An article in today's Chicago Tribune drives that point home, based on data gathered by the Center for Responsive Politics:
In 1990, the gambling industry "contributed" $478,000 to federal campaigns (that is, the "war chests" of individuals running for federal office, or more to the point, running to keep their position in Congress or control the Oval Office).
In 2004, that same industry forked over $13 million. Here are the top 5recipients from the 2004 election cycle:
1 | Bush, George W (R) | Pres | $345,610 |
2 | Reid, Harry (D-NV) | Senate | $309,713 |
3 | Porter, Jon (R-NV) | House | $243,968 |
4 | Berkley, Shelley (D-NV) | House | $199,441 |
5 | Daschle, Tom (D-SD) | Senate | $193,900 |
So who is addicted to gambling? I would venture to guess that our elected officials (I hestiate to call them our representatives, because it seems to me that they more closely represent corporate interests and CEOs, not the rest of us) fit the bill very nicely.
2 comments:
Well, Tharg, I don't disagree particularly. Certainly, the money flow from the gambling industry is likely not the top corrupter of our so-called elected representatives. I don't think, however, that it hurts to point out all the ways that our government officials are bought and paid for.
And I am sure some will read this and get irritated with me for such blanket condemnation of corporation contributions and lobbying.
Well...I am rather blanket-like about this. I believe that our political system should be separate from and take precedence over our economic system. I furthermore believe that corporations should not ever have been granted the same rights as citizens/people. Companies should be banned entirely from funding the political process in any and every way. Lobbyists should never be allowed to write or influence laws.
What can I say? That's what I believe.
I also happen to think that most people in this country know in their gut and are generally pretty open about their belief that almost all our elected leaders and many others in the government -- supposedly of, by and for "the people" -- is in the pockets of major corporations and corporate interests, which definitely do not have the same interests as citizens. OK, 'nuff ranting.
I don't see anything wrong with online gambling as long as their are safeguards in place to protect problem gamblers. When you play online, you can play at your own pace, with no noise, no smoking, and lower stakes.
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