To the editor:

Responding to Mike Burk's candidate statement last week...

If, in fact, gambling is the state's third largest revenue stream, then we are in deep trouble. Gambling is not a business; casinos are designed to siphon money from people, solely for the benefit of the operators.  If these enterprises are permitted to grow within a state, they become monsters, dominating our political processes, giving back nothing of value to our community.

Counting what you would do with the money is premature, since the 'guarantees' are full of loopholes. And what about the strain on our infrastructure? What about the quality of life we count on? And good jobs? Not likely. Workers will be brought in from other casinos, a large part of the work force will be part-time....and the workers will learn no new skills that would benefit them in the job market, which they will need when revenues likely fall and they are laid off.

It is well-documented that local businesses do not grow in casino towns; more often they fail. Casino visitors spend all their money within the casino walls, fill up their gas tanks at the casino gas station, and go home.

Instead, how about an all-out effort aimed at attracting new business and industry? How about the Tiverton Democratic Town Committee turning out to promote our community as a great place to open a business or move an existing industry that will fit in a first-class residential community like Tiverton?  That will bring the needed revenue, good-paying jobs and first-class new neighbors instead of a parasite operation that, after an initial 'cash flash,’ degrades our community, permanently?

Harris Gruber

Tiverton