Comments on: Politicians keep placing bets http://blogs.reuters.com/david-cay-johnston/2012/03/30/politicians-keep-placing-bets/ Sat, 23 Mar 2013 13:49:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: TheOldSodbuster http://blogs.reuters.com/david-cay-johnston/2012/03/30/politicians-keep-placing-bets/#comment-1271 TheOldSodbuster Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:15:55 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/david-cay-johnston/?p=333#comment-1271 Some call gambling a 'desperation tax'. Economists call it a transfer payment. If I were a betting man, I would bet that the closer a society gets to its dissemblage, the more gambling takes place. What do you think are the odds? Certainly, in spiritual economics, gambling replaces vision. Some call gambling a ‘desperation tax’. Economists call it a transfer payment. If I were a betting man, I would bet that the closer a society gets to its dissemblage, the more gambling takes place. What do you think are the odds?

Certainly, in spiritual economics, gambling replaces vision.

]]> By: matthewslyman http://blogs.reuters.com/david-cay-johnston/2012/03/30/politicians-keep-placing-bets/#comment-1243 matthewslyman Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:54:30 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/david-cay-johnston/?p=333#comment-1243 Whenever I hear gambling advocates claiming that gambling is "good for the economy", I can't help but think they're missing the big picture... How is it possible to ignore the misery and wastefulness of gambling? What does gambling produce/ build/ repair/ add value to? NOTHING. If it's entertainment, then it is poor entertainment that leaves its patrons poorer, more addicted and dependent; and their families likewise... Some "entertainment", that leaves people feeling cheated and contemplating how to win at games of chance that are fundamentally rigged against them! Some economic productivity boost, that will distract people from thinking so much about their professions! Whenever I hear gambling advocates claiming that gambling is “good for the economy”, I can’t help but think they’re missing the big picture… How is it possible to ignore the misery and wastefulness of gambling? What does gambling produce/ build/ repair/ add value to? NOTHING.

If it’s entertainment, then it is poor entertainment that leaves its patrons poorer, more addicted and dependent; and their families likewise… Some “entertainment”, that leaves people feeling cheated and contemplating how to win at games of chance that are fundamentally rigged against them! Some economic productivity boost, that will distract people from thinking so much about their professions!

]]> By: DavidCayJ http://blogs.reuters.com/david-cay-johnston/2012/03/30/politicians-keep-placing-bets/#comment-1239 DavidCayJ Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:39:31 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/david-cay-johnston/?p=333#comment-1239 @SteveBreeze, economists studying the long 1994 baseball strike found that the income of alternative forms of entertainment -- nightclubs, bars, arcades, etc., grew by the amount not spent on baseball, as you will find at pages 65-66 of FREE LUNCH. Earlier work I did, for TEMPLES OF CHANCE, found this same pattern. @SteveBreeze, economists studying the long 1994 baseball strike found that the income of alternative forms of entertainment — nightclubs, bars, arcades, etc., grew by the amount not spent on baseball, as you will find at pages 65-66 of FREE LUNCH. Earlier work I did, for TEMPLES OF CHANCE, found this same pattern.

]]> By: SteveBreeze http://blogs.reuters.com/david-cay-johnston/2012/03/30/politicians-keep-placing-bets/#comment-1236 SteveBreeze Sun, 01 Apr 2012 23:37:42 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/david-cay-johnston/?p=333#comment-1236 Gambling dollars can not be all found money for the economy. It seems to me most dollars spent gambling are dollars not spent at the movies or theater concert or bar. I don't know how much less economic activity there is per dollar spent on gambling, but it's likely a lot. What concerns me is this is never brought into the conversation. Gambling is always treated as new money. It's just dishonest to think it could be. I feel like I am buying a pig in a poke. Gambling dollars can not be all found money for the economy. It seems to me most dollars spent gambling are dollars not spent at the movies or theater concert or bar. I don’t know how much less economic activity there is per dollar spent on gambling, but it’s likely a lot. What concerns me is this is never brought into the conversation. Gambling is always treated as new money. It’s just dishonest to think it could be.
I feel like I am buying a pig in a poke.

]]> By: Sarasota http://blogs.reuters.com/david-cay-johnston/2012/03/30/politicians-keep-placing-bets/#comment-1234 Sarasota Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:02:08 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/david-cay-johnston/?p=333#comment-1234 Expanding gambling is another means to soak those who can afford it least.It's a terrible solution for governments starving for revenue. Expanding gambling is another means to soak those who can afford it least.It’s a terrible solution for governments starving for revenue.

]]>