- The library: a recession sanctuary?
- Nutter should get credit where credit's due
- Thursday Counter-Protest at "We Stand with Israel" Rally
- This Saturday: hearing of Mayor's Task force on Ethics
- Why do we fund this?
- ABC debuts "Homeland Security USA"
- Library Closings: They Have Never Really Been About The Budget Crisis
- DA's Job to Prosecute Environmental Crime
- Is the number of branch libraries in Philly significantly out of line with cities of comparable size?
- Nutter Doesn't Have to Follow the Law says Seventy
Casino Subterfuge (yes.. I changed the title)
Submitted by GodMadeIncubus on Fri, 11/16/2007 - 2:48pm.
This whole casino ordeal has been a shady slithering back door fiasco stemming from the sneaky passage of Act 71 and propagated by the PGCB, Gov Rendel, Mayor Street and of course the casino developers themselves (… but who can fault them for being slimy?). The more I read about how we came to this point, the more I realize how staggeringly impotent and corrupt the “democratic” process in PA/Philly has become.
I had never been interested in politics and had consequently been happily ignorant of the seemingly commonplace steamrolling of public opinion. The scary part is that this kind of thing must happen all the time. It’s just that this particular instance affects many people directly by killing their property values (me included). And let’s not forget the issues of traffic (in a location that already has traffic problems) and crime (in a city already plagued with high and rising crime).
So what recourse do we have? Some people have decided to sue for property value loss which seems like a good idea. Ah! I've just thought of a brilliant solution!... how about... we build the casinos... in a... (now stick with me here)... DIFFERENT LOCATION? Or better yet, don’t build them at all. Perhaps some investigation of the legislative process that allowed ACT 71 through is in order? Who can make these people accountable? Is there some form I can fill out to impeach a governor? senator?
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Your Only Recourse
in Pennsylvania is your vote.
Petitions have no legal standing.
Rallies don't get their attention.
Lawsuits must be heard in corrupted courts.
There is no such thing as recall.
Citizens cannot impeach.
We have no initiative.
We have no referendum.
We only have our vote.
One of the Supreme Court justices who joined the unanimous 6-0 decision to put the stamp of approval on the unconstitutional sham that is the slots bill was just up for a new ten-year term last week. Philadelphia voters decided to retain him by a 3-1 margin. He was even a Republican. Go figure.
In 2008, every single member of the House of Representatives who voted to foist slots parlors on the residents of Philadephia - and Senators from odd-numbered districts - will be up for re-election. Will Philadelphia voters choose to retain them as well? Will they be unopposed in the primary election?
We only have our vote.
View slots votes and other important General Assembly decisions here.
You thought you knew. Now you do.
Tip of the Spear
I do vote!
I agree that voting is important, but this doesn't really address the issue. Once someone is elected, there's nothing to deter the next guy from doing the same or worse because he can "get away with it".
The loop hole (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07329/836596-85.stm)
And what about all the damage that will be caused while these less-than-noble people remain in their elected positions in their seats of impunity??
take action
Direct action is one of the tools the anti-casino movement has used for the past 18 months, and very successfully. Join Casino-Free Philadelphia and take action. The great thing is you can do it any day or everyday and you don't have to ask permission, and even better, by doing it you actually create democracy rather than waiting for it to happen the first Tuesday of November each year. Few people thought we would have made it this far. This effort is winning so come on and join, we need you to be victorious. Help us build democracy, build a world-class riverfront, protect our neighborhoods and city and root out corruption. Take action. Stop the casinos!
Peace,
Jethro
Thanks Jethro
Thanks for taking action.
I've been to the CFP site before and added my name to the email list, but I've never received an email. Also, I haven't seen anyplace on the site to become a member, participate in events or view an upcoming meeting schedule. Please let me know what I'm missing.