Few would want slots near home

July 24, 2008

Marylanders can expect a deluge of out-of -state money from gaming corporations that support the slots amendment to the Maryland Constitution ("Wealth driving 'No' vote on slots," July 20).

Citizens need to ask themselves if these private corporations give a lick about public order, good government and the state's future, then vote accordingly in November.

I think Frederick W. Puddester's attempt to hold the state budget hostage to passage of the slots referendum is disingenuous and unscrupulous. It is also bad government policy.

The only way to guarantee the revenue from slots needed to balance the budget would be to expand the 15,000 slot machine limit proposed under the amendment.

But I'll wager that few people, even among the strongest slots supporters, would welcome slot parlors into their own community for the sake of the state at large.

That's because the social and economic consequences for these locales would be as detrimental as they are predictable.

John Bailey

Edgemere

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