Comments on: Help Us Pass a Resolution Against Predatory Slot Machine Gambling at the Mass. Democratic Party Convention

By: Janine D.

Janine D. — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:04:54 +0000

I have honestly never see a website that chastises those who do not have the same opinion as the people running this site. Is everyone aware that people are entitled to their own opinion?

Fred, there is no difference between marijuana and heroin because as far as I am concerned people are prosecuted for both. They are illegal drugs last time I checked my Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure on my desk at work.

I am so done with this site. Good luck trying to get others to put their two cents in.

By: fberman

fberman — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:43:31 +0000

Incidentally, I’m not saying that I’m against gambling or any of the other so-called vices. What I AM against is PROMOTING gambling and other predatory and exploitive business practices (and gambling and prostitution and drug dealing are businesses) for the purpose of raising revenues.

By: fberman

fberman — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:41:20 +0000

Barry, while a voice vote is not the best vehicle for making a fair and reasoned decision, the Convention is an excellent place to reach out to people who care about the governance and future of Massachusetts.

As to Janine’s implication that there is no difference between the lottery and slot machines… yes there is; check out the video referenced above http://tinyurl.com/predatoryslots which describes how today’s slots are designed to suck gamblers in and keep them hooked.

Saying that there is no difference between the lottery and slots is like saying there is no difference between marijuana and heroin.

Complaining that money is leaving Mass to gamble in CT is like complaining that kids are going to liquor stores in the town next door where there is a lower drinking age, and responding by lowering the drinking age and running a campaign to “drink here” so that our merchants can reep the revenues.

But maybe you’re saying that all that matters is the bottom line … in which case why not open and promote prostitution parlors or heroin parlors? It would be an easy way to close the revenue gap, as long as you can put aside your moral compass.

By: Janine D.

Janine D. — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:55:16 +0000

Barry, I disagree. I work in a courthouse thatvseels scratch tickets and Mega Millions tickets. I see the line of workers and court visitors with $20s in their hand hoping for a big payout with the scratch tickets (as well as other places). It seems it is people who look like they are on fixed incomes wasting what they have hoping to win. Have you ever seen all the MA plates at Mohegan and Foxwoods? All that money stays in CT and zero for MA.

By: Barry Rafkind

Barry Rafkind — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:40:47 +0000

While I support this resolution, I am skeptical that the campaign will have any measurable effect on the outcome at the convention due to the fact that it will be decided by voice vote, which I critiqued here. Janine, slot machines are way more addicting than the lottery. Gamblers at slots can lose much more money and faster than they would with the lottery. Our government should not be relying on gambling for revenues.

By: Janine D.

Janine D. — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:35:26 +0000

“The social problems attendant to unleashing the new generation of mesmerizing and addictive slot machines — which conveniently take credit cards, so you can lose money you don’t even have… — outweigh the potential additional revenues from gambling taxes.”

This statement is a complete misconception. Like this doesn’t happen with people buying scratch tickets from the Mass Lottery. Gambling is gambling – where you are buying a scratch ticker, Mega Millions ticket or playing a slot machine.