ACHTUNG: The following is not a “fair and balanced” story. It is an editorial by the editor.

“The purpose of gummint is to create a healthy bidness climate.” — The late, great columnist Molly Ivins, quoting a state lawmaker speaking in the Texas Leggie

Ever since Ronald Reagan ushered in the era of “trickle-down” economics nearly 40 years ago, businesses have enjoyed renewed respect in the public arena. Communities go to war with each other to give sweetheart tax break deals to lure prospective businesses or industries. Politicians in these parts have proudly touted themselves as “conservative businessmen” when seeking office in elections.

Because we have come to believe that healthy businesses create and provide precious jobs, we have shown them a lot of respect.

Not so for Gun Lake Casino.

The Gun Lake Casino is listed as tied for third place among the 10 largest employers in Allegan County. Perrigo in Allegan is first with 3,200 employees, Haworth of Holland is second and the casino and the Plainwell firm of JBS Packerland both have an estimated 1,200. Yet the Gun Lake Tribe and casino have had to fight tooth and nail for everything since they announced plans to come here about 15 years ago.

A couple of political lobbying groups immediately began to mount a challenge to the legality of the tribe establishing a casino. We learned that one of them was led by wealthy Grand Rapids business executive Peter Secchia, who later admitted he and his buddies wanted a casino established in his town instead.

“The love of money is at the root of all evil.” — The Apostle Paul

The other group, fronted by local citizen David Patchak, who certainly wasn’t rich enough himself to fund raise for such a legal fuss, made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, losing virtually every step of the way.

Now comes the Hopkins Township Board, which is spending public taxpayers’ money to fight the Gun Lake Tribe’s proposal to take into a trust land on 129^th Avenue and 12^th Street. The most commonly stated reason is that the township as a result would lose local tax revenue, which has been reported to be less than $500 a year.

The Township Board isn’t fooling around. It has hired an expensive high-powered attorney from Lansing and has spent more than $15,000 to battle the tribe over a piece of farm land zoned commercial. Meanwhile, the tribe has provided more than $15,000 twice each year to the township in a tax sharing arrangement.

We so often see and hear about businesses that are gladly given tax abatements to lure or keep them in the local municipality. These tax breaks lower business expenses, but increase taxes for the local people.

New York City jumped into that game earlier this year to try to get Amazon to locate there. It didn’t work out, though there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth about the deal not being made. This, despite information that showed New York would lose a lot of tax revenue, all for the prospect of gaining jobs.

I don’t recall anyone raising objections not long ago when New Life Church took over the former Snap Fitness on Pine Street in Wayland, though that move cost the city everything in tax revenue.

Some object to the Gun Lake Casino because they believe gambling is a sin. Yet so many at the same time play the stock market, the Lottery or gleefully get in on office pools for major sporting events.

The Gun Lake Tribe is recognized by the U.S. government as a sovereign nation, just like so many other Native American organizations that have established casinos. This means it is treated a lot like a church when it comes to taxation. The difference is that the tribe now pays local governments in its area more than $30,000 annually in lieu of taxes. That’s a lot more than $500.

While watching so many other communities do everything they can to attract or keep job providers, I’m seeing the opposite for the Gun Lake Casino, which once again is Allegan County’s third largest employer. And the jobs it provides, I hear tell, pay reasonably well.

So why has the Gun Lake Tribe and Gun Lake Casino had such a hard time with inhospitable neighbors? One, very simply, is follow the money. The other is an ugly elephant in the room — prejudice and discrimination against Native Americans.

I hear tell the Hopkins Township Board was lauded earlier this month for its stands against the tribe. The friendly citizen said the Indians should pay their taxes like everybody else.

I wonder what he would say about Amazon, which last year didn’t pay a dime?