Washington County needs rest of Maine to ‘do the right thing’

To the editor:
    “The winter of 1604-1605 on Saint Croix Island was a cruel one for Pierre Dugua’s French expedition. Iced in by freezing temperatures and cut off from fresh water and game. Seventy-nine members of the expedition, including Samuel Champlain, passed that severe winter on the island. Thirty-five of 79 settlers died. As spring arrived and native people traded game for bread, the health of those remaining improved.” http://www.nps.gov/sacr/index.htm     Four hundred some odd years later we in Washington County are facing another long cold winter. One can draw parallels of the elders of the Passamaquoddy Tribe trying to reach out and nurse the white man back to health. Washington County continues to be “cut off” from the economic opportunities that those in the southern part of the state are enjoying. The racino was one way for the Passamaquoddy to once again come to the aid of all of those who reside here 40 decades later.
    One would have to be completely naïve to believe that the racino was a cure all, end all for this community. The majority of those whom I’ve spoke with viewed the establishment of a racino as a tiny, first piece of the complex and convoluted puzzle which is our future. Remember that there was to be a convention center and hotel to be built, not just a room full of slots machines. It could have been a cornerstone to build some sort of significant tourist trade. What other businesses could have been spurned?
    Some 2.5 million people travel through our city every year, it is vital to have something more in place to entice these people to open their car doors and look around. Unfortunately, pristine lakes, a beautiful coastline and a plethora of American bald eagles flying in the air above us have not been enough. We are the fifth busiest Canadian port of entry in the U.S. and we are unable to capitalize; there just is not enough here to attract the 21st Century tourist. Twenty-nine other states have discovered and proven that gambling draws visitors and revenue.
    The argument has been made that with gambling comes corruption and crime. Could this concern be over exaggerated by the jaded, Wild West history of Las Vegas? The days of Bugsy Siegal are a long time gone. I would love to hear Steve Wynn (Mirage), William Bennett (Treasure Island) or Kirk Kerkorian (MGM Grand Theme Park) respond to Dennis Bailey’s ludicrous statement that casinos are not legitimate businesses or viable economic enterprises. There is absolutely no proven correlation of increased crime in Bangor associated with Hollywood Slots.
    Poverty and lack of opportunity drives crime rates, substance abuse and domestic violence. This fact is firmly substantiated. Open any introductory level sociology book, or tune in to any number of programs on television or just come visit us. It is impossible to portray in words the overwhelming sense of doom that has infected this community. You have to witness it to fully grasp the scope. The prescription drug abuse problem is rampant. The Native population has been hit excessively hard. If anyone thinks that prostitution does not already exist here they would be mistaken. As a drug and alcohol counselor I have had the opportunity to witness this first-hand. I need not read about it anymore.
    This should not be a racial issue. This should not be just an Eastern Maine issue. This is a MAINE issue and in all actuality it is a United States of America issue. The changing paradigms of a global economy and the shift in manufacturing needs and overseas trading have affected more places than just our small city. We need more than ever to pull together as a state, as neighbors, and find solutions. Unfortunately, we in Washington County simply do not have the numbers at the polls to control our own destiny and for that very reason the rest of the state of Maine MUST stand up and take notice of the dire situation here. It is time for everyone to think outside of the proverbial box. We as Mainers have the opportunity and the responsibility to lead the nation in finding new avenues of economic growth.
    Every business book I have ever read tells me that where there is desperation there may lurk opportunity. Where do we turn? Is there something I can do? Is there something you can do? What are our assets? Land, water, air … Should we begin to look at wind and tidal power and selling energy? Where do we start? Is it even feasible? Let us not give up!
Larry Saunders
Calais