Gambling is a Greedy Tax Grab

In these highly competitive commercialized times businesses viciously strive for greater profits and sometimes exhibit very evil marketing practices.

Just when this gluttonous trend seems to have gone far enough a new low occurs. In this case it’s the those governments that leave morals behind and resort to new ways in which to increase revenue – through the spread of gambling. The marketing of lotteries and casino gambling has become very tense in some ares with little concern shown for the harm and destruction caused.

Why do these elected representatives of their people actively promote gambling as a source of revenue when it is known to be so harmful to so many? It is common knowledge that gambling can be addictive and harmful, and can destroy or take lives, yet they want that revenue.

For their citizens?

Gambling might have a place in society for people who want to play games of chance but it should not be marketed as a benefit. Ideally any gambling should be non-profit with the participants playing with and winning or losing money to each other. At the very least it should not be heavily marketed by the country’s caretakers, as is now happening in this money mad society.

As a young man I played poker with friends and on my first job in a mining camp, every night was poker night. I left camp with a decent net result but there was another young man that was much less fortunate. On payday he always wanted to get the game started but was broke two days later. The foreman finally held his check back until the next float plane arrived, fired and sent him home, for his own good.

He was addicted. So are many that traipse into the casinos and lottery ticket booths, and the government advertisements scream out to come back for more, sucker! When the government reports the gambling income from lotteries and casinos they should balance the books and show the loss by players, their citizens, and their families.

Through marketers they use sly techniques borrowed from business shysters to entice more playing. Glossy lottery commercials constantly pop up showing just how easy and wonderful it will be to win an enormous amount of money.

“Play now and get super rich”. Perhaps broken gamblers would like to get back the money that they have lost but the odds are stacked against them. They need help not encouragement to play more!

As if to justify this often cruel business promotion they post warnings, “Gambling can lead to financial and legal problems, loss of career and family, and other serious issues.” No kidding! Well cease and desist!

And, “Call this help line if you have a gambling problem.” But it’s too late if you have lost everything!

You might expect this sleeze from telecommunications or credit marketers, but from our leaders? What is wrong with them? What is wrong with a system that attracts these people to manage our affairs? Government is supposed to be there for the good of the people. If these actions are acceptable perhaps our politicians could introduce the pressure selling of alcohol, tobacco and light drugs. But, “Know your limit. Drink, smoke and get high within it.”

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke

By Grampa Ken
Grampa Ken ~ Author of 32 KEYS About Life and Social Advocate at Social-Fix