Stop Predatory Gambling

When talented political leadership takes on predatory gambling

by spgadmin

Most people in elected office are either very good on the substantive, policy side or they are very good at the political side of things – possessing a keen political savvy. It is uncommon to find both qualities in a public official but those who do, can be transformative leaders.

Cook County (Chicago area) Commissioner Bridget Gainer may be emerging as that kind of a leader. She has displayed a high level of understanding about how a policy of promoting video poker machines  affects a community and its citizens as well as what it says about us as a people. She has also demonstrated a strong political understanding about how to move an agenda forward.

Her leadership against video poker machines and predatory gambling in the Chicago area is the reason why the Cook County Board Finance Committee voted to oppose the machines after hearing testimony yesterday. SPG traveled to the meeting and made a brief presentation about the business model and the design and technology behind electronic gambling machines. You can read The Chicago Tribune story here.

America needs more leaders like Bridget Gainer. We deeply admire the remarkable effort she continues to put forth to “make government work better,” to paraphrase President Obama in his inaugural address, and to steer this country back onto the right track.