TO THE EDITOR: Gambling is said to be "unadulterated entertainment." Maybe it is or maybe it isn't. However, it remains a very controversial issue in this community and the state.

Every citizen in the state of Ohio must educate himself on all aspects pertaining to the issues of gambling. Not only do we have the duty before us to make a well-informed decision, but we also have the political freedom to do so. Gambling has promised to create substantial revenue growth to the communities and the state as a whole. The probability of this growth may seem promising but not without risk or chance.

Are we as individual communities or a state willing to risk what we all value most on the chance that gambling will bring forth all it has promised? Are we willing to chance that crime, domestic disturbances and social issues will not rise as a result of the gambling? Are we willing to take the risk that our children will not be enticed by the provocative businesses that gambling of this magnitude would invite? Are we willing to place the bet and risk it all on the gamble that gambling will pay off?

Kristina Gold, Botkins, OH

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State sends settlement money up in smoke

I wonder how many residents of our state realize that their household pays $560 per year in state and federal taxes to treat Ohioans with smoking-related diseases. Smoking costs the state more than $7 billion annually in health care costs and productivity losses alone.

Why are these costs so high? Ohio is fourth among the states for adult smoking rates, and one out of every three high school students in our state is already a regular smoker. In fact, thousands of Ohio adults die every year from smoking, and thousands suffer from tobacco-related diseases. One would assume that our elected leaders would make investing in tobacco prevention programs that save lives and save money a priority with such a devastating and expensive public health problems affecting the state and its budget.

Unfortunately, the opposite appears to be true. The governor and legislators are proposing to cut payments to the Ohio Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation in order to balance the budget. This is the same budget that contains spiraling Medicaid costs - 17 percent of which are directly attributable to smoking-related health care expenses.

They are not cutting tax dollars; they are robbing the foundation of a small portion of the payments from the settlement agreement with the tobacco industry, money available only because of the toll tobacco has taken on Ohio and meant to reduce future health care costs to the state.

It is often said that Ohioans make a choice to smoke. Taxpayers on the other hand, smokers and non-smokers, have no choice but to foot the bill that results from tobacco use. I call on legislators to use tobacco settlement dollars earmarked for tobacco prevention to save taxpayers' money, to decrease Medicaid spending and to reduce the human toll of tobacco in our state.

Charles Doan, Volunteer chair of the Tobacco Task Force and American Cancer Society

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Ohio should drop tax reciprocity

I am writing in regards to the March 22 editorial ("Tax deal/Taft wants out"). I respectfully disagree with your opinion regarding income tax reciprocity. I think it is time because of the budget deficits facing Ohio. Ohio should not reward people who do not work and live in Ohio with income tax breaks.

I understand this will affect Southwest Ohio more than other regions in the state because of our close proximity to Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana. However, I think people should be encouraged to live and work in Ohio.

By working in Ohio and living in Kentucky or Indiana, people have taken advantage of being able to buy more expensive houses and have hurt the school districts through property taxes, which are the primary support of the school system. We have seen residential communities, especially in Northern Kentucky, flourish because employees of large Cincinnati-based companies take their large salaries and buy expensive homes in upscale communities. These home values have helped establish and fund the school districts in the communities they are located.

By so-called double taxing these employees, they will think twice before taking the money from their large Cincinnati corporations and running across state lines to live. Why should we as Ohioans be with the minority who currently has 15 of 50 states granting reciprocity on income taxes? These are tough times on all states, and all should be taxed by where you live and work.

Matthew B. Hemberger, Delhi Township

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Delivery of summons at 1:45 a.m. justified

When I first read the article in the Hometown section of the The Enquirer on March 20 ("Early visit arouses mother's anger"), I thought the police were rather out of line for delivering a summons at 1:45 a.m. Then I read further in the article and found that they had made several attempts to deliver the summons prior to the 1:45 a.m. visit.

As I looked through the article, the summons was actually for the son of the woman who was complaining about the police.

What bothers me most is that it is one other example of The Enquirer putting down the efforts of the police in our metropolitan area, when in fact, they are doing their job. From my perspective, doing a fine job.

Bruce A. Cook, Indian Hill

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Mix of columns gives different perspectives

I was pleased to see a reasonable balance of conservative and liberal opinions in the Enquirer's syndicated columns and editorial cartoons. I believe that exposure to columns by Kathleen Parker and Paul Krugman, and cartoons by Glenn McCoy and Mike Keefe (as well as those of Jim Borgman on other days) serve to give readers exposure to multiple interpretations of the news of the day. This more-balanced presentation at least gives us all the opportunity to understand the thinking behind opposing opinions.

Dave Kuentz, Oxford

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Plan to cut veterans' benefits needs fixing

The letter writer ("Republicans wave flag, but disrespect veterans" April 2) was right to the point in his letter.

President Bush,

I know you're a very busy man, even without a war going on, so I'll get to the point.

I am in "shock and awe" because there is a House budget bill that is attempting to slash health care benefits for our nation's veterans. Last week they voted 215-212 on a budget that would take $844 million next year and $9.7 billion over the next 10 years from veterans' medical care. It also will chop $15 billion from veterans' disability and other programs. I think the better idea would be to slash the salaries and benefits that you politicians receive. Now there is something that could stand to be trimmed. Here we are in the middle of a war, and our brave political representatives are here at home, giving veterans the back door treatment.

I am a veteran and on disability. Do you know what the phrase "fixed income" means? I will be watching to see how you vote on this, rest assured. And all votes concerning veterans. Walk a mile in my shoes.

Stephen M. Ash, Norwood

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It's not unpatriotic to speak out against war

It is offensive that pro-war people think they are the only people who are "pro USA," support the troops, or believe Saddam is evil. This is one of the greatest nations on Earth. Other countries might attack us without provocation, but we should live up to a higher standard. We must resolve this conflict within our laws and international laws.

At minimum, Bush should have convinced the rest of the world that pre-emptive military action was just, which he failed to do. Locally, a semi-truck driver was so moved by his patriotism that he needed to drive on the sidewalk attempting to run over peace demonstrators, which included some unpatriotic military veterans and a person in a wheelchair. He was willing to use deadly force to stop people from exercising free speech. That act is very un-American.

It's ironic that pro-war people served our country for freedoms, and yet are angry when dissenters exercise those freedoms. Open dissent is one of the great things about the United States. We are merely calling for another way to resolve this conflict. How can we be considered unpatriotic to exercise the rights that the founding fathers and veterans fought for?

Richard Woolf, Batavia

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Calls for violence will keep lawyer busy

So Ken Lawson doesn't want his business to be threatened ("Council sticking to police reforms" April 3). Well, welcome to the club, Ken. Downtown merchants don't want their businesses to be threatened either, but your clients are doing it just the same.

I wouldn't worry too much if I were you, though. It seems that you might have your hands full if Stephen Scott has his way. His hateful address to City Council, complete with extortion, might jumpstart an economic recovery from your personal business recession. His thinly veiled threats of black-on-white assaults trips alarms. He squanders his right of free speech by using it in an attempt to instill fear in those who disagree with his agenda.

Scott should be charged with ethnic intimidation, intending to incite violence, accessory and anything else that might apply if criminals make his predictions of black-on-white assaults a reality. Since he is certain to claim innocence, he is likely to need a good attorney - as will the thugs who help him carry out his call to further terrorize downtown. Looks like a win-win situation for you, Ken. Too bad others can't drum up customers for their businesses as well as your associates do for yours.

Karen Kuhlman, Fort Mitchell