Published: February 26, 2008 02:59 pm            

In Your View — 02/27/08

She knows negative side of gambbling

I didn’t have a childhood. My dad took it from me by drinking whiskey and gambling.

He came home with a fifth every day. For us to have food, Mom had to go to his job every Saturday to get money for groceries. Even then, she sometimes didn’t get any. His whiskey bill came first. He charged it all week and paid for it on Saturday.

What he didn’t spend for whiskey, he gambled away on tip boards..

We were scared of him. He was mean when he was drunk, and you never knew if what you said would set him off.

Mom took us to Federated Charities (now the Dressing Room) for our clothes, and I sometimes had to wear Mom’s dress to school. I had five cents a day for lunch which bought a bowl of soup. Some days I was so hungry I would eat two bowls and the next day I had to do without.

Mom had a small radio and phonograph. She loved to listen to gospel programs and loved gospel singing. Dad hated it, so one day he threw the radio-phonograph down the stairs and broke it into pieces. I’ve seen him break her dishes and heard him make fun of her when she bowed her head to say grace.

I’m writing this in hopes that it may help keep casions out of our area. I know that some won’t like this letter, but don;t judge until you have walked in my shoes.

All of Dad’s children got married early just to get away from him. I married at 16, but God blessed me with a good husband. I am now 82.

Christians, let’s stand up and be counted against casinos.

Garnettia Lemaster, Ashland



Let voters decide the gambling issue

Earlier this month, Governor Beshear unveiled a comprehensive plan to allow limited expanded gaming in Kentucky. The governor inherited a $434 million budget deficit from his predecessor and the grim reality is that unless we find alternative sources of revenue, cuts in integral budget items such as education and health care will be inevitable.

Higher taxes are certainly off the table. Governor Beshear, therefore, has crafted a sound, responsible limited expanded gaming program that would generate $500 million in additional revenue.

This revenue will be used to fund important programs in Kentucky and the governor’s plan demarcates specifically how the funding will be allocated: 50 percent for education, including early childhood, primary and secondary, and higher; 20 percent for health care; 13 percent for local government; and 17 percent for various programs such as veterans’ affairs, tourism, environmental protection, livestock research, and many others.

A portion will be set aside for Kentucky’s important equine industry. Additionally, $2 million will be set aside each year for a program designed to treat compulsive gambling.

Furthermore, the legislation requires that voters approve of the placement of casinos in their communities before casino licenses can be issued.

The governor’s plan consists of two key elements: A constitutional amendment allowing limited expanded gaming in Kentucky and the legislation to establish the standards for licensing and revenue allocation. The constitutional amendment requires a majority of support among Kentucky voters.

Both elements of the governor’s plan places an emphasis on voter choice and, regardless of your stance on limited expanded gaming, you should support letting the people of Kentucky make the final decision. Call your legislators and tell them to join the 80 percent of Kentuckians who believe the voters of the commonwealth should have the final choice on this matter.

Tyler Murphy, Flatwoods

        

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