gambling immoral?

[fishorsechess]

I have heard people in the past tell me that gambling
is immoral. That you are taking money from people
that are poor,sick and who really need the money.
However, isnt all of life about competition and risk?
Think about getting a good job. Someone is going
to get that job and lots will not(they lose). What about
playing the stock market, commodities,etc. Someone wins
and someone loses. I think horseracing is a fair game
because everyone has a chance to win. Life is not a fair
game. You're uncle is the president of a bank. He hires
you on as a vice president. You call that fair to other?
Shouldnt life be about reward great skills, efforts and
talents. That's what oppportunity handicapping horses
for example give you.

[charleslanger]

To continue that argument, why own a liquor store, restaurant, MacDonalds, buffet restaurant, any store that sells cigarettes, diet pills, junk food, boobie mags,........ you'd be supposedly contributing to others' demise....

In Europe one can gamble freely on just about anything-- you don't hear of any problem-- same for topless beaches-- no problemo.

Some people try to curb the excesses of a few who can't handle something-- by prohibiting it from everyone-- including the vast majority who have no over-consumption issues. These people can't see the forest for the trees: all the jobs that gambling creates directly and indirectly-- and no one job's better than the other: whether i want to spend a couple hundred at an amusement park to support a ticket taker, food vendor, mechanic, vendor who supplies them, etc.-- or their racetrack counterparts, horse farm employees, etc.-- what'd be the difference? If we listened to all moralists, we'd be another dirt-poor Afghanistan with no vices, because most everything can be bad for someone--playing Wall Street, tv / art / music, fatty food, alcohol, computing, club hopping....

Luckily advocates haven't sprung up for banning automobiles to save lives, promote exercise & clean up the air.......Or beaches to save lives and keep people from parading semi-nude,,, Extreme moralists usually have no clue about capitalism & creating jobs-- and just like Bush bashers: they paint an opposing viewpoint in the worst light, exaggerate any small defects, conveniently overlook positive aspects.... If there existed any significant gambling problem, it'd be all over the media-- who'd love nothing more than to manufacture & exaggerate something into a major story.....

And if the point is about those who spend a lot of their time in otbs & racetracks-- if you shut them down, those denizens will just find another hangout spot and way to spend their money-- you'd have to lock them in their house and post an armed guard to keep them in there...
.

[NoDayJob]

Originally posted by charleslanger
Some people try to curb the excesses of a few who can't handle something-- by prohibiting it from everyone--

Extreme moralists usually have no clue about capitalism & creating jobs.

When gummints try to legislate morality it begets crime and violence. E.G. prohibition and the war on drugs-- total failures, except for the gummint's ability to seize property without due process via RICO statutes.

NDJ

[Buddha]

Originally posted by fishorsechess
I have heard people in the past tell me that gambling
is immoral. That you are taking money from people
that are poor,sick and who really need the money.


If they are poor, sick, and really need the money, they shouldn't be trying to get it on the horses to begin with.

[sq764]

Cable companies, phone companies, electric companies.... They all take money from sick, poor, unfortunate... It's all realitive

[kingfin66]

Originally posted by Buddha
If they are poor, sick, and really need the money, they shouldn't be trying to get it on the horses to begin with.

Geez Buddha, the next thing you know we're going to expect people to demonstrate common sense and personal responsibility and accountability. What's this world coming to?!

[Dave Schwartz]

Kingfin,

LOL - Personal responsibility... What a concept!


Dave

[Steve 'StatMan']

Living near AP, it's been neat having had 2 retired priests (both deceased now) as friends who were racing fans, who I enjoyed sitting with at the track, and talking about the races with in our spare moments. They were quite interested in my efforts to do it full-time, provided I was careful. It helped me feel much better about it, that's for sure!

[dav4463]

A friend of mine told me he thought gambling was wrong while we were sitting in a topless bar !

[kenwoodallpromos]

According to one DRF survey, those poor, needy people betting, that I am taking money from average $60,000.00 income.

[Tom]

Peresonally, I key in on the stupid and the drunks for my gambling needs. :p

[sq764]

HEY!!

Let's not couple those 2 terms!

I am half way through my Master's, but I am a drunk.. Tough call..

[Tom]

OK......"or drunks"

[Buckeye]

I have a P.H.D. in stupidity. Does that make me an intellectual?

[sq764]

After wasting a year in my Master's attempt, I run into my friend who lives in St Louis.. I ask him what he is doing for a living.. Ready for this??

He is a brewmaster for Anheuser Busch!

He makes $75K to make sure that beer is fresh!

I mean, beyond porno star, is there a greater job in the world?

I have to rethink my aspirations :-)

[ranchwest]

Originally posted by sq764
After wasting a year in my Master's attempt, I run into my friend who lives in St Louis.. I ask him what he is doing for a living.. Ready for this??

He is a brewmaster for Anheuser Busch!

He makes $75K to make sure that beer is fresh!

I mean, beyond porno star, is there a greater job in the world?

I have to rethink my aspirations :-)

After high school, I spent the bucks to go to college.

A few years later, I looked into the newspaper and there was the guy who graduated last in my high school class. Lead salesman at a car dealership. Maybe not everyone's ideal job, but definitely above what most would have projected.

You never know.