I'm quite sure it is not only in Maryland. I hear the Governor of the state may be calling for special sessions of the general assembly. The last meeting of the assembly failed to resolve certain issues. On the last day, at the last minute the budget was rejected. So, a special session is being called for to address the possible expansion of gambling in our state. Apparently betting on horses,scratch off tickets,pick three,pick four,match five,keno,mega millions and powerball along with the slots are not sufficient. The expansion of gambling to include table games at the casinos or possibly more casinos could resolve our budget issues.
So our elected officials answer to budget shortfalls is to increase the states dependence upon the vices of the population. They have already increased the tax on cigarettes, in the name of saving us all from health issues, to a ridiculous point. The tax on beer and liquor is extremely high. They sometimes refer to these as " sin taxes ". Gambling, I suppose, is not a sin. But then we are not supposed to mention moral values in the political arena, unless to gain advantage over our opponents.
Now I'm not opposed to this plan on moral grounds. I don't believe the casinos and all the other forms of gambling cause anyone to become a" gambleholic" any more than beer and liquor companies make you an alcoholic. We are all responsible for our choices. Should I not have the will power to resist these temptations, is is no fault of there's. But, whether the state should rely upon the weakness of it's population and prey upon that weakness, is questionable at best. And in my estimation that is just what this relys upon. The state is gambling on the fact that gambling will increase and as a result revenue increases. But what is the true cost of this ? The further eroding of morality and social responsibility. The morality issue I will leave to your own judgement having stated my opinion on that matter. As to the social responsibility I have these feelings. Is it not the responsibility of our elected officials to be our social conscience ? To propose and vote upon issues of significant social impact ? Gambling falls into that category. To make such a judgement based primarily on monetary issues is an injustice to us all. To me it is just another example of our eroding values as a nation. Take the easiest route and the devil take the hindmost. Yield to any significant resistance and just fold.
It is time in this country for us to reexamine ourselves. The land of free and the home of the brave. That doesn't mean what can I get for free, if I'm brave enough to ask for it. We need to take a stand and back the initial values as defined in the Constitution ! One nation under God. That means just that. I'm sick of this back pedaling rhetoric. We are a Christian Nation. We adhere to Christian principles. It is our very Christianity that allows others to live here. And therein lies the sticky wicket. As a Christian nation we also believe and support certain moral and ethical behaviors. Should we, as a nation, abandon these principles are we not also abandoning the Constitution ? It is a slippery slope we are treading upon. To support these behaviors is quite a different thing than tolerating them. To base our economic future upon them is folly.
A return to self sufficiency and all things in moderation is in order. A reexamining of our priorities. I'm quite sure there are a number of ways to reduce spending should we make the hard choices. I would much rather "do without" than "sell out." I choose not to base the future of my Grand children and Great Grandchildren on the roll of the dice. In the song God Bless America we sing," God Bless America , land that I love,Stand beside her and guide her " and I don't think God would lead us to the casino ! I'm just sayin'
So our elected officials answer to budget shortfalls is to increase the states dependence upon the vices of the population. They have already increased the tax on cigarettes, in the name of saving us all from health issues, to a ridiculous point. The tax on beer and liquor is extremely high. They sometimes refer to these as " sin taxes ". Gambling, I suppose, is not a sin. But then we are not supposed to mention moral values in the political arena, unless to gain advantage over our opponents.
Now I'm not opposed to this plan on moral grounds. I don't believe the casinos and all the other forms of gambling cause anyone to become a" gambleholic" any more than beer and liquor companies make you an alcoholic. We are all responsible for our choices. Should I not have the will power to resist these temptations, is is no fault of there's. But, whether the state should rely upon the weakness of it's population and prey upon that weakness, is questionable at best. And in my estimation that is just what this relys upon. The state is gambling on the fact that gambling will increase and as a result revenue increases. But what is the true cost of this ? The further eroding of morality and social responsibility. The morality issue I will leave to your own judgement having stated my opinion on that matter. As to the social responsibility I have these feelings. Is it not the responsibility of our elected officials to be our social conscience ? To propose and vote upon issues of significant social impact ? Gambling falls into that category. To make such a judgement based primarily on monetary issues is an injustice to us all. To me it is just another example of our eroding values as a nation. Take the easiest route and the devil take the hindmost. Yield to any significant resistance and just fold.
It is time in this country for us to reexamine ourselves. The land of free and the home of the brave. That doesn't mean what can I get for free, if I'm brave enough to ask for it. We need to take a stand and back the initial values as defined in the Constitution ! One nation under God. That means just that. I'm sick of this back pedaling rhetoric. We are a Christian Nation. We adhere to Christian principles. It is our very Christianity that allows others to live here. And therein lies the sticky wicket. As a Christian nation we also believe and support certain moral and ethical behaviors. Should we, as a nation, abandon these principles are we not also abandoning the Constitution ? It is a slippery slope we are treading upon. To support these behaviors is quite a different thing than tolerating them. To base our economic future upon them is folly.
A return to self sufficiency and all things in moderation is in order. A reexamining of our priorities. I'm quite sure there are a number of ways to reduce spending should we make the hard choices. I would much rather "do without" than "sell out." I choose not to base the future of my Grand children and Great Grandchildren on the roll of the dice. In the song God Bless America we sing," God Bless America , land that I love,Stand beside her and guide her " and I don't think God would lead us to the casino ! I'm just sayin'
An interesting thread! Some sin is universal - like murder - but others are personal. What may be sinful to me may not be to another. Does it violate my conscious? Does it take time (or money or allegience) from family? Etc...what become s an obsession to one might be a sin for them, but for another it could be a simple harmless pastime. That said, certain things do cause great harm to others in sometimes a big way! Prohibition came about because of the damage being done to families-and women who had no rights to get out of marriages that were destroyed by it. Same for gambling. Do we need another "legal social problem"? Legal pot? Gambling? Should everyone be punished becasue some people cannot control themselves? Those are big questions! And I leave them to wiser heads than mine - I have no idea! LOL
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