Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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E-MAIL You hate us in the fall and spring. Are we just better ii the summer? Write us. GCKVIEWS@SC.EDU * Wednesday, July 28,1999 tk(E Serving the Carolir EDITOR Brad Walter Kevin Langstoi X7 < It t Kenley Younj Myrtle Be wetlands A significant amount of Myrtle Beach's forests might >** .. be lost to more land ^ development. If Myr- dwclQplK tie Beach's largest forests in I land owner gets its way, nearly 7,300 acres of land (5,000 fhewfon of which is densely i^ejOTi populated with for- ^ the at est land) will be torn developM down in a massive harmful J retail and residential J J development. The proposed land is about half the size of the city of Myrtle Beach. In addition to cooling the city's Western area, these forests in the projected site absorb large amounts of the area's rainwater, as well as aid in the recharging of the underground water resources. The area also is pop ulated by several species ol birds and animals that will have to seek shelter elsewhere if the plans are approved. The developers say they'll try to save as much of the trees and wetland areas as possible, but it isn't part Serving toe Carohru The Gamecock is ihe student newspaper of The L'nive Friday durmg the fall and spring semesters and eight times dur periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the The Board of Studeni Publications and Communications is the the newspaper's parent organization. The G Brad Walters Editor in ChieJ Clayton Kale News Editor Kevin Langston Viewpoints Editor tmiiy Mreyer Features Editor Stude Ellen S. Parsons Director of Student Media Lee Phipps Advertising Manager Susan King Creative Director Kris Black Creative Services Editor gcked@sc.edu 777-3914 News gckneivs@sc.edu 777-7726 Viewpoints gckvietvs@sc.edu 777-7726 Advertising 777-3888 Classified 777-1184 : V, 5amecoclt ia Community since 1908 IAL BOARD s, Editor in Chief a, Viewpoints Editor r, Features Editor 3, Copy Desk Chief ach to lose tomonev | of their long-term plan to preserve secMyrtle Beach falls }enX OJ more below the national Myrtle BeflCb. standards in providing open space for its residents. If this de^rerntal ea, and its only get worse for the ent could be people living within 'or residents. Myrtle Beach's crowd ed city limits. Through the years, money-oriented developments have dominated Myrtle Beach. It seems developers are willing to sacrifice such things as vital forests and wetlands in order to make more money. The face of Myrtle Beach has been {ilforoH rlnrinnrflior\Qof IHirooro onrl uuxiiig uxxv- xv/ j V/CU o, aiiu with projects like this on the horizon, it looks as though change continues to come. The tourism business could prove more harmful than helpftd to Myrtle Beach. City planners should look to Charleston for guidance. They have an incredible tourism industry and haven't sacrificed much to get it. 5amccock WgWH 3 Community since 1908 rsiry ot South Carolina and is published Monday, Wednesday and ing the summer with the exception of university holidays and exam editors or author and not those of The University of South Carolina. publisher of The Gamecodt. The Department of Student Media is iamecock Jeff Romig Sports Editor Charlie Wallace Sports Editor Kenley Young Copy Desk Chief Ashton June Photo Editor nt Media Sherry F. Holmes Classified Manager vauipiuiuim Dimness manager Erik Collins Faculty Advisor Etc. gckelc@sc.edu 777-3913 Sports gcksports@sc.edu 777-7182 Online gckonli@sc.edu 777-2855 Fax 777-6482 Business Office 777-3888 [EWPOI The Gamecock IP KWStfhiOW ?Wt$emi9 Video pokei Every time I stop at the Shell station near my apartment, there is always at least one person ? eyes glazed over, TOaSy GREMILIjS the hour^as guest columnist long as it isn't the gambling-free holy day in South Carolina, someone is shelling out to the video gambling industry. But the popularity of these games doesn't bother me. In fact, if I saw different faces transfixed on the beeping screens, I might let those machines eat a dollar or two of mine. But the truth is, I've come to recognize the faces, and I don't stop by the Shell that often. Sometimes, I look to see what the magnitude of their misguided financial endeavors are as I walk to the refrig erators for a Coke. On the way back to the checkout counter, their totals almost always are down. But wait; I know what some of you are thinking: "Stop the bleeding-heart liberal moaning and groaning. People have to be held responsible for their NTS gumr SP**' WW ^ INI M cashes ino own actions." And guess what? I agree completely! As a realist, I'd like to share my thoughts on the heated video gaming debate. In my opinion, the answer doesn't have anything to do with a winnings limit, as some of South Carolina's legislators seem to think. Suppose that the current limit of $125 was enforced (instead of the way it is now, where you have to cash out in $125 inTI7T C. wemeiiu>/. y?iicils) uj slup buxneuiit; irurn cashing out at $125 at the Shell station and walking across the street to the Exxon station to continue gambling? Nothing. Instead of making feeble attempts to restrict gamblers' free wills, we should consider solutions to the problems of video gambling. First of all, require the video gaming industry to post odds of their games. While it should be evident that the existence of a gambling machine necessitates odds in the machine's favor, it can't hurt to spell it out for those wouldbe gamblers. Ignorance is the foundafll *i it i uon 01 uie viaeo gamDiing industry, as well as a lot of other undesirable elements in South Carolina. Education, in whatever form, always will empower people to lead productive lives more than any laws that limit their actions. Posting odds also might lead to a more competitive environment for the video gambling industry, which would help shave off some of the huge profit margins it reportedly enjoys. In turn, tne controversy over video gam QUOTE, UNQUOTE "This has got to be what hell is like, but without the grass." Greg Woods, Kentucky resident, on the heat wave gripping the South Page 3 i % a J AMI j n ignorance blinds lobbying efforts in our state elections would recede, as lesser resources would lead to lesser political influence. Next, like alcohol and tobacco, video gambling should be taxed excessively. In fact, it should be taxed much more than tobacco because the sale of tobacco benefits a large number of South Carolina's formers, and the playing of video poker only contributes to a select industry's riches. The revenue should be allocated for treatment of gambling addicts (whose existence is painfully obvious) and for alleviating the financial distress that their addiction causes (one woman at. the Shell nlavs with her baby in her lap). Other ways of educating people in South Carolina about the stupidity of video poker might not be a bad idea, either. Tbns of anti-smoking commercials are out there; why not anti-gambling ones? Finally, abolish all blue laws, and explore the logistics of legalizing other forms of gambling. Okay, the blue laws might be out of bounds, but doesn't such legislation signify a not-so-separate church and state? Anvwav nth J ~~J-> er forms of legalized gambling, such as a state lottery or casinos, might prove more economically advantageous for South Carolina and do less damage in the way of gambling addiction. If nothing else, they might save you from hearing the nauseating ditty of a video poker machine every time you buy gasoline.