This November, choosing between Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will not be the only tough decision you will face.
The second question on the November ballot will ask you whether we should permanently amend the Maryland Constitution and allow slot machines. I ask only that you take into consideration the consequences this decision will have on the future of the state.
Slot machines are being hailed as the get-rich-quick scheme to save education, but at what price? Like all schemes, there is deceit to be found between the lines.
While this referendum does earmark about half of the profits to education, do not be fooled into thinking we will necessarily benefit. There is no guarantee the university will profit from the overzealous estimate of $600 million, for we will have to compete with K-12, community colleges and other public universities in the state.
It should also be noted that this referendum does not guarantee increased funding for education at all. The funding for education is in the general fund and is not guaranteed; any governor could just as easily take it away with the coming of slots.
Maybe Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) won’t, but remember, this is a permanent amendment to the Constitution. We do not know who our next governor will be or what they will decide to do.
While I may sound paranoid, such cause for alarm is not unfounded. Let us remember the last few times other forms of gambling were legalized in the state. When the lottery and keno were legalized, they were both presented as the solutions to our education problems. However, this has not been the case. Annapolis lied to us back then, and they have no reason to tell the truth now.
As stated earlier, half the profits from slots will go to education. You may be asking yourself, “Well, what about the rest?” Thirty-three percent of the profits will go to multi-millionaire gambling executives who only care about their bottom line. Another 7 percent would would go to bail out the state’s horseracing industry.
It should also be noted what slot machines will bring to the Free State. The social costs are staggering. Slots are the crack cocaine of gambling and today, no coins are needed! You can just swipe your credit card, and there goes the mortgage payment on your house! Gambling addiction, crime, prostitution, bankruptcy, divorce, suicide and drug addiction have been statistically proven in countless studies to increase significantly with the presence of slots. Do we really need more crime in College Park? One of the proposed sites will be right here at Laurel Racetrack, only 14.7 miles from the campus.
Slots will also significantly affect our local economy. Many of our students depend on local restaurants and shops for employment. Many who work as servers, bartenders and delivery drivers have seen a reduction in tips due to the lackluster economy. With a slots parlor around the corner, gambling addicts may very well choose slots over eating out.
I would also like to point out the increased corruption slot machines will bring. Gambling executives will not stop with slots, and will bribe our politicians until they get full-blown casinos.
Just look at Charles Town, W.Va. – they are already funneling millions to elected officials because they know they will get their money’s worth. Let us also not forget that Maryland had slot machines in the 1950s and ’60s. We did away with slot machines for a reason: They brought nothing but misery and corruption to this state.
This November, vote “no” on two because slots are a losing bet.
Sara Ackerman is a senior government and politics major. She can be reached at sackerma@umd.edu.
