From the Crystle Blog: Calls out PA Leaders on Gambling & Education

[srpantalonas]

I said a few things tonight during my speech that I think will piss some people off, and, well, I don't care, because it's a matter of conscience. First, I said gambling is not structural solution to Pennsylvania's economic problems, it's just a bandaid. Second, we need to separate gambling and education and judge gambling on its own merits. Tying gambling to the emotional issue of educating our children is just wrong. Third, the policy of gambling to fund education is the clearest example I've seen of the need for campaign finance reform in Pennsylvania. And if you think this issue is a state issue and none of my business, maybe you're right, but I don't think so...

http://www.charliecrystle.com

[bleedingheart]

1. as a Pennsylvanian I think your right... gambling is a bandaid

and I think the problem with tying it to education is that gambling revenues can be cyclical. As a result the schools may suffer when there are periods of time when the gambling tax revenue is not as high.

The funny part is that most states are going to pass very liberal gambling laws to get in on the "easy money"...eventually the easy money isn't so easy to attract.

Ethically I don't have a problem with people gambling but generally it is a tax on the mathematically challenged and typically those who can least afford it.

I think there was an initiative similar to this in Michigan where they tied school funding to a sales tax...and lo and behold...when the economy sours..people spend less...and guess what...that school revenue goes down as well...
(you might want to research this as well..)

[soothsayer]

2. I'm in favor of gambling. You have lotteries, don't you?

Casinos are just like that, except they bring more folks from out of state to bring their discretionary (tax) dollars to help you out.

[bleedingheart]

3. yeah but with Atlantic City to the East of PA and with West Virginia

to the South West our casinos will be competing with those states...which will create a problem for them as well...so while we will be able to supposedly keep our PA gamblers in state...that is no guarantee that we will see this great gambling bonanza.

Personally I don't care but I think they are treating gambling as the magic pill...and that isn't a smart idea. What we need to do is attract more business to our state.

With Pittsburgh's fine medical centers, universities and a lot of great speciality steel and specialized machine shops we have a lot to offer....the same can be said for Philly...

[srpantalonas]

4. I'm not necessarily opposed to gambling on its own...

but I think using gambling to fund schools is morally wrong. First, the next administration can just as easily get rid of gambling, causing a massive hole in the budget and the need to really deal with the funding issue. Second, linking gambling to the emotional issue of educating our kids is morally wrong. "You'll have great education is you just approve gambling." Right. What message does it send to the kids? "You want what's best for your kids, right?" Sounds like a cheap--and I mean substantively cheap--sales pitch to me.

And as far as the campaign reform issue, substitute Pharmaceuticals for Gambling, and you have the state instituting some sort of program that increases prescription drug use so we can educate our kids. Gambling is not a natural resource, it's not structurally helpful to the economy--it's just a retail store with a little more glitz.

[frank frankly]

5. right-o

and right on!

I could not agree more.

[srpantalonas]

6. The room applauded when I said it...

The Governor had sent a representative down, who extolled the vitures of gambling and defended the Governor. It really bothered me, seling this as the panacea for the economy. He claimed 80% of Pennsylvanians want gambling. Right.