Political leaders are approving
gambling establishment developments in hope to raise needed revenue
with out consequence to their constituents. Political leaders are
aware that a significant number of people already have a problem
gambling and the likelihood of more people developing an addiction
is likely to increase. It’s unfortunate but these same leaders
refuse to do anything about it since the increased revenues from the
gambling establishments helped to fund many state needed programs.
Political leaders look at the
short run, because they are continually being tested to see what
they can do for their voters. These leaders are not elected for
life and usually serve for two years unless they are elected again.
Once they are up for re-election they tell the voters this is what
they have accomplished during their term. It’s unfortunate but
these gambling establishments slowly deplete the economy. By the
time all the negative affects are felt either the political leader
is no longer in office, up for re-election with all new promises or
another source of revenue is found. This political game continues
until enough people put pressure on their leaders. Problem gambling
is a silent addiction and very few people are willing to admit they
have a compulsive gambling addiction, lost all their money to
gambling, stole from their employer so they could gambling and or
are embarrassed to let their love ones know they had a problem.
Once again the political leader win and their voters and the local
economy lose.
People are gambling excessively.
A gambling establishment could not expand at the rate they are
growing if people weren’t losing their money. These same people cut
their spending at their local shopping centers, personal
entertainment like movies and cut spending for everyday staples. I
met one mother who stopped buying milk. She figured she could save
twenty dollars a month and this would give her more resources to
gamble. Now that she stopped she can’t believe that she could do
such a thing to her family.
The gambling establishments
created an empire. They opened gift shops, entertainment concert
halls, gas stations and unique restaurant inside their entertainment
complex. They give every patron a tracking card that earns them
points only valid at their gambling complex while they gamble. They
then use these points to eat, entertainment, hotel and or purchase
gifts. This past holiday a significant number of people saved some
of their points to buy family gifts. Once again the gambling
establishments win and the local businesses and shopping centers
lose.
Not everyone has a gambling
addiction, but a good majority of people enjoy recreational
gambling. It’s unfortunate but even a casual gambler gambles more
then they expected. These casual gamblers people also will have to
cut back their spending for a short time. They may not go out to
their local diner because they cn eat for free at the gambling
establishment. In all these situations, the local economy suffers.
People who live with in fifty miles of a gambling establishment are
more like to be negatively affected.
It’s time to find a solution to
this growing epidemic. Political leaders need to step up to the
plate and stop the abduction of the people. Recently their have
been a significant number of commercials dealing with gambling
addiction. Everybody applauded this first attempt to deal with
gambling addictions. Unfortunately it appears the leaders are too
late. An acre of land on fire can not be distinguished with a cup
of water.
The only solution to stopping the
problem gambling is to regulate the gambling establishments and or
consider closing them down until a solution is found. No matter
which direction the political leaders choose they need to pick up
their pace.
