Obama disses Vegas

[Mr. Freeze]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama_las_vegas

Finally, the guy does something I like. He's becoming a grower.

[Sharessa]

I never got the big draw of Vegas. Aside from a couple shows there I'd like to see, there's nothing very interesting about the city. Then again, I've never liked gambling at all.

[Nomad]

Mr. Freeze said:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama_las_vegas

Finally, the guy does something I like. He's becoming a grower.

I don't see any problems with what he said. The people BAWWWWWWWWWWing in that article are douchebags.

[Cjwright79]

Indeed. If I had minimal reading comprehension I might be able to find something I didn't like about what he said, but otherwise it's totally innocuous.

[Dco16]

Politicians + Anything Ever Said About Anything = Controversy.

[kristus]

I really like CSI las vegas.

[Snakes]

"Potential place for excessive spending."

Potential? POTENTIAL?

More money's wasted there than I care to imagine. Obama seems to have grown a pair as of late (anyone catch that GOP conference), which is something he desperately needed to do. Can he actually sustain to accomplish anything? Proooobably not.

I must say, the mayor's reaction is pretty hilarious. "I'll try and give him the boot."

Good luck.

[Ralphis]

He's right though. Not that I've never gambled, but gambling is a huge problem. As more and more states legalize gambling, casinos are placed in areas that are typically middle to lower income. Gambling is highly addictive and I've seen a handful of individuals blowing their paychecks/welfare at our local casino in town.

One could argue about personal responsibility, but it's important to take into account how stupid people are in general. Further legalization of gambling across the United States is a bad thing at the end of the day.

[Cjwright79]

I somehow doubt that college would ever truly eradicate the myriad of character flaws that would lead one to excessive gambling at Vegas.

[DuckReconMajor]

kristus said:

I really like CSI las vegas.

So I'm not the only one who kept watching after Grissom left?

[kristus]

Of course. I do miss Grissom. But it's still keeping the form. And it's not like there are any other shows to rival it.

[Sharessa]

Ralphis said:

He's right though. Not that I've never gambled, but gambling is a huge problem. As more and more states legalize gambling, casinos are placed in areas that are typically middle to lower income. Gambling is highly addictive and I've seen a handful of individuals blowing their paychecks/welfare at our local casino in town.

Yep, I've had a couple coworkers that do nothing but spend their entire paychecks gambling. They get their paycheck, go directly to the casino, then sit there until 4 in the morning just blowing their money on whatever. It's kind of sad, but if they're dumb enough to do it then...whatever.

[fraggle]

The fact that people are actually criticising him for saying this is frankly insane. Are they seriously suggesting it's a good idea for people to gamble away the money they're saving for their education?

[Nomad]

That's not why they're criticizing him. They are basically just complaining because he mentioned Vegas in a negative manner. It doesn't matter that what he said is absolutely true because they're fucking assholes.

[Patrick]

How is gambling a bad thing? People should be allowed to spend their money however they see fit. I don't find this very offensive at all tho, I guess people will complain about anything anyone says. It makes perfect sense to me that people should spend their money on things other than gambling when times are tough.

[Ralphis]

I guess the thing is that people get so addicted to gambling that they feel like they HAVE to spend it on gambling regardless of the economic situation. People are stupid and will keep going back waiting for the big win and, even when it comes and they hit for one or two thousand, they've already probably blown much more than that.

It's a psychological thing, they feel like they've won in the short term when they're really in the hole over an extended period of time. Some people are stupid and gamble instead of going to the market or buying heating oil.

These people are very dumb, but there are a lot of them.

[Craigs]

I read that as Obama disses Vega. Carn would have loved that.

[Mr. Freeze]

Ralphis said:

I guess the thing is that people get so addicted to gambling that they feel like they HAVE to spend it on gambling regardless of the economic situation. People are stupid and will keep going back waiting for the big win and, even when it comes and they hit for one or two thousand, they've already probably blown much more than that.

It's a psychological thing, they feel like they've won in the short term when they're really in the hole over an extended period of time. Some people are stupid and gamble instead of going to the market or buying heating oil.

These people are very dumb, but there are a lot of them.

Oh man, the stories I can tell. I get a lot of people like that at my job. Folks who are obviously down on their luck, but feel the need to blow $100 worth on scratch tickets. It's really quite sad, to be honest.

But I'm nobody's mother...

[Texas Libra]

Craigs said:

I read that as Obama disses Vega. Carn would have loved that.

Of course the Vegans won't hear from Obama until 26 years or so from now.

[DuckReconMajor]

when it's the next Modern Warfare

[deathbringer]

I'd love to visit Vegas, mind you, just to see the lights. Like a bigger Blackpool with better weather and a pyramid.

They ought to just keep the lights running but lock the casino doors.

[Alfonzo]

That city has taken everything from me...

No, really! My camera, my watch. My aquascutum jacket.
The bastard felon probably pawned it for an extra hand at blackjack.

[Sharessa]

Now you swear and kick and beg us
That you're not a gamblin' man
Then you find you're back in Vegas
With a handle in your hand
Your black cards can make you money
So you hide them when you're able
But in the land of milk and honey
You must put them on the table

[Aliotroph?]

Worthless politicians. They should be making themselves (and Vegas) look good by saying the same thing.

I never understood America's problem with letting people gamble. Really, for a country that talks a lot about freedom there are certain freedoms most Americans don't want anybody to have.

[Snakes]

The freedoms that U.S. originally had pushed for people were inalienable rights. I don't think the whole freedoms thing was penned with gambling, smoking, etc. in mind. Now that the idea that these things can actually be harmful for people is a recognized stance, it isn't so much a right as it is a risk.

[myk]

Freedom itself isn't an argument. If people have arguments that gambling is problematic because it's a scam and it sends many desperate or misled people on the road to economic ruin, you need something to counter that. That is, you need reasons why gambling is a good thing for society as opposed to a nuisance, and why people should favor it rather than shun it.

Besides, saying that a country that has a whole city basically dedicated to the activity (which is hardly the only place where it happens or is permitted) "isn't allowing it" is nonsense.

[Aliotroph?]

One state has a city that thrives on it. Most of America seems to have an unreasonable problem with it. Americans in general also seem to have issues with drinking and sex. It's ridiculous.

Freedom is the argument. If you don't protect the freedom of individuals (not groups) in society to do risky things then risky things don't get done and civilization does for lack of technology or will. There needs to be a culture of favouring freedom over rules in all but the most clear cut cases of harming other people. Places like casinos can be regulated so they don't turn into scams and people can keep their freedom to take risks.

[Snakes]

On the first paragraph: huh? Has this become the stereotype for Americans? Only the most conservative folks of America take issue with drinking and sex in general. Otherwise, most people just take issue with it in excess, which again leads back to the harmful issue.

As for the second part, I don't see the 'risky' argument at all. This started off as a discussion gambling, not as a 'risky things in general' discussion. Saying that the civilization won't develop technology because it won't let people do risky things is pretty flawed, really. How risky is developing technology? It's one of the main goals of the U.S., so far as I can srumise.

And yes, casinos can be regulated, but they really aren't. If they were regulated so gambling wasn't big business, it'd be fine. There's so much under-the-table gambling that happens, as well, that gambling as a whole has become frowned upon. There's a paranoia around it. That's why it's viewed as a dumb thing to do in this country.

[myk]

Aliotroph? said:
If you don't protect the freedom of individuals

Such as by regulating the gambling business so that it does not prey on individuals.

Freedom is the argument.

Freedom is always in relation to something or about something. You need to judge that something to apply it in any way, if at all. Compare these three objects and freedom will vary: homicide, gambling, speech.

in society to do risky things then risky things don't get done and civilization does for lack of technology or will.

The logic is that it takes risks to do things, not that taking risks does things. The saying "no pain, no gain" doesn't mean we should stab ourselves.

There needs to be a culture of favouring freedom over rules in all but the most clear cut cases of harming other people.

Sorry but this isn't Dungeons & Dragons where you can play the chaotic good elf that lives in the magical woodland realms. In this world, we have tons of regulations to sort out the myriad conflicts of interests between all sorts of people. This is all pretty practical and natural. If the state doesn't manage rules and laws, something else will, such as a multinational business or some other state. Groups make the rules because individuals are mere specks with limited ties with relatively few other individuals, unless they relate to or in groups.

[Kagemaru_H]

myk said:

Sorry but this isn't Dungeons & Dragons where you can play the chaotic good elf that lives in the magical woodland realms. In this world.

You could always be a chaotic good elf in your parents' basement.