Dennis Tuuri

Full PEAPAC Analysis

PEAPAC Commentary: [We know that we are going cross-grain with many of our supporters in recommending a yes vote on this measure. Please read on, and read on carefully!] The issue raised by this Measure is not gambling or no gambling. Rather, it is whether Indian reservations should have a monopoly on casino gambling. And it is also whether the State of Oregon (and Indian reservations) should have a monopoly on organized gambling.

The Bible certainly warns against some of the attitudes that are usually present in gambling (Prov. 13:11; 20:21; 23:4; 28:19-22; 1 Tim. 6:6-11; Gen. 4:7; Rom. 6:12). But it does not absolutely prohibit it. Neither should we. Some say we already have enough gambling and casinos in Oregon. But, the same line of reasoning would prohibit a man from selling burgers from his store front, because the people have decided there are already enough burger joints. Surely this artificial restriction on the free market and competition is no way to make decisions about activities that are not prohibited in the Bible.

It is not the job of government to pick winners and losers. Nor is it the job of government to enforce personal decisions we make about issues that are not clearly prohibited in the Bible. Some people think fast food or video games are a waste of time and generally unhealthy. But do we really want to use the power of the civil government’s sword to impose our personal lifestyle choices on others in areas where no Biblical crime is involved? We think not.

Ideally, this proposal should go through the Legislature so that a deliberative process could take place. But, unfortunately, the State of Oregon is in the gambling business via the state lottery system. It is thus not a neutral party, and is negatively minded to approve of private competition. It has a dog in the fight.

One more comment. We have been amazed listening to the debate over this Measure in our media. Business profits that may result from a private casino are regularly scorned and decried as bad, and tribal and state control of gambling proceeds are portrayed as the only sure way to goodness and blessing. In fact, the opposite is true. We live in an age of radical statism, and the more money the state gets, the more control they attempt to exert over its citizens. One of the loudest arguments against this Measure is that funding for government schools will decrease if it passes. Yet one more reason for lovers of freedom to support Ballot Measure 75! Since this is a statutory measure, the Legislature can easily make changes to it to ensure proper oversight of private casinos. We therefore lean towards a Yes vote on Measure 75.