OUTLAW all gaming and gambling in the United States? Is gambling corrupting politics?

[L. Coyote]

Is it time to end all gaming and gambling, excepting maybe that which cannot corrupt politics, before politics becomes entirely corrupted by gaming interests?

Just a thought and question as I look at Alabama and how gaming has impacted the state's political life.

MORE: http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/09/hbc-90001228
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1770148

[mzteris]

1. Yes.

Not only the political aspect.

It destroys peoples lives. Period.

It's an addiction and it's being fed. It's tied to crime of all types. There is nothing inherently good about gambling.

Donning my flameproof suit now.

[hobbit709]

3. Outlawing worked so well

With alcohol, drugs, and even sex. What makes you think that this will have a better track record?

[L. Coyote]

5. It may not "work" but you wont see mega millions pouring into politics and lobbying!!

Gambling may go on underground, but it won't be a huge political force corrupting elections and officials like now.

[TommyO]

11. No, you'll see mega-billions poured into new prisons to house gamblers!

[L. Coyote]

22. Only if laws so require. Getting rid of casinos and lotteriescan happen w/o that.

[bryant69]

13. The burden of the Gambling empire will get shifted down to the working class

and poor - as they will be most impacted by Crime getting an even bigger share of the American pie.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[hobbit709]

15. You think there are no payoffs when it's illegal?

Bribes have been around as long as there was government to make something illegal. The cops are paid off to look the other way, judges are paid off to dismiss charges-read your history.
No prohibition has ever worked. At one time the Caliph of Egypt banned coffeehouses-penalty was being shortened. Within a year there were more coffeehouses in Cairo than before.

[HughBeaumont]

4. Nothing inherently good about tobacco either.

Not only the political aspect on our part. There are no health benefits. One of the most addictive drugs and responsible for a range of bodily cancers. Destroys people's lives. Does nothing but kill people and make money for lobbyists and Repuke tobacco barons. Don't tell me the targeting of children by it's advertising isn't criminal. My personal stake is that I lost my grandmother and future MIL before they turned 50, largely because they had afflictions brought on by heavy smoking.

I'm vehemently anti-smoking and I think outlawing it would be a horrible and totalitarian enforcement.

Prohibition is a stupid idea.

[L. Coyote]

8. I would be more than happy to see tobacco and smoking outlawed in the world.

At least we would be protected from exposure in public places.

[MonkeyFunk]

9. sex addiction

ruins some people's lives, but I'd hate to see them outlaw screwing.

[BushOut06]

17. While you're at it, here are a few other things that you may want to ban

Here are a few other things that have destroyed people's lives, that you might want to consider banning. Because as we all know, if it destroys even one person's life, it should be banned. No matter if there are many other people who can enjoy that activity responsibly.

Religion
Sex
Money
Property
Tobacco
Alcohol
Sports
Television
Eating

That's just a short list, if you give me a little while longer, I'm sure I can come up with a few more.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

26. Then lets move on to smoking, sex, and fun in general.

[King Coal]

27. I happen to agree with you. I see it happen at Indian casinos all the time.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

29. So you think gambling should be outlawed...

but you spend a lot of time in indian casinos?

[King Coal]

31. Good point. I used to play a lot of craps. I saw many people

spending all their money. I've seen them borrow money to play. I hate the casinos now and I haven't been in one in a long time. Yeah, I would like to see them outlawed. It is an addiction for many people. And it hurts their families.

[soothsayer]

2. Feh! I love gambling, and most people do not have life-ruining experiences with it.

[acmavm]

6. No shit. Just because politicians and certain people who can't

control themselves can't be trusted when it comes to gambling (or anything else for that matter), why should the majority of the people have to have something they like to do taken from them? There's so much illegal gambling right now just think if there was NO legal gambling. Bookies would love it but that's about all.

[supernova]

12. It's the organized crime

that's the real problem, not the individual gambler.

If you've got casinos and other front businesses who front for organized crime contributing $$ trying to influce elections and politicians just like legitimate businesses, what does that say about our government?

[MonkeyFunk]

7. umm....no thanks

[CanonRay]

10. There's been no negative impact in Colorado

Maybe it's just the way Alabama works (or doesn't work). Remember Prohibition? That never works.

[Bitwit1234]

14. I think gambling like any other vice is only corrupted by

the same type of individuals, or maybe I should say, corportations that ruin everything in this country. But like drinking, eating or anything else when people do it to excess it caused problems.

[porphyrian]

16. Don't blame gambling for corrupt politics, blame corrupt politicians.

Heavy metal music doesn't make people commit suicide, either.

[BushOut06]

18. Your entire premise is flawed

Banning an activity because it can corrupt politics?

Maybe we should ban the construction industry? Or real estate? Maybe we should ban oil. How about agriculture?

What you're proposing is placing a bandage on a small wound, while there are large gaping wounds that are being left unattended!

[stillcool]

19. why don't we just outlaw life?

It boggles the mind that so many think 'there should be a law' against so much that is personal choice, but at the same time, say nothing about the disparity in our justice system, that already has 2 million Americans in jail. I can just see the outlaws outlawing gambling in all but a few 'gambling zones'..and I would get busted for my friendly poker game. Perhaps the focus should be on the legislators, and their mutilation of present law. With the myriad of laws passed in the last few years which have enabled more corruption, less oversight, and the erosion of our civil liberties, I am very careful about what I wish for.

[DinahMoeHum]

20. Outlaw it, no. Tax and regulate it, yes.

n/t

[Spike89]

23. logical flaw

So, aren't there laws against polical corruption in Alabama? Of course there are. But if those laws aren't being enforced, we should just pass some even more difficult to enforce laws?

[RavensChick]

24. So what else is there we can do for fun?

We need to unwind after a long work week, so aside from watching TV or spending time with family and friends what else is there? Damn, the country is getting more and more boring by the minute!

[Snarkturian Clone]

25. Stop trying to restrict freedom.

So let me get this straight... trans-fats... smoking in bars... now gambling?!?! Where does it end? Everything that could be potentially bad for you has to be banned?

I love cheeseburgers. When it comes to the point that someone decides that fatty foods should be illegal, I'll start collecting guns and ammo. Of course by then, guns and ammo possession will be punishable by death.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

28. Yeah

Because prohibtion worked so well...

:crazy:

[nosmokes]

30. Alabama politics were corrupt long before the first legal gambling permit.

And you can take that to the bank.

[dysfunctional press]

32. nope.

land of the FREE, and all that...

[Buns_of_Fire]

33. I'll give you 4:1 odds most people here won't agree...! (n/t)