Go figure: We still have a candidate who opposes casinos
Ever since Sal DiMasi left, it's seemed like everybody who might ever put their photo on glossy stock and mail that out to thousands of people has bought into the idea of casinos or die. Alan Khazei, running for Senate, though, told the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce this morning that he opposes casinos:
... I understand that people are hurting and need work, but we can create good, high-paying jobs in green industries and clean energy, supporting small business and emphasizing health care, education, bio-tech, tourism, and other industries where Massachusetts has a competitive advantage. New gambling machines prey especially on primarily low-income families and people suffering from addiction - the very people who are struggling the most in this terrible economy. ...
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I understand that people are
Some people do not want to work/can not work in those fields. I realize that manufacturing jobs were not the ideal but they were jobs for people and in many cases ended up being good jobs. I see the same possibility with the resort style casino's. Granted most of the jobs will not be for those with PHD's or Masters degrees but poor people need to work too. When the topic of Casino's come up among people on the North Shore without jobs or that commute by bus across the region for an hour or more they seem supportive. Massachusetts can focus on Casino's AND create jobs in other sectors at the same time.
I do give him gusto points thought for making a big deal about that in a Chamber of Commerce setting...
Manufacturing
Why are "clean energy" and manufacturing mutually exclusive? Why can't people in Massachusetts also make the blades for the wind turbines that are designed by engineers at the test facility to be built in Charlestown or at MIT? Why can't people in Massachusetts manufacture the medical devices designed here? Produce the pharmaceuticals that are invented here?
I think there is a lot of potential for skilled manufacturing in Massachusetts.
Pharmaceuticals
That, at least, is happening - that giant brick building by the Allston/Brighton tolls actually houses giant vats of Chinese hamster ovary cells that excrete a particular type of medicine.
Bristol Myers Squibb, too.
right on - and Bristol Myers Squibb just built a large manufacturing plant in Devens for the same purpose. There is real untapped potential for this sort of manufacturing here.
What "preys" on low income
What "preys" on low income people is the lottery. So let's shut down the lottery commission and give up all that local aid.