Bad decision
Times article “Livermore sweetens pot for its cardrooms” alerts readers to the growing popularity of gambling. I am disappointed that the Livermore City Council is amending the municipal code to allow game rooms to stay open all night and to up their per-game betting limits from $20 to $200.
Gambling is a growing problem. The Internet makes it readily available, and poker is very “in.” Unfortunately, pathological gambling is also on the rise, recognized as a mental disorder. Adults 18-24 (especially males) are at greatest risk for gambling disorders. Adolescent gambling can lead to truancy, dropping out of school, relationship issues, mental health concerns, and crime (Gambling in the Golden State, California Research Bureau, 2006).
Many California communities do not allow card clubs. It is a local choice. Livermore planner Scott Lee is quoted, “Even with the expanded services, these are small down-home mom-and-pop cardrooms that fit within the local community and culture.” Gambling does not fit within my idea of Livermore’s community and culture: a friendly place to raise children that prides itself in ranching, agriculture, science and education.
Increase in gaming in Livermore will not “sweeten” our community; it will make it sour.
Heather Leslie Hammer
Livermore
Health reform
President Barack Obama says in referring to his proposed public health insurance plan that ” If you like your present private health insurance plan, you can keep it.”
Maybe, but not for very long. If you work for a private business or own one, the last thing you want is for the government to start competing against you.
Government doesn’t have to pay taxes, doesn’t have to make a profit, and can charge any price it pleases, or none at all. Its costs are paid with taxes, borrowing and printing.
The president also says that this massive new plan won’t add to the deficit. But when Congress runs out of somebody else to tax, where will the money come from? Medicare has been in actuarial deficit for years since all its “surpluses” have already been spent, and Medicaid is completely funded by borrowed money.
Steve Rosenberg
Castro Valley
Peace Vigil
Our Tri-Valley boasts so many varied religious institutions and organizations espousing the non-violent resolution of playground, domestic and political conflicts, that I’m surprised by the fact that so few of these groups participate in the monthly peace vigil in Pleasanton.
Thousands attended Memorial Day rites and Independence Day celebrations.
Yet only 15 to 20 take the time to walk or drive on the second Wednesday of each month to the History Museum on Main Street for the 7 p.m. vigil.
We respectfully listen to the names, ages, home state of those service people whose lives were taken in the preceding month, meditate individually on their sacrifice, on the tragedy of shattered bodies and brains of both military and civilians, and wonder why we continue to support violence.
A moment of silence; the playing of taps; and an opportunity to share personal thoughts follows.
We don’t pretend to know how to resolve conflicts with terrorists by non-violent means, but we believe that when a massive groundswell of peace vigils occurs in every Main Street of our nation, our leaders will be forced to work toward peaceful resolution.
Citizens of a democracy have an obligation to participate in the dialogue that produces public policy. Join us Aug. 12 and share an important experience with your children and neighbors.
Sally Brown
Livermore
Police flap
Whether or not the Cambridge, Mass., police acted stupidly is still unknown, but I was amazed President Barack Obama held this incident up as a reflection of race relations in America.
This coming from an Afro American president whom we elected; that proudly says more to me about race relations in America than an incident which Obama admittedly did not have all the facts to.
Certainly it’s debatable if the president should have commented on the topic at all. I don’t have a problem with it either way, but why not start out by using himself as an example to show how far this country has come before throwing gas onto a racial fire.
We all make mistakes, but it was equally painful to hear the president struggle to say anything but “I made a mistake” or “I apologize for commenting before having all the facts.” I’m going to wait until all the facts come out before I pass judgment on who acted stupidly.
Ben Kroth
San Ramon
