Here in Maryland,as in other states as well, gambling is again an issue. This time is it the expansion of gambling. The battle for slot machines was won a while back and now table gaming has been approved. Poker,craps,roulette and others. It really came as no surprise to me. Open the barn door and soon all the animals are out.
But being somewhat of a history nut some interesting parallels can be drawn from all of this. In the Roman times the empire got wealthy through conquest. After a while there was no one left to conquer. The population was being well fed and cared for. A democracy,of sorts, was being formed. You had the Roman senate. The senators represented the people but often times strove for power of their own. They didn't always truly represent the wants and needs of the people. They took bribes from the wealthy elite to satisfy their own agendas. They became corrupt. The population became unsettled and angry. The solution ? Keep the population entertained and fed. Feasting days were established and let the games begin. In Rome they built the Coliseum. Smaller " coliseums " were constructed throughout the empire. Moral and social attitudes changed dramatically. It became a moral free for all. The attitude of ,if it feels good, do it prevailed.
It occurred to me that our own country is headed down this same path. History does indeed repeat itself. The population is becoming more and more dependent upon the government to provide. Our legislators are showing far more concern for special interests than the common good of the nation. The population is becoming angry. The answer, build more Casinos and/or expand the ones we have. The thinking being if we keep the population entertained they will remain quiet. Let us legislate questionable moral and ethical values to make these behaviors acceptable. We will indoctrinate our young people to believe that this is " normal " behavior.
Eventually the Roman empire collapsed from within. It was never really conquered. Invaded yes, but never conquered. We are being invaded as well. Draw your own conclusions on that statement. I certainly hope that the future generations in America will see this trend and reverse it. A return to our basic premise of a nation, including it's basic moral and ethical values is in order. Time marches on and history repeats.
But being somewhat of a history nut some interesting parallels can be drawn from all of this. In the Roman times the empire got wealthy through conquest. After a while there was no one left to conquer. The population was being well fed and cared for. A democracy,of sorts, was being formed. You had the Roman senate. The senators represented the people but often times strove for power of their own. They didn't always truly represent the wants and needs of the people. They took bribes from the wealthy elite to satisfy their own agendas. They became corrupt. The population became unsettled and angry. The solution ? Keep the population entertained and fed. Feasting days were established and let the games begin. In Rome they built the Coliseum. Smaller " coliseums " were constructed throughout the empire. Moral and social attitudes changed dramatically. It became a moral free for all. The attitude of ,if it feels good, do it prevailed.
It occurred to me that our own country is headed down this same path. History does indeed repeat itself. The population is becoming more and more dependent upon the government to provide. Our legislators are showing far more concern for special interests than the common good of the nation. The population is becoming angry. The answer, build more Casinos and/or expand the ones we have. The thinking being if we keep the population entertained they will remain quiet. Let us legislate questionable moral and ethical values to make these behaviors acceptable. We will indoctrinate our young people to believe that this is " normal " behavior.
Eventually the Roman empire collapsed from within. It was never really conquered. Invaded yes, but never conquered. We are being invaded as well. Draw your own conclusions on that statement. I certainly hope that the future generations in America will see this trend and reverse it. A return to our basic premise of a nation, including it's basic moral and ethical values is in order. Time marches on and history repeats.
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