Comments on Ryan's Take: What Links Casino Proponents Together?

And you ignore the fact that 100s of thousands are...

2009-11-01T17:29:00.084-05:00

And you ignore the fact that 100s of thousands are killed every yr by drunk drivers, alchoholism, and lung cancer. The rest of us are left to pay for the carnage. Casinos at least don't kill people.

You argument completely ignores this reality all in the name of you being a liberal nag who fucking knows better than every one else.

Bring on teh casinos and bring on the jobs. And while we are at it lets let greyhounds run which is what the good Lord intended that they do. Sorry Cory Theil or whatever your name is.

Anon 2:30pm, Perhaps you missed it, but the vote...

2009-11-01T14:57:45.004-05:00

Anon 2:30pm,

Perhaps you missed it, but the voters of Massachusetts just voted to un-ban pot, at least insofar as a criminal offense. Furthermore, while most alcohol is banned, there are certainly various kinds of alcohol which are not allowed in this country. They're not common, but they're there.

Furthermore, you're completely ignoring my other arguments. We allow all sorts of bad things, sure. Does that mean we should allow other bad things, which are also bad policy? No. And do we have to get rid of the things that are bad right now by outwardly banning them? No. That's why I support things like raising taxes on cigarettes. It may take time, but in time people just won't smoke.

We ban the worst drugs? We ban pot! We legalize bo...

2009-11-01T14:30:45.057-05:00

We ban the worst drugs? We ban pot! We legalize booze! Inconsistent, yes. you and your casino loathing pals are hypocrites. Fucking strange as well.

I appreciate that sentiment -- and you are more th...

2009-11-01T07:09:23.485-05:00

I appreciate that sentiment -- and you are more than welcome to go on a Don Quijote quest to ban smoking, perhaps someday that would actually happen, but it's not going to happen now and I'm not going to support it now because of that.

A few comments, though, that I believe make my position consistent:

1. I like to use my time efficiently. Cigarettes are already here just like KENO is already here; I'm not going to waste my energy on things that are already here, but I will spend time to ensure things that aren't here aren't allowed here legally, whether that's slots (a form of gambling) or cocaine (a drug).

2. We ban the worst drugs like we ban the worst, most addictive kinds of gambling in Massachusetts.

3. I actually do support policies that may reduce or mitigate the bad things that are already here, be it higher taxes we have on cigarettes (proven to reduce the amount of people who smoke), or to reform to the state lottery to ban things like $20 tickets, which would go a long way to reducing the impacts on existing addiction to gambling in this state.

Smoking kills hundreds of thousand each year in th...

2009-10-31T14:32:26.286-04:00

Smoking kills hundreds of thousand each year in the USA. Policy is bullshit. If we are going to become the nanny state then smoking (and drinking) should be banned. Gambling destroys less lives in 10 yrs than smoking does in one. Ban then all or ban none!

Anon 8:46, A few differences. First, we create a...

2009-10-30T18:32:50.190-04:00

Anon 8:46,

A few differences. First, we create all kinds of policy to reduce smoking in this state and country. Every time we raise taxes on cigarettes, the rate of smokers goes down. Statistical fact. We spend a lot of money every year to help get people help to get treated and we spend tens of millions every year to convince kids never to start.

On the other hand, states and gambling companies become equal partners in addicting new people. Instead of trying to reduce that addiction, casinos always come back for more ways to get people addicted (to make more money) -- and they usually get what they want. As Senator Tucker said yesterday, "The deal will change."

We have to look at legislation at a policy level. Does it make policy sense? Will it cost the state money or make money? Will it drain the state lottery? Will it hurt local businesses -- and how bad? How will it effect the population? Those are all questions that need to be asked.

Ryan I can't believe you such a thoughtful piece a...

2009-10-30T09:49:48.513-04:00

Ryan I can't believe you such a thoughtful piece after such a long exhausting day (and night) - not to mention having to hold a Flip video recorder in your outstretched hand for hours.

You've made great points about when some 'greed' is no longer 'good'. I've seen it over the years again and again with my own eyes and felt it in my own 401K. I hope our State is smarter than to fall for this current scam.

why not outlaw smoking and drinking? combined they...

2009-10-30T08:46:57.507-04:00

why not outlaw smoking and drinking? combined they both inflict more harm and cost on society that gambling. that is why this is such nonsense. we pick and choose the vices that are OK based on what?

cha-ching

2009-10-30T06:40:57.212-04:00

cha-ching