Do you think Barber was escorted to a special machine by Little Running Bear, rigged to win the way opponents say former Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford was by businessman Milton McGregor? Oh, what a tangled web Bingo Bob weaves. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley has been accused of waging war on Alabama gambling interests to give the Indians a monopoly. He even went so far as to say he intends to rid Alabama of gambling — except Indian casinos, of course.
Barber did nothing wrong. He is just one of thousands and thousands of Alabamians who must travel to Mississippi to enjoy gaming. We currently have legal gaming all over this state — four greyhound tracks and six Indian casinos — that Riley cannot shut down. If you are smarter than a 5th grader, doesn’t it make sense to allow the greyhound tracks to add the same games the Indians have and tax them?
I am tired of the hypocrisy of the governor and our legislators. I say legalize all gambling, tax it and let Barber and the thousands of Alabamians enjoy gaming right here.
If you don’t want to gamble, don’t go. The former head of the governor’s anti-gambling task force should open all of our eyes. You can’t have one hand in stopping gambling and your other hand rolling dice in a Mississippi Indian casino. Or can you?
Monty Ballard
Birmingham
