DCMP on 
Dana Porter on 
A poll conducted by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati shows that casino gambling continues to have solid support. The poll was commissioned by eight Ohio daily newspapers.
Despite an increasingly contentious campaign, the lead for the casino issue on next week’s statewide ballot has dropped only slightly and stands at 18 points, a new poll for Ohio’s major newspapers shows.
My fear is that because Issue 3 supporters have done such a good job of obfuscating the truth, Ohioans are confused.
A majority (53 percent) of casino backers cited the prospect of new jobs as the most important reason for their support of the issue.
Of the 34,000 jobs created, only 7,500 jobs would be actually created by the casino’s. Of the other jobs, 19,000 are temporary and 7,500 are non-casino jobs that will supposedly be created because of the casino’s. However, these jobs may hurt other businesses such as restaurants in the surrounding areas thus resulting in a loss of jobs.
Ohioans have rejected gambling four times. They should be angry that goodfellas are trying to use a bad economy to try and make us change our stance. However, Ohioan Kelly Collins said this.
“I voted ‘no’ the last time it was on the ballot,” said Collins, 27, an insurance company service representative from Cleveland.
“Since the state still seems to be struggling, though, I think we need to try something different. Several people I know travel out of state frequently to gamble in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Michigan. I’d rather those people spend their money in our state.”
So Collins, who is employed and voted against gambling last time, is going to vote for it this time because we have a bad economy and thinks we need to try something different. Like changing the Ohio Constitution. As if not having gambling is the reason we are in the financial shape we are in.
Even our governor Ted Strickland (I thought I voted for a Democrat) appears confused. He was against gambling in Ohio at one time. But one expert thinks his support for slot machines has bolstered Issue 3 supporters and helped to change the mind of Ohioans.
“The poll shows there’s a possibility to close this, but like everything else, it depends on turnout composition,” said Eric Rademacher, co-director of the University of Cincinnati’s Institute for Policy Research…
Rademacher, also a political-science professor, said he senses an air of inevitability among voters that gambling will wind up in Ohio, and he cites Strickland’s support of electronic slot machines at horse-racing tracks as a key factor. The governor’s turnaround on slots last summer shifted the debate from one of gambling vs. no gambling to a discussion of which type of gambling should be allowed and where the money should go.
My hope is that the numbers are soft. I hope their is a silent majority of Ohioan’s who are not confused. They have followed the debate, understand the issues, and are incredibly pissed that the goodfellas are back, and this time they are trying to change our constitution.
Source:
Latest poll has casino question with comfortable lead
If it wasn’t profitable, why aren’t the other states that Ohioans travel to in order to visit a casino protesting that they have casinos? Maybe, just maybe, because they are more forward thinking and not stuck in a post WWII mentality of caution and “what if” thinking. It’s time Ohio advances to 2009, and looks around at what other states have done to make them desirable, and profitable. Casinos won’t solve it all, but, it’s a small step in the right direction.
Thanks for commenting Bev.
“If it wasn’t profitable, why aren’t the other states that Ohioans travel to in order to visit a casino protesting that they have casinos?”
I’m sure the casino’s will be profitable for the owner’s. They wrote the amendment. I’m not so much against casino’s, I’m against this casino amendment. If Ohioans want casino’s fine. But let’s write a legislative bill that benefits Ohio and not a constitutional amendment that benefits the owners.
Prostitution is profitable also so why don’t we just legalize that? Oh, that will be here if the Casinos show up, along with crime, drugs, gambling addictions, the closing of surrounding businesses.
Does it not matter what it involves to you people as long as it creates jobs? Go have fun in Vegas, its really fun, but we don’t need these in our back yards.
Your a fool if you think prostitution isn’t already around. Besides, if you have ever been to a casino in the surrounding states they are very clean and a joy to be in. I go two or three times a year in Indiana and have never had a bad experience. It would be bad business for them to allow shady things go on in or around the casino. There is too much money involved and I would never go much less my wife if it wasn’t perfectly safe to go to. I voted yes because we need casinos to help keep the bulk of the money that leaves the state here.
I’m not crazy about the monopoly it creates but I’m not going to write legislation to allow anybody and their brother open a casino. Call me lazy and at the same time too busy. I do think that by limiting the casinos to four it will allow us as tax payers to keep a close eye on the casinos and not let the “shady” people open casinos.
Thanks for commenting Nate.
As a Social Worker who works in the addiction field, I am well aware that prostitution is already here in Columbus and has been here probably forever. However, that does not mean you take a social ill and promote a vice that may make it worse.
Still, my problem is not with casino’s. My problem is with this constitutional amendment.
I disagree with your argument that this is a good idea because it limits the casino’s to just four. You can write legislation or have an amendment that limit’s the casino’s reach as well, but affords Ohio with the proper compensation for allowing casino’s in Ohio as other states have done.
If Ohio is going to have casino’s, it should be implemented in a way that benefit’s Ohioan’s and not a selected few.
If Issue 3 passes, which at this late hour it looks like it may. I believe the question over whether casino’s are actually built in Ohio will take a while. I’m sure those who oppose casino’s in Ohio are already making plans to rescind this constitutional amendment.
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