Opinion

Opinion: Kialegee Tribal Town's casino won't help community

Thursday, March 8, 2012

"First let me say that I respect the sovereignty of the tribes, including the Kialegee Tribe, which is behind the proposed casino in south Broken Arrow. With all due respect to the tribal town, my opposition to that casino is not just based on the belief that the location is an inappropriate one. Much has been written in the local press about this issue.

My opposition is to any new casinos anywhere in Tulsa County or, for that matter, anywhere in Oklahoma. I respect the fact that the tribes with to help their people. However, I wish that they would pursue other free enterprise ways to raise money for their people.

My objection to casinos goes back to my days in the Oklahoma House of Representatives when casino gambling was promoted by then Governor Brad Henry and Treasurer Scott Meacham in the early 2000s. As economist Paul Samuelson said, “Gambling involves simply sterile transfers of money, creating no new money or goods.”"

Get the Story:
Fred Perry: Casino will not help Broken Arrow (The Tulsa Beacon 3/8)