Gambling offers legit recreation

The issue is not whether legal gambling will help our economy or adversely affect a small percentage of people. The issue is gambling is a form of recreation most people enjoy in moderation and is legal everywhere except here and Utah (any connection?).

That “;absolutely no gambling of any kind at all”; is allowed here is absurd, especially considering that Las Vegas is referred to as the “;Ninth Island”; and illegal gambling proliferates. I really don't want to see casinos here, but allowing gambling on cruise ships while in our waters is a no-brainer. I certainly enjoy having the option to gamble on a cruise; do you think folks who come here feel differently? And quite frankly, I'd like to be able to spend a buck on a raffle ticket once in awhile. Just get over it and legalize it.

Tourists avoiding U.S. to avoid TSA

For well over a year now I have been writing about how the U.S. Transportation Security Administration's maltreatment of tourists was strangling our state. Recently, Moody's rated Hawaii's bonds as “;negative”; due to the drop in tourism revenues.

The TSA—proven totally ineffective both by Department of Homeland Security testing and the recent crotch bomber—gets off by fondling our wives and daughters and dropping our laptops, and now awaits its newest toys, which will allow TSA workers to see us all totally naked with enough clarity to determine our religion.

Because of this totally ineffective but annoying maltreatment, tourists are avoiding the U.S., opting to spend their tourism dollars in nations with more respect for people. As a result, we have all been forced to watch our beautiful state wither away slowly like a beloved family member dying of cancer.

TSA exists only to trick people into thinking the U.S. government cares for them while the government carries out invasion after invasion, all on false pretenses, in an effort to conquer enough of other people's oil and mineral wealth.

High fees spur sales of illegal fireworks

Our politicians are partly to blame for our problem with the illegal fireworks. They charge fees for a pack of fireworks, and those who really want to celebrate and don't want to spend more money on permits look for the illegal sellers. When they find one, they're exposed to illegal aerials and bombs, and what happens—they buy some.

If people could buy as much as they can in the stores without permits, they wouldn't be looking for the illegal sellers. Now that our politicians are trying to raise the permit fees even higher, more people will be shopping for the illegal sellers who will be smiling all the way to the bank.

Gambling revenues won't help economy

After reading that only 20 percent of gains from gambling will go to the state, I see no way that can help our economy. Sounds like it will mostly serve the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. I thought the voters said “;no”; some years ago. Like everything else here, the ones who frequent Las Vegas will vote for it no matter what it does to the environment.

If anyone would just check Atlantic City and Las Vegas (with worse schools than here) they would find that the money never goes to education. You think we have a lot of homeless now, just wait till the first casino opens.

This terrible way of entertaining ourselves does not help the community but attracts more prostitutes, drug addicts and crime.

Gambling not doing much to help Vegas

If gambling hasn't saved Las Vegas in this recession, how is it going to save Hawaii? Think, legislators, think! Please.