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Legal gambling makes sense now, 1/12

Let's ask ourselves these questions: How many people reside in Florida; how many people like to gamble; how many people leave to go on gambling junkets and how often do they go?

I think we as citizens should have the right to decide, not legislators because they had their chances and failed us big time.

I think in this special session coming up the legislators should come up with a referendum to allow gambling in Florida and for us citizens to vote on allowing gambling or not. Seeing how this is affecting us we should make the decision.

This could be set up so that the revenues generated from this source would be taxed at a certain amount and the money would be used for insurance and property tax relief for us citizens.

I know this was on a ballot before and failed, but I don't think knowing now that the revenues would resolve our problems, it should pass with no problem.

This would also increase tourism, hotel business, restaurant business and car rental business with more people coming here on vacations.

There are thousands of people worldwide that love to gamble and do so several times a year. This would be a permanent fix to our insurance and property tax problem.

Anthony R. Quaranda Jr., Port Richey

Holidays don't change people

My family says I'm a scrooge around the holidays, but I disagree. I know Jesus is the reason for the season. I've donated what I can for local charities and purchased bags of groceries for needy families from Publix.

I don't see selfish, ignorant, rude or obnoxious people acting any differently now from the rest of the year. There is no "do unto others" and "peace on Earth." I'd settle for peace on the highways.

People are so consumed with getting presents, they don't consider the present. It's not what's in their hearts, but what's under the tree. When people show me that it's better to give than receive, I'll believe.

Until then, bah, humbug.

Cal Johnson, New Port Richey

Wal-Mart impact still in doubt Jan. 9 letter

2 views, 1 truth at Beacon Woods

I was deeply disturbed by reading the letter submitted by the president of the Beacon Woods Civic Association. As a resident and the youngest member of the board of directors, I am deeply saddened at the politics and double standard she is applying in our community. For her to tout her personal Web site as a place for information or the "truth" on Beacon Woods amazed me.

During my first year as a board member I have been repeatedly chastised. I have been labeled as belonging to a "fringe" group, as she calls it on her Web site, simply for holding an opinion different than hers. I also have been demeaned and reprimanded for the mere association with individuals who published a Web site with a different perspective, on the basis that I have a "fiduciary duty" to the community and should not have an independent Web site. And now she's publishing her own site?

For the real truth of what is happening in Beacon Woods, see the official Web site www.bwcai.org and read the meeting minutes or stop at the clubhouse and demand to see the correspondence of this past year.

For differing viewpoints on how Beacon Woods should be led, see the president's Web site and then visit www.betterbeaconwoods.com (the so-called fringe-group Web site).

Jamie Maloney, Hudson

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[Last modified January 11, 2007, 23:00:44]