Look beyond short-term gains

My “no” vote on the proposed Linn County casino is based on the big picture and the long view.

I don't quarrel with the fact that the casino would add new jobs and retain gamblers who currently travel to other venues. I'm not worried about an alleged plot to conceal where the casino will be built and who will manage it.

And I don't lose sleep over who's bankrolling what. Of course, both sides are investing heavily in their campaigns.

I do care deeply about Cedar Rapids and the health of our extended community in the decades to come. To me, community health means our economy, culture, the social good, and the physical and mental well-being of all residents.

A casino may yield short-term gains, but I believe it comes with long-term costs for our community's quality of life.

My conviction is based in part on the tenets of my faith. Regardless of belief system, the parable of the wise and foolish man seems relevant here.

Will we be like the foolish man who builds his house on sand? Or continue to be a city that builds its house on a rock, with a firm foundation and a lasting commitment to the health and well-being of its citizens?

Michelle LeCompte

Cedar Rapids