For many Native American tribes gambling has produced clear benefits, including a decline in poverty and mortality rates. Since tribes are sovereign nations, they are not taxed by the U.S. government (to do so would be like taxing Canada). The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 legalized gaming operations on a national level; in addition, some states gave tribes exclusive rights to gaming operations. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Minnesota was one such state; if so, then any attempt on Minnesota's part to establish gaming operations is tantamount to yet another broken treaty.
The website of the National Bureau of Economic Research cites a recent study on Indian gambling. Here's what it says about the social and economic impacts: "Examining the effects of casinos after at least four years of operation, the authors find that positive changes include: young adults moving back to reservations, fueling an 11.5 percent population increase; adult employment increasing by 26 percent; and a 14 percent decline in the number of working poor. In counties with or near a casino, the employment- to- population ratio has increased and mortality has declined." If I remember correctly, the report mentions that the beneficiaries of jobs created through Indian gambling are often non-Native. The report details negative impacts as well, borne largely by communities adjacent to gaming operations (increases in bankruptcy rates, crime, etc.). My guess is that the costs to communities are the same, whether the gambling is state-sponsored or Native-American. Here's the link to the 2002 report: http://www- 1.gsb.columbia.edu/divisions/finance/seminars/micro/Fall_03/evans.pdf Liz McLemore Bancroft REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
