On A Train Bound for Nowhere...

"You got to know when to hold 'em,

know when to fold 'em,

know when to walk away,

know when to run.

You never count your money,

when you're sittin' at the table.

There'll be time enough for countin',

when the dealing's done." 

- Kenny Rogers 'The Gambler'

Daniel L. Bamberg

Daniel@Centrevillepress.com

Here we go again, Alabama.  Following last week's fiasco with state troopers, Bob Riley and Victoryland we are in the middle of another heated debate over in-state gambling.  Should we legalize it?  Should it be up to the voters within the state?  While I will certainly leave the first question up to the individual let me state that voting is indeed something we all possess as a right.

Back in the Spring of 2009 I conducted a lengthy investigation into the Sweet Home Alabama Coalition.  Nothing really came from it because by the time this story become somewhat irrelevant I was going in too many directions and not able to confirm anything.  Two leads had however come from the investigation.  On one hand research into one, Milton McGregor (owner of Victoryland) lead me to contact the Russian Embassy. Meanwhile research into one, Governor Bob Riley lead me to look into possible connections with the Mississippi band of Choctaw Indians.  While nothing has been proven as of yet, it appears that both leaders of each side within the debate raise enough questions that Alabamians do have cause for concern.  

Furthermore there is the financial irresponsibility within both parties.  A lot has been suggested pertaining to Milton McGregor's generous donations to his community. Macon County, however continues to average nearly 33% of families below the poverty line.  It is not a stretch to assume McGregor does just enough to help his own image but not enough to help his community or state.

Bob Riley on the other hand, has become the epitome of abusive power.  Early in his first term the Governor attempted to pass the biggest tax this state had ever seen.  Voters did not allow it, and for that reason Riley pitched a fit, stating the results of the vote would result in the release of violent offenders in state prisons.  Not only did this reaction not make sense, not only was it verbal terrorism, it was the most immature statement I have ever heard in American politics.  So last week Riley decides to use the tax money you and I do pay to send nearly one hundred state troopers to Victoryland as a image of power.  These state troopers did nothing actually.  Simply put, they sat in a parking lot.  Meanwhile who was patrolling our streets?  

Again we have been shown a perfect example of Riley's immaturity.  This is a man who has no concept of responsibility and has done nothing in his two terms to benefit the state.  None, that I can see at least.  We hear about all of these jobs he is bringing into the state but those jobs have not even come close to replacing all of the jobs lost during Riley's reign.  Yet he seemingly remarks daily about the progress of Alabama's work force.  He has taken partial credit for the Vance, Mercedes-Benz plant opening positions to manufacturer the "C-Class".  Indeed many jobs will come from this, but what of those who lost their jobs due to massive lay offs at the same plant.  They are incapable of being rehired for the "C-Class" jobs, so therefore it looks as if Riley along with Mercedes-Benz have created new jobs.   Replacing employment with unemployment and then creating new employment is basically economic hokey pokey.  Nothing is gained, nothing is new.  

For Alabamians however we may soon become faced with an important decision.  Should we or shouldn't we allow gambling to be legalized?  If so should casinos in the state be operated by those who abuse a loop hole in our legal system in other words operated illegally but "technically legal?"  Bibb County residents please allow me to use an example of how passion can sometimes outweigh logic and abuse the very ideals we are protecting.

Bibb County has been dry since Prohibition.  When I was too young to vote the community had an opportunity to vote "wet" but unfortunately the vote allowed the county to remain under prohibition.  This kept a solid amount of potential revenue from entering our own community.  Meanwhile a Perry County man has been getting richer and richer with each passing year.  I have no personal qualm with Chris Johnson.  He is a business man and should be respected for that.  Yet he has benefited for decades based on the Bibb County community's idea that becoming a "wet county" would somehow cause it to become the devil's playground.  It isn't as if Johnson's store is 30 miles away.  In fact for most citizens of South Bibb it is just down the road.  It is even worse in North Bibb, where citizens are just two shakes of a lambs tail from Jefferson and Tuscaloosa County stores.  You could throw a stone from the North Bibb Annex building and hit a liquor store.  

Being a dry county hasn't kept drinkers from drinking.  It hasn't made alcohol less accessible.  The only thing which has come from remaining dry, is a broke county and lack of jobs.

I made an observation during football season in 2009 which infuriated me as a voter within Bibb County.  At a BCHS football game I noticed the banners along the fence.  These banners were from businesses who paid money to have their companies displayed at the game.  The banners were sold to support the football team.  One banner simply said "Chris Johnson" and was followed by his phone number.  It didn't read Johnson's Store or anything else.  It simply said "Chris Johnson".  The problem is Chris Johnson has no affiliation to Bibb County High School.  His children did not attend BCHS.  There is no reason his name should be there.  Sure it is nice of him to recognize and support where his money has come from for decades, but it is also equally a slap in the face.  Don't get me wrong I don't believe Chris Johnson is personally mocking Bibb Countians.  I just take it that way because of the sad irony.  

While many other Bibb-area business perhaps had to gather loose change to purchase one of those banners Chris perhaps didn't even blink.  Had we voted to abolish the Bibb County prohibition those businesses which scraped to support the football program might not be so pressured.  The banners might have even had a cheaper cost, because enough business would allow that.  Sadly however, regardless of facts we will not vote for this county to become wet, ever.  This state will not vote to legalize gambling.  Meanwhile we will continue to do what Bob Riley's administration has been accused of doing.  We will condemn these things from our tongues and support them elsewhere with our wallets, thusly damning ourselves to poverty and stupidity and getting no closer to heaven than we were yesterday.   That's what's cooking under the hat this week.  Thank you for reading.