OUR GOVERNMENTS AND SIN INDUSTRIES

In their neverending search for easy revenues, our governments are merely keeping one step ahead of organized crime. Indeed smoking, drinking and gambling have all been under the control of organized crime at one time or another. Once governments figure out how not to offend half the voters en masse, then I expect they will take over prostitution as well.

I attended an OLG presentation last evening at the Woolwich Memorial Centre in Elmira, Ontario. It was slick, smooth and almost not repulsive. The OLG reps kept assuring the audience that they and the government, working hand in hand are ensuring that their products are for entertainment purposes only and no one gets harmed. The Municipal government gets a cut for being the host community and lo and behold even police chiefs are lining up to give endorsements. The hypocrisy is nearly enough to make one choke. It's gambling and like most sins can be a lot of fun. Our governments who in my opinion have long abandoned the moral high ground are essentially pimping. Why shouldn't they you ask? They pimp for polluters, they pimp for financial thieves , speculators, developers and the like. The purpose of government is pimping for the monied interests while sucessfully selling it as good for the masses.

Is there anything good that can be said about gambling? Well yes there is. It is a form of income distribution from the desperate, the well off, the stupid and addicted to just about everyone else. If a slots and gaming centre can pull out $40M from a community and then give back $2 million to the municipality; well good for them. All the games are essentially rigged grossly in favour of the House. It's just about a license to print money and as P.T. Barnum once said "There's one born every minute".

All this being said once again the community will probably be divided. Many will legitimately want the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) to come to their community. Many will be opposed on legitimate religious or moral grounds. Me I don't even buy lottery tickets now because the odds are bad. If they come to town I will be disappointed although not surprised. Personally I hope they stay in Elora.