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To the editor:

Caesar seemingly rules the airwaves in the commonwealth. I am amazed at the glorification of the Caesar Entertainment personality on our televisions. This character has achieved a huge following with their promise of riches, conquest and the power to have famous friends and vivacious partners.

All you have to do is gamble on sports, or head to a casino. These casinos are under construction in areas of Virginia that Malcom X would have likely labeled “internal colonies.” The people are being convinced that despite not having achieved the American Dream, they can still have it through games of supposed skill and financial risk.

The “Prosperity Gospel” is being used to propel casino capitalism. The money behind these gambling operations comes from Wall Street and wealthy individuals. Some of that money ends up in the pockets of our legislators to ease the restrictions on the gaming Industry. This makes it easier for the self-righteous, self-described good people to take even more money from the poor because their gospel tells them that the poor are less than the blessed and deserve to be further punished.

If gambling and pushing the private sector commercialization of marijuana is how our leaders want to stimulate our economy, we need new leaders.

 

Jeff Staples

Chesapeake