Pubdate: Tue, 07 Jan 2003 Source: Kansas City Star (MO) Copyright: 2003 The Kansas City Star Contact: http://www.kcstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/221 Author: Bruce Bartelli GAMBLING NO ANSWER Our governor-elect has proposed as part of her economic plan to expand legalized gambling (12/31, A-1, "Sebelius favors slot machines at tracks"). Residents of Kansas, beware. If this is the best she has to offer, we are in for a long and torturous four years. Since Sebelius wholeheartedly supports unleashing upon the citizens of Kansas an addictive behavior, here are a few other suggestions to go with her mentality of economic enhancements. 1) Have state licensed "bookies" set up at all statewide university football and basketball games. 2) Legalize prostitution. 3) Put heavy taxes on Kansas abortion mills. 4) Give immunity to drug dealers on high school and college campuses, with schools getting a 25 percent take. 5) Let the Kansas Bureau of Investigation regulate distribution of legalized drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine. They're addictive? When the state needs money, what does it matter? The unfortunate thing is many would support these ideas. The Kansas Legislature has wisely kept the regressive taxation and addiction of gambling out of our state. Apparently Sebelius is willing to sacrifice some percentage of our population as "collateral damage" to gambling addiction. Bruce Bartelli Southeast Kansas Coalition Against Legalized Gambling Frontenac, Kan. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart