DGuller's country of origin? It's complicated

[Caliga]

I just saw a thing about Atlantic City's casinos all closing. Will AC be a new Detroit?

It wasn't much to start with.

  The only reason to go to Atlantic City, unless you're interested in whores and/or losing money, is White House Subs.

[Caliga]

I just saw a thing about Atlantic City's casinos all closing. Will AC be a new Detroit?

It was already Detroit.  Exhibit #1 how gambling is very bad for communities.

My parents live within sight of the AC skyline... from a distance it looks nice at least.

I would guess AC will try to reinvent itself as some sort of a shore resort town, a la Myrtle Beach.

[DGuller]

Atlantic City is a classic case of very bad governance, I would argue even more so than Detroit.  Detroit fell on hard times due to change of economic fortunes, whereas Atlantic City was decomposing even while having a thriving monopoly on gambling.  Even during the boom years, before other states around them foolishly started building casinos themselves, you had casinos on the Boardwalk, and then a scarily no-go area just a block away (or even in the dark alleys between casinos).  Gambling companies just plundered AC while they could, and made sure that as little of the money they made as possible would go towards improvement of the city itself.

[Admiral Yi]

A naive person might assume that the local government would be in charge of that sort of thing.

[Jacob]

A naive person might assume that the local government would be in charge of that sort of thing.

A slightly less naive person might assume that local government would need revenue for that sort of thing.

[The Brain]

A Compleat Moran might assume that AC could ever get anything right no matter the revenue.

[Admiral Yi]

A slightly less naive person might assume that local government would need revenue for that sort of thing.

A profoundly retarded person might assume that casinos can be set up in Atlantic City on any terms the developer likes.

[Jacob]

A profoundly retarded person might assume that casinos can be set up in Atlantic City on any terms the developer likes.

It certainly would be foolish to assume you can get the terms you want without greasing the right palms and scratching the right backs.

[The Brain]

Where is Jacob going with this?

[citizen k]

Where is Jacob going with this?

Sounds like the full spa treatment.

[MadImmortalMan]

You might think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[DGuller]

A naive person might assume that the local government would be in charge of that sort of thing.

A less naive person might assume that gambling corporations would be in charge of the local government, if said corporations were responsible for virtually all economic activity.

[MadImmortalMan]

Where I live the casinos have a ton of political power. But yet these AC casinos say they are closing due to high taxes.

[Jacob]

A naive person might assume that the local government would be in charge of that sort of thing.

A less naive person might assume that gambling corporations would be in charge of the local government, if said corporations were responsible for virtually all economic activity.

I believe Admiral Yi terms such a person "profoundly retarded".

[CountDeMoney]

But yet these AC casinos say they are closing due to high taxes.

That is laughable, but that excuse always is.