“We have a winner,” is an old expression in the gaming industry, but before these words are spoken there have to be a lot of losers first. It is the losers who pay.
If Maine continues down the gaming path we are going to be a loser. Nevada is not only the gaming capital of this nation but of the world, and currently has the highest unemployment rate in the nation, and also has the highest homeless rate for school age children.
Maine as a “free and independent State” (excerpt from preamble to our Constitution) needs to carry its own weight. Traditionally all states did that through the creation of primary jobs like food production and manufacturing.
After America reached a point where it was creating wealth through primary jobs the country grew defensively along with service jobs. Gaming, which is supported by all these other industries, never became an industry in this country until the early twentieth century, well after America become world leader in food production, manufacturing, defense and services.
When America focused on primary jobs this nation prospered. Today Maine’s focus is on gaming, services, defense, manufacturing, and food production. We have reversed the order of the only model that has worked and can work.
Tourism may have some benefit to Maine but it will do nothing for the overall economy of the nation because this industry like gaming only moves money from one part of the nation to another. Neither gaming or services adds jobs to the nation, or creates any new wealth, only primary jobs can do that.
Why is China an economic powerhouse today? Because they produce their own food supply in each province, and they are producing the lion’s share of all utility products worldwide. Go to Wal-Mart-99 percent of everything on those shelves is from China.
We cannot survive as a nation so long as we consider job creation as building more seaside loading docks, to off load ships full of manufactured products produced in other countries.
Food production and manufacturing in each state needs to be our focus if we are to survive as a nation, but the last time I looked the creation of primary jobs, as opposed to all other kinds of jobs, is still not a presidential campaign issue.
Even President Obama’s newest jobs bill is another example of the wrong kind of job creation and the wrong kind of focus. This jobs bill only moves existing money around by force of law, but still no new wealth is created in the nation.
It would be nice if we had a real jobs bill, a primary jobs bill, and one that actually created wealth coming out of Washington.
Right here I just want to acknowledge Back Yard Farm in Madison, NEWAIM Fiber Mill in Waldoboro, and Borealis Breads in Waldoboro and Wells. They are doing it right. It is this kind of innovation and willingness to act locally and use local base products that Maine is known for.
With innovation and ingenuity through shipping, producer of nails and rope, along with food production and distribution throughout the colonies, Maine became one of the leading factors in winning the Revolutionary War.
Back Yard Farm, NEWAIM Fiber Mill, and Borealis Breads are three examples that show us we still have the capacity to innovate and carry our own weight as a State.
Maine does not have to prey on the poor through casinos, nor do we have to be dependant on scraps thrown to us through tourist dollars.
For those thinking of voting yes on question #2, I ask that you first google Back Yard Farm, NEWIAM Fiber Mill, and Borealis Breads.
If you still think building casinos to seduce poor people out of their last two or three quarters, or competing with Nevada for the highest unemployment and homelessness for children is something you want Maine to be known for rather than creating primary jobs for these same people and making Maine prosperous again, then so be it.
If you believe in Maine, and if you are proud to be a Mainer or native born Mainer as I am, and if you would like to preserve our rich heritage of being industrious and self reliant then vote no on question #2. It is the patriotic thing to do.
The Pilgrims came to this county with a handful of rudimentary tools and eked out a nation through hard work and faith in God. Today we have access to the greatest technology the world has ever known and we are on the verge of national bankruptcy.
Casinos are a symptom of a non-industrious and faithless people. We are better than this, we can do better than this-we just have to refocus, with faith in God, on creating primary jobs.
(Alan Lowberg lives in Washington.)
