Gambling in State Indian Casinos

As a retired person who has lost money gambling at Indian casinos, I will be voting no on Prop. 5. The wealth that gambling has brought to some Native American tribes has been at the expense of the life savings of retired Americans. Let’s stop bringing that gambling temptation so close to retirement communities.

IRA ZIMMERMAN

San Juan Capistrano

*

Regarding the Oct. 27 article about the disparity between casino operators and poor Indians: Why should that surprise anyone? A 15% to 85% division seems generous when compared to the country’s 10% to 90% division of wealth now in operation nationwide.

As for photo proof, send a camera to record living conditions in San Marino, Beverly Hills, etc., and return by way of some of the slum and homeless areas.

JACK TATE

Cedar Glen

*

Regardless of its merits, Prop. 5 is a good example of why legislation by popular referendum is such a pernicious idea. How can average citizens be expected to evaluate a law that requires 11 pages of highly technical, legalistic description? We can’t. Lawmaking like this, based on the effectiveness of 30-second sound-bite commercials, takes us far from the principles of government that have served this country so well for two centuries.

Complex legislation is the business of the state Legislature--if we disapprove of the job done there, we should vote our representatives out of office, not take matters into our own hands.

ALAN DRESSLER

Altadena