| abstract | - Our governor and legislators wait anxiously in expectation of the impending "goodies" that slot machines hypothetically will produce. (This includes their sneaky snooker --another notch in their greed belt -- to include themselves in the gambling statute, whereby they are permitted to own 1 percent of a casino syndicate stock as their "cut.") May I suggest that while in this ecstatic state they insist casino owners include in their development proposals facilities to treat gambleholics created by these same slot machines. Furthermore, this redundant Legislature should seriously consider legislating additional judgeships with staff to expedite the added bankruptcies that will result from major losses by slot losers. The first groundbreaking for constructing a gambling casino will signify complete capitulation by the governor and General Assembly to the gambling lobby. This lobby, once entrenched, will dictate state gaming policy. Our lawmakers would rather prey on those who are powerless to resist gambling -- like alcohol is to an alcoholic -- as the magic potion to alleviate property/school taxes, health care and educational costs along with building sports arenas. Slots, ludicrously projected to be the panacea for the state's financial woes, will fail. Sophisticated casino table games in neighboring states; a bungling Pennsylvania Legislature and Gaming Control Board; Pennsylvania's stumbling economy and deteriorating worker's wages are some of the reasons slots will not deliver the anticipated revenues. What will succeed, however, is the creation of one more bloated bureaucracy complete with cronyism, featherbedding, nepotism and waste. What fools these mortals be. RALPH J. SANTARCANGELO, Point Breeze
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