Is Casino Gambling Good for Working People and Families?

I’ve been vocally against casinos for a long, long time. I’m sure even people who share my thoughts can get tired of the passion I occasionally wield them.

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p>That said, I’m more interested in your thoughts and why you have them. Hopefully, you can expand this diary beyond those questions.  

Let’s expand the discussion and query the actions of union leadership to endorse the casino bill.

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p>I was raised in a union working class family with ancestors that fought for the basic concepts of unions (when it was a life threatening action to do so) and brother/sisterhood was the paramount ideal.  Watching the behavior of union leadership on the local, state and national level, I have had reason to question the integrity of the labor movement.  

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p>Self-serving, politically motivated and short-sighted actions seem to be the constant common denominator.  Teacher unions on the local level bargain for a .5% higher raise at the cost of newer teachers being “pink slipped”.  I am not suggesting that the Iraqi war and the Bush Administration’s tax cuts to the wealthy be balanced on the backs of teachers.  I do think however, that the MTA could use their power to drive a debate on adequate and sustainable taxation/revenues.

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p>The MTA endorsed casinos when there is no mitigation in the casino bill to provide resources for abutting communities whose education systems will be hit with additional enrollments and special needs services.

Rep. Peake said the Massachusetts Teachers Association is appealing to legislators with a “different tone and tenor” than the Teamsters.

“The MTA also supports casino gambling because they are looking to find revenue wherever they can,” she said.

…so much for critical thinking.

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p> Bobby Haynes sending out postcards with the bogus trumpeting of 20,000 NEW jobs and 30,000 construction jobs.  Those numbers have been squarely refuted and union leadership should stick with facts if they are to have any credibility at a time when their numbers and support have dwindled.

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The legislation would aid the Commonwealth, which faces a structural budget deficit of over one billion dollars, with funds for education, public safety, and fire services. Destination resort-style casinos will also provide much-needed and overdue job growth in a Commonwealth that is struggling with a stagnant economy. Additionally, the Coalition believes that the advent of destination resort-style casinos will bolster infrastructure repairs and maintenance, as well as local aid for financially starved cities and towns.

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p>Nirvana!

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p>It’s hard to support a cause that is a net loss and those who perpetuate lies for short-term gain.

Like rhetoric, the Sirens’ song can be seductive!