The Bingo War
First, I’m not a big fan of casino’s. I’m not suggestting they’re a bad thing - I’m just not a fan. Sort of like not eating boiled okra but fried is fine.
That being said, I’d like to point you to a revealing article by the editor of Birmingham’s Black&White City Paper - the free newsprint that generally contains all the events going on in and around Birmingham. In addition to the events, there is generally quite a good representation of the political situation in several articles.
The editor, Chuck Geiss, has done quite a story on the bingo issue that Alabama is dealing with in the Legislature. For those of you outside of Alabama (and those in Alabama who just don’t keep up), there is a move to “legalize” bingo in the Legislature (i.e. - read tax) and let the public vote on the issue. Whether it makes it out of the Legislature is not clear as of today. That could all change tomorrow. But the Chuck Geiss article ought to be required reading for anyone who wants to actually be informed on this issue.
This is the lead-in to the rest of the story:
Perhaps you have seen or heard recent advertisements from “Friends of Alabama” urging support for a state legislative initiative that would tax and regulate electronic bingo in certain Alabama counties. These commercials, sponsored by the Sweet Home Alabama Coalition, feature a variety of country music stars such as Randy Owen, Clint Black, Tracy Lawrence, Lorrie Morgan, Darryl Worley, and George Jones, all of whom support a bill that would call for a statewide referendum in 2010. The message claims that taxing all statewide bingo operations, including those located on Indian reservations, is not only fair but would provide a substantial windfall to Alabama’s lagging education fund.
What many people may not know is that most of these country music stars have an interest in a new $250 million mega-entertainment complex south of Dothan called Country Crossing. The development, which broke ground this year, will feature retail shops, themed restaurants, and an extensive entertainment district patterned after that of Branson, Missouri. According to the Country Crossing web site, visitors will be able to enjoy music and food at George Jones’ Possum Holler Dinner Theater, Tracy Lawrence’s BBQ, John Anderson’s Seminole Wind Buffet, Darryl Worley’s Worley Bird Cafe, and Lorrie Morgan’s Diner. The developer also anticipates building a casino featuring electronic bingo. Do these celebrities want bingo legalized to benefit the state’s education fund, or are they more interested in large crowds of gamblers paying to see them perform at Country Crossing?
There appears to be a plethora of deceit, strong arm tactics, and self serving banishments in other areas of the state so that success is limited to those areas where the proponents want success to be - and specifically not anywhere else. And it’s all for education - a suspect, repeatable argument that is used to sway anyone who has kids in public schools. Alabama schools are not at the top of any national list nor are they at they bottom - though they haven’t been far at times. Alabama has school funding issues as does every state. And, perhaps in the future, there is gambling to help out that budget. Critics of gambling for education point out that Georgia, where the lottery has funded college education for years, has the same issues as everyone else these days. Maybe. But if they’re still funding college education for students who are making the grade in high school, they’re doing better than we are - much better.
But that’s not what Chuck Geiss’s editorial is focused on. It’s an eye-opening look at what is being requested and what is being denied - the latter being a larger issue.
Have a read or pick up the paper. It’s free.
