Comments on: The Latest of 57 Reasons to Reject the Ohio Learn & Earn Initiative (102006) http://www.bizzyblog.com/2006/10/20/the-latest-of-57-reasons-to-reject-the-ohio-learn-earn-initiative-102006/ The Business End of the Blogosphere Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:11:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: TBlumer http://www.bizzyblog.com/2006/10/20/the-latest-of-57-reasons-to-reject-the-ohio-learn-earn-initiative-102006/#comment-37844 TBlumer Sat, 21 Oct 2006 20:25:06 +0000 http://www.bizzyblog.com/2006/10/20/the-latest-of-57-reasons-to-reject-the-ohio-learn-earn-initiative-102006/#comment-37844 #1, gambling itself does not create wealth. It is a zero-sum game that reallocates wealth to the house. You could argue that gambling businesses create wealth through construction, etc., which is fine. And of course I'm not against entertainment. I'm not against all legalized gambling. I'm against legalized gambling posing as something else, and (IMO) blithely ignoring the damages it causes. After the fact cleanup money does not compensate for this. In a sense the argument is over because so many places have legalized it, individual and social costs be damned. That doesn't mean we need more, esp not as it's being dishonestly sold using kids as props. #1, gambling itself does not create wealth. It is a zero-sum game that reallocates wealth to the house.

You could argue that gambling businesses create wealth through construction, etc., which is fine. And of course I’m not against entertainment.

I’m not against all legalized gambling. I’m against legalized gambling posing as something else, and (IMO) blithely ignoring the damages it causes. After the fact cleanup money does not compensate for this.

In a sense the argument is over because so many places have legalized it, individual and social costs be damned. That doesn’t mean we need more, esp not as it’s being dishonestly sold using kids as props.

]]> By: Jason Sonenshein http://www.bizzyblog.com/2006/10/20/the-latest-of-57-reasons-to-reject-the-ohio-learn-earn-initiative-102006/#comment-37835 Jason Sonenshein Sat, 21 Oct 2006 20:11:10 +0000 http://www.bizzyblog.com/2006/10/20/the-latest-of-57-reasons-to-reject-the-ohio-learn-earn-initiative-102006/#comment-37835 "<i>I think that rugged individuals and entrpreneurs can be great people too, but I will suggest that they are great people when they add value to something. This does not occur in gambling, which is by definition a zero-sum gamed rigged in favor of the house.</i>" Actually, gambling does add value. The added value is the entertainment that gamblers derive from it. Here's something that Rep. Barney Frank (D-Ma.) said during the debate over internet gambling this summer: "<i>People have said, What is the value of gambling ? Here is the value. Some human beings enjoy doing it. Shouldn't that be our principle? If individuals like doing something and they harm no one, we will allow them to do it, even if other people disapprove of what they do.</i>" “I think that rugged individuals and entrpreneurs can be great people too, but I will suggest that they are great people when they add value to something. This does not occur in gambling, which is by definition a zero-sum gamed rigged in favor of the house.”

Actually, gambling does add value. The added value is the entertainment that gamblers derive from it. Here’s something that Rep. Barney Frank (D-Ma.) said during the debate over internet gambling this summer:

“People have said, What is the value of gambling ? Here is the value. Some human beings enjoy doing it. Shouldn’t that be our principle? If individuals like doing something and they harm no one, we will allow them to do it, even if other people disapprove of what they do.“

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