For years now, Maine has been raising funds with the lottery and scratch ticket sales. Where has all the money gone? Why do we need casinos? To take away the little money we jobless Mainers have?

I have read that 75 percent of the money from slot machines will go to the casino, not to the Maine coffers. The state will get only 25 percent, so why bother having a casino?

We could provide jobs in other ways, without a casino. Let us be different from other states. Many Mainers have great crafts and home made articles for sale. We could do a worldwide business selling our homemade products.

Let us encourage small businesses. Never mind the million-dollar deals that are like barracudas that jilt us out of our money and leave us with white elephant buildings When taxes are due, they leave the state in a worse mess than before. Remember the sugar beet plant years ago? The chicken plant? Why continue same bad deals?

Many senior citizens need a handy man for repairs around the house, lawn care, snow plowing in winter, help with grocery shopping or ride to church on Sundays. These and many more ideas could create jobs here in Maine by helping people in need of help in various ways. Why cater to big business? We Mainers are here to stay and pay our taxes. How about it people? Make your voices heard.

Gabrielle de Moras, Lewiston