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As Delaware considers introducing legalized slot machines there is of course a great debate as to where all those tax dollars will go.  In other states, such as Florida, revenue from slot machines has largely been used to help fund public schools and higher learning scholarships.  Dedicating gambling dollars to education seems to appease the concerns of those opposed to gambling enough to get gambling legislature passed.

However, there are other noble causes that need funding aside from schools.  While children are the future, Delaware has a significant elderly population that deserves care as well.  Over the past year, funding for senior centers in Delaware has been cut from 8 to 10 percent. 

Many senior centers in Delaware were already running on a very modest budget and could put the revenue dollars from slot machines to good use.  One center in particular had their budget cut by $40,000.  While that may not seem like much, it must be understood that this center was already operating on a shoe string budget.

For the most part the center was operated by two volunteers.  Using their own vehicles, they picked up senior citizens and brought them to the center for lunch.  The drivers were reimbursed for gas expenses. 

Roughly ten years ago a count of senior citizens in the Delaware revealed there were about 29,000 registered voters with 24,000 voting.  There is no question that the number has increased by now.

While there is no question that a lot of money should be dedicated to educating the youth, as they do represent the future of any community, it is a shame to think that the people responsible for any success the community has already enjoyed should go neglected and uncared for by society.

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