it seems way out of character.

  3. 3 links for 2008-02-10 | The BFD on Brewed Fresh Daily on February 10th, 2008 3:25 am

    [...] PD endorsed casino amendment in ‘06 but blasts video games now | Writes Like She Talks [...]

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