Happy bears; sad seniors

It's hard not to be cynical about Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear's priorities.

I don't doubt there's a budget crisis. But, somehow, there is $6 million for a polar bear exhibit at the Louisville Zoo (and Louisville is a bastion of Democratic Party strength) while higher education, Medicaid support and programs such as Meals on Wheels for the elderly face big cuts.

It smacks of an old political budget-cutting trick. I've seen school boards do it, too, cutting sports, band and bus services before taking hard looks at administrative costs and overhead. Don't cut where it will hurt the least; cut where it will hurt the most and be most visible to the public.

The outcry erupting from the Kentucky budget process nicely plants seeds for the revenue lure of casino gambling, doesn't it?

Personally, I had come to the conclusion that people are going to gamble, and Kentucky might as well have a piece of the action if it is limited and well-regulated. Gambling would bring a lot of revenue into Northern Kentucky. No doubt about it. But, if these are the tactics being used to get us there, I just might change my mind.