General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Senior Gambling Addiction Rates Soaring in America, Driven by Corporate Greed, Bad Govt. Policy [View all]progree
(10,907 posts)Let's face it, government greed too is involved. I've listened to our state legislators debate as they approve one lottery after another, lately electronic pulltabs to pay for the Vikings stadium, racino, slot machines at the race track, on and on to bring in more revenues because higher taxes on the "job creators" (in their minds the wealthy) is not an option.
I remember during the tobacco settlement about 15 years ago when we all agreed that tobacco was addictive ... well, somebody brought up that gambling was addictive FOR SOME PEOPLE and a state official denied and denied ...
I know some DUers don't like to hear that government can be greedy too. Well, sorry, but reality does not always fit a pretty progressive meme of evil greedy corporations but just "bad government policy".
It is well worth remembering too that, like smoking, lower income people do proportionately more gambling (as percent of income), and on top of that least can afford it.
Everything I've read is that seniors today are going into retirement with much less retirement assets than the previous generation (depleted 401 k's and no pensions). I don't think they need a proliferation of ever more convenient and nearby gambling options.