U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren told a Boston Herald reporter yesterday that she will vote to repeal the law allowing state government to promote and partner with casino corporations:
“I come to the question of gambling from a background in bankruptcy and what happens economically to families. It’s a tough call here. People need jobs, but gambling can be a real problem economically for a lot of people. I didn’t support gambling the first time around and I don’t expect to support it (now).”
Any person from any place along the political spectrum who is serious about addressing the unfairness and inequality in Massachusetts and our country has to include taking casino (and lottery) corporations out of government on their agenda. Sen. Warren is doing her part.
Les Bernal
jconway says
Not sure how many it may move on the margins, but repealing casinos and opposing their construction is a rare tripartisan issue that can bring Republicans, Democrats, and the unenrolled together to stop bad policy. In his new book, Unstoppable, Ralph Nader discusses a victory his PIRG organization had joining a proto-tea party right leaning Citizens Against Waste organization to stop a breeder reactor. The greens didn’t want that filthy and dangerous plutonium generator to be created, and the conservatives didn’t like the $400 million price tag that kept going up.
In a similar way, casinos are a tax on the poor, depress property values, increase addiction and crime, and shutter local businesses. But they are also massive boondoggles that do not deliver on long term job promises and are increasingly white elephants or tax payer bailouts waiting to happen. Some folks on RMG even understand this. Many in the Miford vote came together from the different wings to oppose this bill. We can do it again, and Liz is making it safe for mainstream Democrats and friends of labor to oppose this bad bill.
John Tehan says
We sure did come together across party lines for that – I now have friends who have a Gasden flag hanging from their garage! We’ve stayed together, morphing from “Casino Free Milford” into “Citizens For Milford”. We hosted a candidates forum for the local election last spring, and we’re hosting one for the state rep and state senate races this fall.
jconway says
I just forgot it was you who posted that. Also awesome you guys stuck together-see folks repealing casinos bring communities together while building them tares them apart!
Also, how did you right of center friend articulate his opposition to casinos? What arguments did he use to persuade his tricorner hat wearing compatriots? Where did you find allies and opponents? I think your experience can. Be quite instructive.