Alabama: Same Song, Different Verse

Same Song, Different Verse
Published: Thursday, April 12, 2012
By Press-Register Editorial Board

By Dr. Mack Morris

Special to the Press-Register

A jury has spoken in the matter of Milton McGregor and others. I find it interesting that in one of the first statements made after the verdict, Mr. McGregor indicated that he intended to pursue where he left off with his gambling operations.

The kind of gambling he has in mind is still illegal in Alabama.

In the days ahead we will hear how valuable gambling could be to our state. We will hear projections about all the jobs which will be created.

We will be told how this will resolve the dilemma facing our educational system. There will be an avalanche of propaganda put forth in an attempt to persuade legislators to change the laws of Alabama to permit gambling.

As a pastor, I stand by what I and others have been saying for years: that gambling is morally wrong.

I respect those who do not hold to that moral conviction. There are, however, many other reasons why gambling is not the cure-all for our economic woes.

The No. 1 reason given for having gambling is the money it will bring into the state coffers. Remember the old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”? There is no such thing as a free ride. Somebody has to pay. That certainly applies to gambling.

We are never told about the costs of having gambling. The increase in crime and the cost to fight it are staggering. The hidden cost to help those who become addicted is overwhelming.

Historically, many states that institute gambling replace educational funding in the state budget with anticipated income from gambling. Do we really want our educational institutions financed by income lost by those who can least afford it?

There are many studies which show that those who gamble most are those whose income is at the lower end of average household income. I have met with many families over the years who lost everything they had due to gambling. To be sure, there is a dark side to gambling.

A recent letter to the editor concluded by saying, “Leave your religion at the church doors.” I am glad our forefathers did not live by that statement. They took their convictions to the halls of Congress, to the local schools and into public life.

Our country became one of the greatest nations in the world, and we will assume that position again as we allow all our citizens to enter into the public debate about what is best for all of us.

Dr. Mack Morris is pastor of Woodridge Baptist Church in Mobile.