As a resident of the City of Chicago, I am totally outraged by Mayor Daley`s insistence to use gambling as a form to boost the city`s revenues. The argument is it would create jobs for thousands who are unemployed. Allowing this complex to be built would attract an element of society that is quite unsavory. Are the mayor and the casino panel deceiving themselves into thinking that gambling is the answer to our economic problems? I hope not.
Instead of giving into this idea, why not give tax incentives for businesses to stay in the city, or provide more funding to job training programs?
Supposedly, the state lottery was to be the economic saviour to our educational woes. Years later the schools are in no better shape, the children are not learning, the materials are outdated and the parents are disgusted. So much for the lottery and all its benefits.
More importantly, what message are we sending to our children? Do we want them to learn that the way to deal with tough problems is to look for a quick fix? If our readers are unaware of this subtle message, let me assure you, that is what`s coming across.
