Opinion
Mohegan casino infects discourse
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Also by Bassey Etim:
- Usual sources a minor concern (November 19, 2009)
- Precedent poor excuse for use of [sic] (November 5, 2009)
- Keeping The Badger Herald honest (September 16, 2009)
- Reader input keeps Herald honest (October 1, 2009)
- Off-hand comments unnecessary (October 15, 2009)
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A red plague spreads from Connecticut "sucking billions from Massachusetts." It soon overwhelms New York and New Jersey as a munching sound crescendos toward the announcer's foreboding prose. It darts into the heart of Pennsylvania. Then, it sets its sights on Kenosha. The red virus quickly envelops much of Wisconsin. As the website Noeastcoast.com flashes across the screen, it is evident a worthy cause has been scuttled by its own exuberance.
That was one of two TV ads from the coalition group Wisconsin Gaming for Wisconsin, whose stated goal is to "inform citizens of gaming issues affecting the state," according to a press release. But they were actually founded to oppose a bid by Connecticut's Mohegan tribe to construct the nation's largest casino between Atlantic City and Las Vegas in nearby southeastern Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Gaming for Wisconsin has a legitimate gripe. In 1993, the state voted to approve gaming rights for local American-Indian tribes. Because the deal doesn't seem to extend this right to out-of-state tribes, the Mohegans — who own the massive Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut — are building this $808 million facility for the local Menominee tribe and will take 13.4 percent of revenues for seven years, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The beauty of our Wisconsin's gaming policy is that it kills three political birds in one stone. First, religious groups that fear the corrosive impact of gambling on local communities and society as a whole see gaming limited, while those who want to gamble can still do so. Second, impoverished American-Indian groups, who have been continually robbed by the U.S. government, have an exclusive means of revenue to support themselves.
Finally, the state of Wisconsin doesn't see potential gambling cash go to other states, and the state gets a sizable chunk of gaming revenues to invest in public programs.
While the Mohegans may well have humanitarian motivations in constructing this casino, it's not unreasonable to view this reach by a rapidly expanding financial empire as a threat to the economic vitality of local tribes. It would essentially let select American Indian tribes circumvent state law by sharing revenues with locals and allow financial powerhouses like the Mohegans to build a national gaming conglomerate. This may seem like everyone wins at first, but in practice, billions will be siphoned off from local tribal economies to help far-off powerhouses.
Wisconsin's Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Milwaukee Urban League, VISIT Milwaukee and the Forest County Potomatami Community were wise to form Wisconsin Gaming for Wisconsin. Quite simply, it is an interest group, and a massive casino in Kenosha is against its interests. Heck, it's even got a persuasive title.
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Maria Monreal-Cameron admits the group hasn't yet had a formal meeting. Nonetheless, the goals of these local leaders reflect the values of Wisconsin voters.
"We can only have so much gaming," Monreal-Cameron told me in a phone interview. "And we have a proven organization in place already that contributes to the overall economy of the city and county."
Although they have an important point to make, an over-the-top advertising campaign meant to exploit the perceived xenophobia of this Midwestern state does a disservice to their cause. Even worse, Monreal-Cameron admitted she had not even seen the commercials currently flooding the airwaves across Wisconsin, although she said the group did discuss the intent of the ads.
"They are meant to bring attention to the fact that this tribe from an outside state is a threat to what's already been established here," Monreal-Cameron said.
Maybe this is how politics gets so nasty. Interest groups with legitimate concerns contract their messages to snooty advertising companies who transform community politics into a Freudian study of human impulses. Insulting the intelligence of Wisconsinites by appealing to the culture-wars mentality and personifying the Mohegan tribe as a red plague will backfire. Who seems more reasonable? The Mohegans — who say they want to build an $808 million casino for the downtrodden Menominee tribe — or the interest group running those ads with the spooky background music?
East Coast gaming interests should not be granted a stake in Wisconsin gaming, even if it will benefit local tribes. The public is already leery about gambling, and the idea of out-of-state business interests making money while we deal with the societal consequences of casinos might spawn a backlash that would cripple all gaming in Wisconsin.
Regardless, local advocacy groups like Wisconsin Gaming for Wisconsin should cringe at their own ads before voters have to.
Bassey Etim (betim@badgerherald.com) is a junior majoring in political science and journalism.
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IP hash: b46c044c
While I understand the concept of free enterprise and aplaud the Mohegans for their successes, I would like to remind people that gambling, although legal in some arenas, is still wrong. This statement is based on the fact that many of the people who gamble do so to the detrement of their families. There are also those who are addicted and end up homeless or worse because they cannot control their disease. It can be said that their issue is not the problem of the gambling establishments, but that is like saying it isn’t the drivers fault if his car kills someone while he is at the wheel.
I am not a proponent of any gambling casinos, on or off reservations, however, I firmly believe that each state should make the determination of the Indian Nation of their state has a right to build casinos in their state and their state only.
I would ultimately like to see reservations abolished and the Indian Nation joined with the rest of the United States and everyone live by the same laws, but that is another discussion.
For now, let me say more clearly, I do not believe tribes from outside Wisconsin should be allowed to open gaming establishments here.
Thank you.
Cathie Manley
IP hash: de692621
I’m sick of Indian Reservations in general. What purpose do they have these days? Some one needs to take away the red man’s sovereignty. Put down the fire water, start paying taxes, and get a job.
Love, Paleface
IP hash: 70642d0d
Gambling will eventually be recognized as a far greater destoyer of lives than any drug.
IP hash: ffcbe0df
What you have spoken about is very one-sided. The Menominee originally wanted the FCPC to be a partner in the Kenosha casino but they denied the offer. FCPC started this same way with their Milwaukee casino. How many more businesses in this state are financed through people or businesses that are out of state? These profits are going out of state, why not make a big fuss about that. All of the groups mentioned are partially funded by FCPC. Another major Milwaukee union(can’t recall it) has agreed with the notion of the Kenosha casino.
IP hash: 168ad0a5
Most Indian Tribes in the U.S. who do not have the financial wherewithall to finance and develop their own casinos, seek a “management contractor”, as provided for in IGRA, to do just that - finance and develop the Tribes casino. You will find that almost all the management contractors are NOT from the host Tribes state of origin. This is not breaking news (having been the case historically since 1990). It appears this case is an issue ONLY because the management contractor is another Tribe. Shame on you - racist Wisconsonites.
IP hash: 0a4bfd30
To Cathie Manley:
Some reservations were abolished in 1961… However, they could not hack it themselves and needed the federal government, once again, to bail them out and recreate the reservation.
IP hash: 34f51f46
500 years from now, will there still be Indian reservations? When will our land theft be paid in full?
IP hash: 70642d0d
The tribes are doing pretty well for a conquered people, compared to others who lost their identity and passed out of history.
IP hash: d56982c7
Thank You Paleface for your eloquence and your intellegient insight into Indian Country. Thanks to you I will now put down my beer, start paying state taxes and get a job. As an Oneida I do have a job and do pay state and local taxes, like every Native American. The FCP are very hypocritical in their argument against the casino. They were one of the first in the nation to get an Off-Reservation casino financed by an out of state entity, just like the Menominee. Why the sudden change of heart. The FCP only want to maintain their control of Southeastern Wisconsin and maintain their all ready healthy profit margins. All their other arguments are just window dressing for the fact they want to keep as much money rolling in as possible.
Joel Doxtator Proud Native
IP hash: e6cbeb56
This article contains a major factual error. Wisconsin did not “vote[] to approve gaming rights” in 1993. Wisconsin amended their constitution in 1987 to allow the state to authorize a lottery. In 1991, the federal district court held that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act required the state to negotiate gaming compacts with the tribes. See Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Wisconsin, 770 F. Supp. 480 (W.D. Wis. 1991). In 1993, Wisconsin voters actually limited the authority of the state to allow gaming, but the compacts were already in effect.
To suggest that Wisconsin “voted to approve gaming rights” for the tribes is a serious misunderstanding of what happened. States do not make that decision - they are commanded by federal law, which says that if they allow gaming for their own citizens, they must allow it for tribes. In any case, this happened in 1991 in Wisconsin, by the order of the federal court, not by the state voting to do so.
IP hash: 213641d5
re: Reservations
Maybe some checkpoints at the point of entry to the foreign territory would be in order. I suggest large tolls be levied and customs duties on any imports or exports.
IP hash: 0d712592
No more Casinos’s unless they are going to help the tax payers and lower the taxes!!!!
IP hash: 067b9101
THis is funny because it comes from madison and sides with the already prevelant wisconsin tribes. lets take a look at the ecomonic impact it would have. Built in Kenosha it would attract visitors from Illinois, wisconsin, Indiana as well as other places. It would be built right off Interstate 94 and the area restarants, shopping center (prime outlets), hotels, gas stations and every other business would benefit from the influx of new people.
The currnet gaming centers, want a monopoly and no other competetion. Competetion can only yiled bettre things to a slumping economy in Racine/Kenohsa area.
IF we don’t act now, we will see the people of SE Wisc go to Joliet, Michigan City, Aurora and other casinos and spend the wisconsin money to benefit the economy of Illinois, Indiana. SO many already do now!