Friends, there's nothing quite as pathetic as geriatric slot machine zombies -- that is to say, seniors who spend all day in front of a video screen, frittering their Social Security checks away. That may sound flippant, but the truth is that "problem gambling" is an affliction that is doing immense harm in America, and it's a dysfunction that's growing by leaps and bounds, thanks to greater social acceptance and less and less political oversight and criminalization. My latest article takes on many localities' and states' "addiction" to revenue that's generated by marijuana sales and gambling. Specifically, I urge the state legislature in North Carolina to proceed cautiously. See if you don't agree with my take...
https://www.wnd.com/2023/08/sin-taxes-bad-enough-need-whole-sin-based-economy/
In other news, the AP learned its lesson when it was sharply criticized for relenting to pressure from the state of Florida and making alterations -- improvements, actually -- in its curriculum on African-American history. Obviously, giving Ron DeSantis a "win" is totally unacceptable for any organization connected to higher education, so this time, where the AP's course on psychology is concerned, it's saying that it will forgo Florida altogether, and Florida students are out of luck because DeSantis is a big meanie. That sounds a lot more like the AP we know and love, doesn't it? The goal, of course, is to make Florida look like a land of loonies and fascists. Among Democrats, the strategy is working like a charm, needless to say.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/college-board-psychology-florida/2023/08/04/id/1129708/
And in your Russia-Ukraine report for today, here's an extensive analysis of how poorly Ukraine's counteroffensive is going, as well as a story about the Metropolitan Opera's smear campaign against, and "banning" of, Russian soprano Anna Netrebko. All Russians are intrinsically suspect, as you know, and, if they don't pledge their undying hatred for Putin/Hitler, they're non-people. Of course, you could argue that opera is technically about the...singing? I know -- I'm so naive, right?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66383377
RAY TO NICK
ReplyDeleteCorrect me if I am wrong, but as I recall, a lot of the casino world is run by American Indian tribes who were trained by the casino people in Las Vegas or Reno, all this many years ago.
Speaking of Casinos, I remember a very good OLD movie starring the
late James Caan, who played a college professor in the NYC area, and was a gambling addict. The movie did have Caan going to Las Vegas in one part. I think the name of the movie was "The Gambler".
Dr. Waddy from Jack: First, I rejoice at the benefits "Native Americans" derive from their casinos. We have one near where I live. Though history can provide some justification for taking the lands of tribes which were murderously aggressive against other tribes it must be admitted they were decisively defeated . That they profit from the vices which ensare all peoples in sweet traps is not to be condemned! More power to them and welcome to it!
ReplyDeleteDr.Waddy from Jack: My onsite observation is that gambling in those forms which offer little vulnerability to manipulation, eg. non ruinous slot machines, is a blue collar cultural phenomenom similar to RVing. I do not mean to suggest thereby any slander. I 'm blessed to live in a predominantly blue collar area. But I think historically, gambling, including the punishing search for gold, has been reflective of an age old quest for release from unremitting physical labor. And I think this
ReplyDeletepersists in blue collar America despite labor saving technology.
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Dr Waddy from Jack: Certainly much social dysfunction derives from gambling. But so also did that from alcohol and we learned through thoroughly convincing experience, not to over!y restrict that.Vice suppurates in unlawful settings when we force it so. Those vices which guarantee at least temporary release from the strictures of lawf, positive and constructive living cannot be expunged. Defectively defined human nature prevents it. We must regrettably accomodate this onerous rea!ity.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: Let the summary antiamerican left demonization of Florida persist apace. It is of course gainsaid by continued migrationto commkn
ReplyDeleteDr.Waddy from Jack:. . . migration to common sense Florida!
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: Big art is business too and its understandable that the Met would want to eliminate an emotional distraction.But breaking a contract with a performer and an implied contract with her devotees would smack of "so sue me!" It would be an interesting trial.
ReplyDeleteMany aspects of the Ukraine tragedy itself might be considered.
Ray, I'm no casino expert, but I think you may be wrong in asserting that the Indians "run" many of our casinos. They own them, yes, but gaming corporations often handle the day-to-day fleecing, if I'm not mistaken.
ReplyDeleteJack, I don't agree about the acceptability of Indian casinos. Gambling is a vice, and profiting from a vice is not a noble calling. Sure, the Indians got a raw deal, eons ago...but two wrongs don't make a right. I hasten to add that I don't favor the criminalization of gambling. I just don't admire it or anyone who makes a living at it.
I couldn't say if gambling is mostly blue collar, but, from what I've read, it's much more universal than many people appreciate. If there's a demographic particularly susceptible, it may be the young, which came as a surprise to me.
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/07/how-gambling-affects-the-brain
You know how one liberal of my acquaintance answered the conundrum of: if Florida is so bad, why are people moving TO it rather than away from it? She said that SHE'S heard some people are, in fact, fleeing. Anecdotes trump irrefutable statistical evidence, in other words. That's how "follow the science" works, you see, when the science isn't cooperating.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: I formed my opinion about gambling in the individual casinos we have in this blue collar area (which I have attended only for concerts). I did not take into account the vast international world of high rollers, including Vegas etc. or even the universe of sports betting. That's my shortcoming. To regard organized gambling as a vice is very plausible; there are a lot of rotten slickos in that setting and they have no respect.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: Naturally anecdote supersedes irrefutable statistical evidence in the feverish intellect of the emotionally commanded left. I'd note here your customary presentation of credible empirical evidence, including statistics, in a manner unbearable to the frantic antiamerican left psyche. It's reaction to such insolence? Excoriation!
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: This hot summer, a miniscule anecdote in the history of Earth, is yet enough to draw from the left peals of "we told you so" and a predictable segue of" it's human generated, that's for sure" based on records of (gasp) one hundred years provenance! Empirical evidence from VERY recent geological times even before the advent of omnicient humanity, including heating, cooling, mile high glaciers, impudent volcanism, uninvited asteroids etc, etc is of no moment to those of such unimpeachable sagacity. How ironic it is that they casually dismiss the existence of the divine and yet claim it for their own pronunciamentos.
ReplyDeleteJack, maybe I bloviated a little too vociferously on the subject of gambling. I mean, anyone who peddles sugary snacks or video games could be accused of doing just as much damage to society... I say: let it all hang out, America, but just don't expect me to give you a medal.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jack -- I do try to present evidence in these hallowed (virtual) halls. Sometimes I even introduce viewpoints, analyses, and statistics that contradict my own preconceptions. Believe me, there are times when I WANT to be proven wrong. Being right can be a lot less heartening than many people suppose.
Yes, in "climate change" the Left has set the bar for catastrophism exceptionally low. Uh, is today warmer than yesterday? The end is nigh!!! Nice trick, that, lefties.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: It is simply a characteristic power grab by the antiamerican left in its relenting determination to take humanity on yet another hellish ride to unattainable perfection. Incalculable past inhumanity to this end on their part, is less than nothing to them.
ReplyDelete