MGM Resorts strikes agreement to build casino at National Harbor near nation’s capital (Hampton: condo, townhomes)

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

It usually takes money to make money in a casino. If the poor and jobless don't have any money, it's pretty hard to have a gambling problem. Like UrbanSchaolar said, it's much easier for affluent middle class individuals with expendable income to become addicts. I think we need to give the poor more credit knowing that they are aware of the odds of winning.

My mom had a lottery habit. Bought the numbers books that taught you how to play numbers and what numbers meant, etc. We still ate. I don't think she played the lottery so much that her children would starve. She never put her household in jeopardy.

I used to steal wash money (quarters) when I was in grade school to spend at the arcade. One could say I had an additiction to video games. I could not stay away from Sega's Out Run. Which is probably why I drive a sports car now. It's more about the adrenaline than anything financial. Which is why you have people betting on Football games, etc. For others, Facebook may be an addiction to where they hardly get any work done at work jeopardizing their employment. I know this daggone forum is my addiction.

There are addictions in everything and I think some people miss the point. We focus too much on the vices without focusing on the people that are a slave to them. 99% of the people who go to casinos are normal people who have enough self control and common sense not to bet their house on a crap table. I think the negative stereotypes, mostly from TV and FILM get more attention than the entertainment value a casino brings.

And those are individuals that beg for money. Come on, we all have people in our family that have vices and that come to asking for money. Just because you give them money for food, doesn't mean that is how they will spend it. Poor people can be like that. I mean everybody that is out there panhandling isn't exactly looking for money for food. Some of them are looking for you to help support their habit. And I think you are discounting how much more desperate the poor will be. The incentive for poor people to gambling is a lot different.

I think you are also not realizing the general reasons why people take issue with living around poor people. That isn't to say that they are all like this, but poor people are more likely to commit crime because a lot of them are looking for means to survive. There is also an element to do more crime because of drug use. If this was not the case then why do poor areas, especially in PG have so many social issues when it comes to drugs and committing crimes? Why do you think these individuals do these things? Why would gambling be any different?

Here's a better question, why do you think they primarily sell lottery tickets at liquor stores? Why do you think the two are related? People go to these places because they want to escape the reality they are in. Gambling and alcohol are two different ways.

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by pgtitans

I would say, do you know that these individuals do not indeed have those type of ministries? Even if they didn't, it would be a huge difference between a select amount of individuals who leave the county to go to these casinos versus the ones that live down the street and walk to one. I would have to say, let's wait and see what they do, maybe they may address that, then again maybe they won't.


What part of the area is getting the SFH? Are you talking about across Old Fort Road or across 210? They definitely need to re-do that shopping center. I can't stand that Giant with a passion. And they never replaced the Jo-Ann Fabric. It's time to do something different with that shopping center, it is extremely dated and inadequate.

They may have ministries/programs to support gambling addictions but, if it was significant, it would have been part of their talking points. As I am sure you would agree having real primary research/data to support their assertions goes a longer way then idle rants that echo dated statistics/research. Having such programs would substantiate their position.

Yes that is exactly where it is supposed to be. It, like other projects were put on hold when the economy tanked but the developer still plans to build there. I agree that they need to do something with it. It has a lot of potential and a good location since it will be near one of the future interchanges of 210.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by pgtitans

And those are individuals that beg for money. Come on, we all have people in our family that have vices and that come to asking for money. Just because you give them money for food, doesn't mean that is how they will spend it. Poor people can be like that. I mean everybody that is out there panhandling isn't exactly looking for money for food. Some of them are looking for you to help support their habit. And I think you are discounting how much more desperate the poor will be. The incentive for poor people to gambling is a lot different.

Right. They have vices like cable TV, cell phones, etc. lol I have a friend who asks me for money. But not so he can drink or gamble. It's a legitimate reason. To fix his truck so he can take his kids to school. But, they still have cable. Won't get rid of it. That's over $100/month. Like I said, everything can become a financial burden. It's all in what you are willing to say no to. Yes, the homeless people on the street may ask for money and use it for something we didn't intend for them to use. Maybe we should give them a sandwich next time. I did. The guy was grateful.

I think you are also not realizing the general reasons why people take issue with living around poor people. That isn't to say that they are all like this, but poor people are more likely to commit crime because a lot of them are looking for means to survive.

There is also an element to do more crime because of drug use. If this was not the case then why do poor areas, especially in PG have so many social issues when it comes to drugs and committing crimes? Why do you think these individuals do these things? Why would gambling be any different?

I disagree. I have been poor. I've had poor friends. We never had an inclination to commit crimes. People who commit crimes aren't doing so out of survival. This isn't a 3rd world country. And Poor people in PG can and do a lot better than poor people in the deep south. Crime stems from mentally deficient young men who were raised in an environment that did not teach them the value of work, property, or life. Republicans are going ape over the number of social welfare programs out there. All these idiots commiting crimes need counseling and a job. Hanging out on a street corner with nothing to do but think of ways to get in trouble has nothing to do with hunger or shelter. And trust me. These fools wouldn't even think to go to a casino to gamble because they would probably be arrested or thrown out for their lack of civility in a nice place like a casino. Half of them are functioning off of the maturity level of a 14 year old.

Here's a better question, why do you think they primarily sell lottery tickets at liquor stores?

If you think they primarily sell lottery tickets our of liquor stores, you may frequent them a tad too much. You know where I play most of my lottery tickets whenever I do play? Shoppers Food Warehouse and 7-Eleven. Let's see who else sells lottery tickets.

Drugstores
Gas Stations
Convenience stores
Major grocery stores

Why do you think the two are related?

Knuckleheads raising knuckleheads.

People go to these places because they want to escape the reality they are in. Gambling and alcohol are two different ways.

You don't need a casino to gamble. Second, a place where you need even more money than the mall to be in won't be a hang out for people who have no money to spend.

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

Right. They have vices like cable TV, cell phones, etc. lol I have a friend who asks me for money. But not so he can drink or gamble. It's a legitimate reason. To fix his truck so he can take his kids to school. But, they still have cable. Won't get rid of it. That's over $100/month. Like I said, everything can become a financial burden. It's all in what you are willing to say no to. Yes, the homeless people on the street may ask for money and use it for something we didn't intend for them to use. Maybe we should give them a sandwich next time. I did. The guy was grateful.

You are equating your own personal experiences to how the rest of society works. There are people who simply do not make a lot of money. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with them spending on luxuries. If you think your experience with poor people is the way it always is, then this conversation is over before it even started.

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

I disagree. I have been poor. I've had poor friends. We never had an inclination to commit crimes. People who commit crimes aren't doing so out of survival. This isn't a 3rd world country. And Poor people in PG can and do a lot better than poor people in the deep south. Crime stems from mentally deficient young men who were raised in an environment that did not teach them the value of work, property, or life. Republicans are going ape over the number of social welfare programs out there. All these idiots commiting crimes need counseling and a job. Hanging out on a street corner with nothing to do but think of ways to get in trouble has nothing to do with hunger or shelter. And trust me. These fools wouldn't even think to go to a casino to gamble because they would probably be arrested or thrown out for their lack of civility in a nice place like a casino. Half of them are functioning off of the maturity level of a 14 year old.

Oh that's right so because you didn't commit crimes, means that other poor people won't right? Again, why are areas that have poorer people have more crime and drug use? Why do places inside the beltway for example, seem to able to support more liquor stores than outside the beltway?

The people that you mention as idiots that needs counseling and a job got there for a reason. What got there first, the conditions they are in or their mindset. Everybody is different. Some people do these things because they do need counseling and aren't functional, but there are also people that get this way because of the job they have or the lack of a job they may have.

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

If you think they primarily sell lottery tickets our of liquor stores, you may frequent them a tad too much. You know where I play most of my lottery tickets whenever I do play? Shoppers Food Warehouse and 7-Eleven. Let's see who else sells lottery tickets.

Drugstores
Gas Stations
Convenience stores
Major grocery stores

But if they are in these places, which are more common, then what is the reason to have them in liquor stores?

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

You don't need a casino to gamble. Second, a place where you need even more money than the mall to be in won't be a hang out for people who have no money to spend.

True. But there is no comparison between a mall and a casino. You don't go to a mall to get more than what you came in with, you go to the mall to spend for certain things. At the end, if you spend your money at the mall you will get something back, but at the casino, there are no guarantees.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by pgtitans

You are equating your own personal experiences to how the rest of society works. There are people who simply do not make a lot of money. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with them spending on luxuries. If you think your experience with poor people is the way it always is, then this conversation is over before it even started.

And you're equating how the rest of society works on what? Conjecture? I grew up in a poor neighborhood. Which means I knew not one, not two, but many poor people. 99% of them didn't commit crimes. 99% actually had jobs. Working poor. Where is your data?


Oh that's right so because you didn't commit crimes, means that other poor people won't right? Again, why are areas that have poorer people have more crime and drug use? Why do places inside the beltway for example, seem to able to support more liquor stores than outside the beltway?

Crime is not a product of being poor. There is a generational lack of parenting and family dysfunction that in fact can cause people to be poor. Poor work ethic. School drop outs, etc. You don't commit crime just because you're poor in order to survive. Like I said, social welfare. Hell, education is free here up through 12th grade. The need to survive for the basic necessities in this area is pretty low. Go south to Mississippi. You'll see what poor is. Here, people who commit crimes are just dysfunctional, lazy, mentally deficient boys acting like men.

The people that you mention as idiots that needs counseling and a job got there for a reason. What got there first, the conditions they are in or their mindset.

Their mindset. We all know of little cousins or nieces and nephews who like to hang out with the bad crowd and don't think much of school. As a matter of fact, half these kids committing these crimes live in the suburbs or have very comfortable living. You can be poor and civil.

but there are also people that get this way because of the job they have or the lack of a job they may have.

Again, there are social services for that. How many homeless men do you see out there robbing and murdering? Some choose to live that way. Others have given up. But they don't go on a murdering rampage because they are hungry or have no shelter. Do you see the difference? If that was the case, we should expect crimes from homeless to be 100%. They have the legitimate reason to kill or steal to survive.

But if they are in these places, which are more common, then what is the reason to have them in liquor stores?

Why not? They are in liquor stores in the wealthy white neighborhoods too.

True. But there is no comparison between a mall and a casino. You don't go to a mall to get more than what you came in with, you go to the mall to spend for certain things. At the end, if you spend your money at the mall you will get something back, but at the casino, there are no guarantees.

Hmmmm. Why do you go to the movies and spend money? You get nothing back. Why do we go spend money at Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens? We don't get anything back. How about Disney World? One word. Entertainment. You're not expected to get anything back. People go for FUN. Why does everything think a casino is all about business? People walk in expecting to win a million dollars. If they don't then somehow it's a wasted evening. Just like people go to the movies, arcades, parks, etc. is to be entertained. For the thrill. For the excitement. I've always walked out of a casino with a smile on my face having left $20 poorer because I didn't go JUST to win. I went for the experience.

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

And you're equating how the rest of society works on what? Conjecture? I grew up in a poor neighborhood. Which means I knew not one, not two, but many poor people. 99% of them didn't commit crimes. 99% actually had jobs. Working poor. Where is your data?

Crime is not a product of being poor. There is a generational lack of parenting and family dysfunction that in fact can cause people to be poor. Poor work ethic. School drop outs, etc. You don't commit crime just because you're poor in order to survive. Like I said, social welfare. Hell, education is free here up through 12th grade. The need to survive for the basic necessities in this area is pretty low. Go south to Mississippi. You'll see what poor is. Here, people who commit crimes are just dysfunctional, lazy, mentally deficient boys acting like men.

I think you have a fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to be poor in this nation. I am sure that you had a much different experience than most but that doesn't mean that your experience being poor is what being poor is like in this country. Before I even break out any facts let me ask you some simple questions out of these places, which has less crime:

Anacostia or Crofton?
Capitol Heights or Bowie?
Langley Park or Fairfax City?

What makes those places different? Is it a coincidence that as DC has gentrified that their crime level has dropped? What else can you contribute to the dramatic drop in crime in DC?

Neighborhood Crime Prevention

Neighborhood crime prevention efforts are essential. Safe neighborhoods are necessary to foster common values and community quality of life. Neighborhood crime, on the other hand, creates fear and distrust among residents. Crime is more common in poorer neighborhoods with high population turnover density where bonds between residents are vulnerable. Crime also flourishes in neighborhoods where there are more opportunities for violence, such as illegal drug and gun markets

Poverty & Crime - Fundamental Finance

Poverty’s effects on crime can be explained through a variety of reasons. “There is a higher rate of mental illness in the poor than in the rich” (Brill 40). Poverty can lead to high levels of stress that in turn may lead individuals to commit theft, robbery, or other violent acts. Moreover, poverty may lead to an actual or perceived inferior education, which would cause youth to count on less access to quality schools, jobs, and role models, decreasing the opportunity costs of crime and increasing the probability of youth spending time on the street associating with gangs, etc (Ludwig 1).

Crime offers a way in which impoverished people can obtain material goods that they cannot attain through legitimate means. Often threat or force can help them acquire even more goods, this induces them to commit violent acts such as robbery, which is the second most common violent crime. For many impoverished people, the prize that crime yields may outweigh the risk of being caught, especially given that their opportunity cost is lower than that of a wealthier person. Thus, poverty should increase crime rates.

The estimated coefficient of poverty now yields crime-poverty elasticity. The ln(Total Crime) model shows that holding the other variables constant, a 1% increase in poverty leads to a 2.16% increase in total crime. This coefficient is significant at the 0.6% level. The ln(Violent Crime) model shows that a 1% increase in poverty leads to a 2.57% increase in violent crime and is significant only at the 5.1% level.

I can't believe I'm even explaining this, but bottom line, why are people committing these crimes? Do you think people do these things just because? How many millionaires do you see going out there robbing a bank? Crime is often done out of necessity. It is also something can be learned and be desensitize to the immorality of crime. The fact that you lived in a neighborhood that didn't have those type of people is a blessing, but the reality is there are people who feel they have to do these things even when they don't have to. I will give a disclaimer, I do not think everyone that is poor, commits crime, but the issue is there is a greater chance of it happening.

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

Their mindset. We all know of little cousins or nieces and nephews who like to hang out with the bad crowd and don't think much of school. As a matter of fact, half these kids committing these crimes live in the suburbs or have very comfortable living. You can be poor and civil.

I don't think it's always their mindset. Can you imagine a woman that is married and has kids, her husband cheats on her and leaves her and their kids? Now she is dirt poor because she may have been dependent on her husband's salary to live and she doesn't have a degree or skills to get a job that will pay her enough to pay her bills. A lot of women are put in that position and some simply can't handle it. If she gets to the point that she resorts to drugs or if she becomes overly stressed to the point that she acts irrational, is that because of her mindset or because of her situation? If you put her in a situation where she is stable and has a way to pay her bills, how stable do you think she is? As a matter of fact, how stable do you think most of America would be if we couldn't pay our bills?

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

Again, there are social services for that. How many homeless men do you see out there robbing and murdering? Some choose to live that way. Others have given up. But they don't go on a murdering rampage because they are hungry or have no shelter. Do you see the difference? If that was the case, we should expect crimes from homeless to be 100%. They have the legitimate reason to kill or steal to survive.

You are generalizing my point. I'm not talking about homeless people doing any type of crime. I'm talking about crime out of necessity. Murdering someone isn't really a necessity. And I'm not saying every homeless person does it, but you don't think they get desperate? You don't think they look for a quick fix of their situation?

And the reason why you don't see every homeless person committing crimes is because it depends on what they believe. Some become hopeless, some see a light at the end of the tunnel. Every person mindset is different.

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

Why not? They are in liquor stores in the wealthy white neighborhoods too.

But how many liquor stores are there in those neighborhoods compared to poor black neighborhoods? I'm telling you, there are exactly two liquor stores in the whole town of Accokeek and at the corner of Audrey Lane and Indian Highway, there are about 4 liquor stores at one intersection. Why would there be such a huge difference? Why do you think people even become addicted to alcohol and go to these liquor stores so much.

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

Hmmmm. Why do you go to the movies and spend money? You get nothing back. Why do we go spend money at Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens? We don't get anything back. How about Disney World? One word. Entertainment. You're not expected to get anything back. People go for FUN. Why does everything think a casino is all about business? People walk in expecting to win a million dollars. If they don't then somehow it's a wasted evening. Just like people go to the movies, arcades, parks, etc. is to be entertained. For the thrill. For the excitement. I've always walked out of a casino with a smile on my face having left $20 poorer because I didn't go JUST to win. I went for the experience.

That's just a matter of opinion. When I go to the movies, I want to know what is going to happen so that I can talk about it with my wife or my friends. I pay for the entertainment. That's what I get out of it. You may not see that way, but I'm certain you, if you have cable in your home, the same question can be asked to you why you pay money every month for something you get nothing out of.

It's not always the thrill. That's just generalizing. For some that may be the case, but you don't think that people go there looking to earn money. If that were so, then we should stop calling this gambling and a casino and just call it, an adult arcade. There will always be people who play the lottery or slots or table games because they think they can win some money. It may be fun to them, but I'm sure if it came down to it, there isn't a single person on this earth that wouldn't want to walk out of a casino with more money than they walked in with.

[molukai]

If we're talking about wasting money for entertainment purposes, I would think that people should be more upset about going to a movie theater than to a casino. At least when you're in a casino, the entertainment might also result in more money. With movies, it's a sunk cost for mediocre (at best) entertainment.

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by molukai

If we're talking about wasting money for entertainment purposes, I would think that people should be more upset about going to a movie theater than to a casino. At least when you're in a casino, the entertainment might also result in more money. With movies, it's a sunk cost for mediocre (at best) entertainment.

Great point

[UrbanScholar]

Now its really getting interesting

Virginia Lawmaker Pushes For Casinos | NBC4 Washington

[molukai]

This is bad news for Maryland.