Iowa's Ultimate Gamble: The bracket of hypocrisy

Let me start with an admission here. On the very day I write this opus on Iowa's gambling addiction, I have filed my NCAA Tourney bracket in an online pool sponsored by my old bud Congressman Latham, competing for one of those cheapie flip pocket cam thingies courtesy of Diamond Tom's paycheck.

And if lightning should split the sky and pigs fly by on a cool day in Hades (with a tiny bit of help from St. Mary's and UNI) and I should manage to win or at least beat our cocky congressdude's picks, I shall dance the mighty dance of victory upon this desk and very possibly giggle like a schoolgirl.

Hot dog, this is fun.

So why is it again, that gambling is BAD for Iowa??

Oh right, now I remember. That friend of mine who gambled away her own children's college fund because her addiction was so strong. And the Iowa lady who recently went to jail for stealing from her employers after being fleeced to the tune of $85,000 by a couple of Iowa casinos.

OK, maybe it's not all that fun.

Governor Culver is urging the Racing and Gaming Commission to expand the number of casinos in Iowa yet again, by another four. It's the way to increase money flowing into communities and create jobs, he says.

In fact, for 16 years now, it's been the one way the state has found to create development. We're all in, way deep.

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against casinos. If grown-up people want to risk some of their hard-earned wages, it's a free world. A cheap buffet while you blow $20 on slots is probably cheaper than a family night out at the movies. If it stops there.

And for goodness sake, that guy who used to be Hootie and now is Blowfish-less, has to earn a living somewhere, right?

The way Fort Dodge and the rest of the towns in question are thirsting for those casinos is kind of heart-rending in a sense. They have no other real options. They themselves are taking a gamble with the future.

No question casinos pay taxes, and take construction crews to build, and draw some people into town, and hire folks to bus tables and deal cards and clean hotel rooms. But is it really such a godsend?

The workers at 125 percent of minimum wage aren't getting rich, right?

And in the broad view people don't win, right? If odds weren't always on the casino's side, it would make no scratch.

So where does this huge infusion of cash into a community come from? Thin air? Magic? Really good tips?

Read more of this story in the March 18 Pilot Tribune.