Attract jobs not based on greed

6/11/2009

In a recent guest column, Casinos in Ohio would bring jobs, Jerry Chabler wrote that the pending proposal to build casinos in Ohio s four largest cities is the right proposal at the right time. I respectfully disagree. This proposal is the wrong one at the wrong time. In fact, this may be the worst proposal at the worst possible time.

Our community, state, and nation are in a recession brought on in part by our collective greed. We are now dealing with the consequences of our society s obsessive pursuit of wealth at any cost. As a nation, we have been living beyond our means for far too long and we are now paying for it.

Gambling only perpetuates this problem. The promise of easy money leads some people to gamble away what little money they have, only to be left with nothing. The promise of easy money leads some people to become addicted.

The jobs and revenues that casinos would supposedly bring to Ohio are not worth the costs of addiction, crime, or of people gambling beyond their means. I hope that once again the people of Ohio will reject the empty promises of the gambling industry. Casinos will not solve our economic problems. Just look at Detroit, where three casinos have done relatively little to help that city s challenges. I am in favor of creating jobs. However, jobs in an industry completely built on greed are not good jobs for the people of Ohio.

Perhaps those who are persistently trying to get casinos built ought to put their efforts into something more worthwhile, like finding ways to attract manufacturing and technology jobs to our state. These are jobs that are worth supporting. Ohio can do better.

Kenneth Staib

Walbridge

It s time for Carty to get off that lawnmower and let a city worker do the job. Instead of calling for new taxes on the people of Toledo, Mr. Finkbeiner should be trying to get major companies to invest in Toledo with jobs and opportunities to raise our tax base. We do know one thing: This administration has enough fertilizer to spread around.

WALLY IGIELSKI

Sylvania

The article by Roberta de Boer in regard to the activities at Salem Lutheran Church under the pastorship of Mary Lou Baumgartner was extremely interesting and heart-rending.

If every Lutheran in the Toledo area sent just $1 every month to Salem Lutheran Church, it would help alleviate their financial situation and assist them in continuing their missions in the near north end.

Sally Ninneman

Royton Road