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A DAY AT THE RACES

Safe wager: A good time is had and no one gets hurt

Editor, The Times:

Gambling is a consensual activity participated in by adults. Prohibition and limitation of gambling (or any other consensual activity by adults) is motivated by moral judgments by those who would save people from themselves; they have no place in a free society ("Neigh to more wagers," Times editorial, March 30).

Truly, many gamblers are compulsive and would be wise to refrain from the activity, but ultimately the responsibility for their actions rests with the individuals, not with government.

Washington state enjoys the company of virtually all other state governments in a long history of straddling the fence on consensual "crimes." For decades it held the duplicitous position of blanketly denying gamblers the right to engage in their consensual activity of choice, while holding a monopoly on the distribution of "hard" alcohol, in order to directly (and solely) benefit from the consensual activity of another group.

Laws limiting the rights of adults to engage in activities that cause no harm to others or their property, or infringe upon others' rights, diminish freedom for all.

The proliferation of casinos in our state since the decriminalization of gambling is proof that the industry has growth potential. In an economic climate as bad as ours, with the budget crisis faced by our state, we would be wise to keep our moral posturing to ourselves and foster that growth.
Lowell Pelkey, Lake Stevens

I one

As one who has a penchant for gambling, I gotta tell you that most gamblers will gamble to their heart's content, playing whatever game of chance is available. If Bingo were the only game in town, gamblers would fill the Bingo halls.

If Emerald Downs expands its simulcast hours, I seriously doubt more citizens will catch the gambling habit, but I'll bet more jobs and badly needed tax revenues will be created.
Dan Tompsett, Seattle

The clubhouse's turn

The statement against expansion, which says, "The legislation also allows Emerald Downs to simulcast horse races from tracks in other states," clearly shows The Times doesn't know much about horseracing in Washington. Emerald Downs has been simulcasting races "from other states" for several years.

Allowing Washington horsemen to capture their fair share of revenue from federally legal wagering sites, is helping an over-$330 million industry in Washington to stay alive. Beside helping horsemen, farmers and small business, this legislation (would) help ensure employment of over 3,000 persons, and continue to provide free dental care, educational services, recreational programs and subsidized day care to the families of the racing community.
Richard O'Connell, farm owner, Kent

Yea in the stables

Betting on horse races through Web sites that don't return anything to the racetracks or the states that host the races is the equivalent of cheating the cable company by splicing your neighbor's cable.

Our state is in a financial quagmire. Taxing the millions currently gambled illegally means more money for essentials such as education and transportation.

Every dollar wagered at Washington's tracks and off-track betting sites is subject to taxation and regulation. Money bet on the Internet in Washington should be handled no differently. The state House and Senate recognized this, and in March a huge majority of our representatives passed Senate Bill 6481.

Gov. Gary Locke should sign this bill immediately so that the state and the people working in the stables at Emerald Downs receive their fair share of Washington's gambling dollars. It is appalling that The Times does not agree.
Emily Wilmot, Bainbridge Island

CATCH OF THE DAY

Sole recommendation

Ross Anderson's "How will we know when the kings come back?" (guest commentary, March 26) was both hopeful and informative. Those of us in Oregon who know the work of Steven Cramer (an Oregon fisheries biologist and senior fellow with Seattle's Discovery Institute), appreciate his efforts to bring new approaches to salmon management.

But Anderson stated that the decision whether to take endangered salmon runs off the federal list is a political decision, not a scientific one. The fact is that, in 1982, Congress dealt specifically with this issue when it amended the ESA to specify that listing decisions are to be made "solely" on the basis of biological and commercial information.

The legislative history specifically states that what is meant by commercial information is information on the trade of products of endangered species — not the potential effects on the development.

That's the law. Whether the Bush administration, with its agenda of removing as many salmon populations as possible from the protections of the ESA, follows the law is another question.
Jeff Curtis, Western conservation director, Trout Unlimited, Portland, Ore.

BUSMAN'S HOLIDAY

The wheels fall off

I am pleased Tim Whittome enjoyed the Puget Sound mass-transit system ("A moveable feast," The Reader's View, March 27). And I really hate bringing reality into such idyllic musings. But his wonderful experience worked only because he didn't have to be somewhere. He could be anywhere and enjoy himself.

How different (it) is for someone who has to be at work at the appointed hour, or who has to be able to leave work on a moment's notice should their kid fall ill at school, and need to be picked up.

The bus systems are simply impractical for people who lead more regimented and disruptable lives. And from the viewpoint of car drivers, buses are annoyances as well. The older ones pollute with smelly fumes, and no matter how new, they block traffic and cause more congestion than they solve.

Yes, they are necessary for those who do not have a car. So they are here to stay. But to make some kind of Shangri-la out of them? I think that's going a bit far, don't you?
Bal Simon, Bellevue

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