Stop Predatory Gambling

Going head to head with porn nowhere to be found in the Constitution

by spgadmin

The New York Times has a story about Off Track Betting, another example of the government program of predatory gambling in action. Despite losses of tens of millions of dollars, the New York OTB’s board of directors voted to keep at least some of the 66 state-run betting parlors alive for another year.

The reporter visited two OTB parlors in writing her story. She observes:

“To me, that flash of good fortune, as bright as a comet and about as easy to catch, is anything but inspirational. If I were in the bad spot that many of the guys there seemed to be in — broke, in ill health, separated from family — I think a glimpse of that kind of long-shot payout would feel like fate mocking me.”

Yes, indeed. But fate is not alone in its mocking. On this issue, our government is mocking its citizens and mocking our democratic principles. Here is OTB Director Meyer Frucher speaking about the promise of this government program: with updated technology, “We could go head to head with pornography and win,” Frucher said, referring to possibilities such as an around-the-clock horse-racing channel or virtual racing.

The mission of our democracy, established clearly in our Constitution, is “to promote the general welfare.” The government program of predatory gambling violates this mission. Can you imagine any of America’s formative leaders over the last 225 years declaring that “we could go head to head with pornography and win”?