Tribal group wants casino at Great Lakes Downs

Just the FACTS: Thank you for your comments - I have to admit that your words shed some light on what many of us may erroneously believe to be facts. There is a lot of resentment toward any group of people who seem to receive "special treatment" due to their heritage. I was recently up in Traverse City and as we drove past one of the tribal casinos it was obvious that the profits from that casino are not equally distributed to the members of that tribe -the homes and property surrounding it are in terrible condition. If the rest of the People were sharing in the profits equitably I believe they would exhibit more pride in their environment. Their tribal leaders are NOT treating them well if the profits of gambling are as grand as some would have us believe. Hypocrisy comes in every skin colour and ethnicity. As does greed. The non-Indian community cannot fix what is broken with tribal leadership - only you can.
That said, I believe that Michigan should "Stop the special treatment". If the indiginous peoples of this area want to open a business then let them - but make it be answerable to all of the rules and regulations of any other business in the state of Michigan. Open a casino? Work to change the law to allow it as they do in Nevada and those special interest areas in Detroit. Want to serve alcohol? Get a license like any other restaurant or bar. Want to allow smoking? NO WAY - Michigan is on the brink of stupidly insisting on a smoking ban in all public(privately owned business?) places. Sorry you'll lose a ton of money from the smokers who can't sit still for 3 hours at a slot without leaving for a cigarette. On the other hand our insurance costs may drop as fewer of our citizens are exposed to heavy doses of second-hand smoke while sitting for hours at the slots as well. Indian tribes should comply with OUR laws. They are-like it or not-part of the State of Michigan. End the sovereign state status of the tribes in business dealings and put all Michigan businesses on a level playing field.

STARDREAMER wrote:

Casino's on established reservations by the US goverment before 1900 should be able to have casino's on them, but allowing tribes to buy land and put a casino on it is wrong. Jobs? Can you live on minimum wage, that is what my brother earned working at a casino. Look what has happened to the goverment agencies and the financial strain they are under in Minnasota helping the elderly and poor because of the money they spend at casinos.

Minimum wage is better than no money at all.

rval2 wrote:

Asked if the area could support three casinos, Muskegon Mayor Steve Warmington said half of the guests that travel to the closest casino in Manistee are from Muskegon County.
Half of the guests of the the Manistee Casino are from Muskegon County? How will this affect the Manistee Casino then? Will folks be losing their jobs up there, or will they be offered the chance to relocate with relocation expenses paid...???

So what you're saying is that we're supposed to waste our gas money going to casino when we have the opportunity to have one ten minutes away. thats a brillant idea. have you noticed that most of the people who oppose are from gr. that shows just how jealous you dumb asses are of us in muskegon. we have beach and now we have a casino. that must really piss you guys off. you're just affraid that muskegon might actually take away from your tourism. if you even have any tourism.

Bad Bet In Michigan wrote:

Every Michigan Casino I've patronized has been pathetic and that HASN'T been the case in other States. Can't find your car at Mt. Pleasant in the lot? Don't expect any help or 'Security' to even offer to drive you around to find it - the flat out WONT! Want a room? The Casino's will price gouge you....go elsewhere. Want posted 'average payouts?' Not at any tribal casino's I've been to in Michigan. Let us not forget....there have been numerous factors contributing to the unfortunate demise of a once great horse racing industry in Michigan but the Tribes and their Detroit Commercial Casino cronies held hands to destroy the racing industry only a few short years ago. Duped the voters into thinking somehow that gambling was going to be curtailed - what was the result? I'll tell you - 2 CLOSED RACETRACKS and not less than 3 NEW TRIBAL CASINO'S with MORE ON THE WAY! They really pulled off a coup. I recommend Michigan install TOLL BOOTHS on roads entering tribal Casino's and use the money to create the best roads in the country. This Indian purchase of a Racetrack is insulting, demoralizing to racing people and fans and truly a ironic and despicable slap in the face.

how is it demoralizing to racing fans. the track is closed. its sitting there wasting space. there's no way it was ever going to be another horse racing track because the owner is opening up another one in detroit. make some sense dude.

OMG Im home cant believe it I was up by the casino and didn't spend any money. Well at least not there. Did spend a ton on gas and took my father in law out to eat, Had to buy stuff for the kids and all that. Guess you could look at it like I lost about 300 this weekend. Maybe I should have gone to the casino and maybe won some of it back. lol Oh just for everyones INFO I was talking to my father in law's friends he lives with and one of them work at the casino guess what she makes good money and has health insurance, life insurance think she said something like a 401k not sure. She loves the benifits they offer. Also she has worked there for a few years now.

I was thinking about going to the casino just so I could win enough money to get more tats and piercings. Hey, jaden roze, wanna come with me ?

LOL

Watch the nipple piercings ! They can be a bit sensitive..lol

jaden roze wrote:

OMG Im home cant believe it I was up by the casino and didn't spend any money. Well at least not there. Did spend a ton on gas and took my father in law out to eat, Had to buy stuff for the kids and all that. Guess you could look at it like I lost about 300 this weekend. Maybe I should have gone to the casino and maybe won some of it back. lol Oh just for everyones INFO I was talking to my father in law's friends he lives with and one of them work at the casino guess what she makes good money and has health insurance, life insurance think she said something like a 401k not sure. She loves the benifits they offer. Also she has worked there for a few years now.

Is your pa in law's friend a freak too or does she take some pride in herself?

4boys-1princess wrote:

<quoted text>
It is not our responsibility as a nation to find jobs for Native Americans of anybody else for that matter. Educational opportunities abound ( and are free for many of Native blood). When you choose to limit your education, you are pretty much guaranteed a low paying job. Not everyone wants to continue schooling. That's fine, but they can expect to make less than those who choose to go on and get the skills needed for more pay.

While I agree with you in principle, were that the case in our nation, the federal government wouldn't be making it so easy for a tribe to open a casino in any state they wished, overriding the wishes of the state (and its voters) in some cases.

I view it as a temporary evil --give enough educational opportunities to a few generations, and perhaps those generations will raise their children with those values in mind. If it fails, end the experiment, and if it succeeds, the experiment will be no longer needed.

ladydragonfly wrote:

Any more casinos and I will take my business and hard earned dollars out of state. I do not want to raise my children with the casino and hollywood riff raff Jenny is bringing into the state.

Granholm has no choice in the matter. Native American casinos are under the purview of the Federal government, and whether we want them or not, if they approve, we have no choice. Whether you like it or not, she's not the one to blame.

Kurtis S wrote:

<quoted text>
Minimum wage is better than no money at all.

Brillant thought!!.. Now, try living on minimum wage. Paying a mortgage, car payment, insurance, utilities, fuel an oh yes having enough left to eat. Please go back to watching "Blues Clues".

Muskegon Guy wrote:

<quoted text>
Our society sucks because people aren't accountable for themselves. My life would be great if that damned casino weren't so close by! Bull****! If you are blowing your grocery money at the casino, then I'm guessing this is not your first bad decision in life. Go to school, get educated, stay out of trouble, don't buy things you can't afford, gamble responsibly, drink responsibly, don't have kids you can't afford to take care of etc. Casinos are not the problem. Idiots are!

VERY well put!

Just Me wrote:

Just the FACTS: Thank you for your comments - I have to admit that your words shed some light on what many of us may erroneously believe to be facts. There is a lot of resentment toward any group of people who seem to receive "special treatment" due to their heritage. I was recently up in Traverse City and as we drove past one of the tribal casinos it was obvious that the profits from that casino are not equally distributed to the members of that tribe -the homes and property surrounding it are in terrible condition. If the rest of the People were sharing in the profits equitably I believe they would exhibit more pride in their environment. Their tribal leaders are NOT treating them well if the profits of gambling are as grand as some would have us believe. Hypocrisy comes in every skin colour and ethnicity. As does greed. The non-Indian community cannot fix what is broken with tribal leadership - only you can.
That said, I believe that Michigan should "Stop the special treatment". If the indiginous peoples of this area want to open a business then let them - but make it be answerable to all of the rules and regulations of any other business in the state of Michigan. Open a casino? Work to change the law to allow it as they do in Nevada and those special interest areas in Detroit. Want to serve alcohol? Get a license like any other restaurant or bar. Want to allow smoking? NO WAY - Michigan is on the brink of stupidly insisting on a smoking ban in all public(privately owned business?) places. Sorry you'll lose a ton of money from the smokers who can't sit still for 3 hours at a slot without leaving for a cigarette. On the other hand our insurance costs may drop as fewer of our citizens are exposed to heavy doses of second-hand smoke while sitting for hours at the slots as well. Indian tribes should comply with OUR laws. They are-like it or not-part of the State of Michigan. End the sovereign state status of the tribes in business dealings and put all Michigan businesses on a level playing field.

You can't change their status...they are recognized by the Supreme Court as Nations and that has been tested more than once and it will not change...sorry...

http://lawlib.lclark.edu/blog/native_america/...