GET HIGH ON LIFE

Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 10, 2000

Harold Keller / L’Observateur / June 10, 2000

It’s really amazing how many problems the state of Louisiana has since gambling was projected as the cure-all. What’s even more puzzling is howcan a state that has a constitution outlawing gambling be allowed to appoint an agency to oversee the gambling industry? If that seems confusing, it’s really not, because gamling is still against the law in Louisiana, but “gaming” isn’t. Still confused? You should be, because thedefinition of gambling is to play games of chance for money – risk much for great gain.

Now that we understand what gambling is, what exactly is “gaming?” It’s the art, or practice, of gambling. In other words, gaming and gambling arethe same. The elected public officials gambled that gameing would provideall the money necessary to keep everybody content and have a budget surplus each year after the state’s operating budget would be approved.

What happened? Well, Tuesday, the legislature adjourned for the first time in history without approving a budget. In the last minutes of the session, $220million of new taxes were approved, still falling short of the $250 million needed to balance the budget.

Last week, Gov. Foster said that this legislative session could do down asthe worst ever. Notice he said – this legislature. He never mentioned theexecutive branch, or himself, the governor. Yesterday after the session, hesaid, “It wasn’t that bad.”Well, Governor, it was bad. It was bad news for the people of Louisiana.Who’s to blame? I guess we could blame the legislature, but I think the biggest part of the blame has to go to the governor. He went into a sessionwithout a plan and the legislature responded to his lack of leadership by returning the favor – no balanced budget.

He gambled on the legislature solving the problem. He lost. Where has allthe money gone? We could ask the teachers, the firemen, or the law enforcement officials. Evidently, they don’t know either. They gambled ona campaign promise and lost.

Has anybody won on the gamble of gaming solving all our state’s financial woes? Yes, the gambling. I’m sorry. I mean the “gaming” industry is thebig winner. Everybody loses. The bottom line is that the house alwayswins. The people of Louisiana risked much for great gain and have lost.When Gov. Foster took office, the economy was good. The state treasurywas in the black and he rode the wave of good fortune. The test of a leaderis to be in control and have a plan when things get rough. Gov. Foster hasfailed.

HAROLD KELLER writes this column as part of his affiliation with the Get High on Life religious motivational group.

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