When people think of the Lakes Region, they picture beautiful blue lakes, stands of birch and pine, and a quiet refuge. These are the images that draw folks to the area. Not a racino with its acres of parking lots and swarms of people.

Do we want our area to be made into a haven for gamblers? Rep. Gary Moore does.

This week, Moore submitted a bill that would tie a racino to the proposed expansion of the Mountain Division rail line, which runs through the Lakes Region. Admitting that the railroad cannot pay for itself, Moore believes we need a racino somewhere in southern Maine to help pay for the railway. Ten percent of the racino’s profit would go to running the railroad, or about $4.6 million a year.

If past referendum votes on the subject are any indication, southern Maine people reject the expansion of gambling. It seems if Moore’s bill takes off, we might be headed for yet another vote, in addition to the Washington County racino already slated for November’s ballot.

The scary thing is that it’s not only Moore who wants more gambling. According to the governor’s office, there are 18 or 19 bills in the Legislature that aim to bring racinos or casinos to Maine. With so many proposals, it’s apparent leaders in Augusta have given up hope that Maine can boost its economy without them. Both Republicans and Democrats, it seems, have given up on real economic development.

So, before any more bills are proposed, leaders should answer one question for us Mainers: Why are we turning to gambling? Is it because every other state is doing it and it’s a “proven moneymaker,” as Moore says? When was Maine the one to follow? Why can’t we lead America out of this sick reliance on gambling? Our legislators’ lack of leadership is a cop-out on a potentially devastating scale.

Like other vices, when did gambling ever solve anything? We are foolish (and it is shameful) to believe taking money from average Mainers by way of slot machines will somehow boost our economy. Simply put, racino profits is money that could be spent elsewhere. Even if there are good causes to fund with racino money – like the Lakes Region commuter rail – the fact remains that most racino profit is money stolen from hard working Mainers.

Therefore, if the train proposal can’t stand on its own, then now’s probably not the time to reintroduce commuter rail. We can’t have everything. We’ll have to wait until it can be self-sufficient, or come up with some other idea to fund it.

Rather than greed, our region should be known for good things: Children jumping into a deep, cool river. Riding bikes along a desolate country path. Hiking to the top of Douglas Mountain or driving to the top of Quaker Ridge to catch a 360-degree view. Aren’t these the memories we want visitors and ourselves to cherish as the years go by? God help us if it’s the bells and buzzers of a slot machine.

-John Balentine, editor