Friday, December 15, 2006

I read with great delight your story regarding the Alabama Supreme Court's
unanimous ruling that "video sweepstakes games at a greyhound dog track in
Birmingham are illegal gambling devices, no different from slot machines."
Mark White, Milton McGregor's attorney, according to the story, said "the
ruling means that Alabama will continue to lose money to neighboring states
that offer lotteries or casino gambling operations." The article further
quoted White in saying," Again, our state is inhibited in its ability to
compete with our neighboring states for revenues and funding that support
local education, business and growth." Why are they giving so much attention
to lotteries and casino gambling operations as competition for revenues and
funding to support local education, business and growth? Are there other
wholesome business opportunities for Alabama that can be competitive enough
to produce revenues and funding for local education, business and growth
besides lotteries and casino gambling operations? How about toothbrush
manufacturing plants in which toothbrushes are made, distributed and sold
worldwide? More paper companies that produce tissue, paper towels, writing
paper, copier paper and etc. (especially since timber is one of Alabama's
top industries and there is such a great demand for paper goods worldwide)?
More quality assisted living facilities for the elderly in areas where they
once lived? More appropriate recreational facilities for the young and
not-so-young in their own communities? Organic farms that supply healthy and
life-sustaining food to the world? Treatment facilities in communities
throughout the state where they are needed to address the problems of
addictions, including gambling?