For all of you who have been following me for the past two years, first on Maryland Politics Today and now here on PolitickerMD.com, you know that I have no intents on starting a revolution, other than to get you to think about the issues affecting life here in the Free State, which I admit is becoming not so free. Many of you know that I have a personal editorial policy of not endorsing any political candidates. I will tell you which way I am leaning, but you will not hear me say, “Vote for John Doe because I said so.”

I will take a stand on an issue, like recently with Question F in Prince George’s County. For the record, I will be voting no and I encourage you to do the same. We do not need another tax hike and $17 million will not make or break the school system. However, this piece is not about Question F in Prince George’s County, it is about Question 2 in the state of Maryland, the question about slots. For the record, I will be voting NO, and I ask that you do the same.

Pay attention, particularly if you are Aaron Meisner from Stop Slots Maryland and Scott Arcenaux from Marylanders United to Stop Slots. I am still very much for slot machines in Maryland, which is kind of ironic considering that I would not personally use them. I am voting no because it is simply a hastily put together law, let alone a crappy one that should not even be added to the state constitution.

As I outlined earlier this year, the bill (H.B. 004) acts as zoning board and regulator of slot machines. In addition, not only is the bill counterintuitive, it is also not reflective of the populace. One of the locations is in Worcester County, precisely in the area of Ocean Downs. The residents there expressed their opposition to having a slots parlor in the area. That request was honored by Governor Robert Ehrlich (R), but ignored by Gov. Martin O’Malley (D).

Plus, slots are being built as the best thing for Maryland in order to fund schools, avoid tax hikes and solve our budget problems. Even I have to say that should not be the case. It is only part of the solution to Maryland’s budget picture, an attempt to keep dollars that are going to other states in the state. The state in 2009, no matter the outcome, should look at making real cuts to spending, along with making the tax burden lighter on individuals and businesses.

It is important to acknowledge that there is a social cost to having slots in Maryland, but I think it is being oversold due to slots being demonized. In actuality, it is on the same level as addictions to pornography, alcohol and drugs. Anyone can overcome an addiction as long as they want to overcome and they have a strong support network backing them.

I will be voting NO on question 2. I hope you do the same. This way, our elected leaders in Annapolis will understand that we will not accept slop, nor will we add it to our state constitution.

P. Kenneth Burns is a broadcaster and journalist who blogs at Maryland Politics Today and blog.kennyburns.com. His email is kenny@kennyburns.com.