Reaping what you gamble

When the Democratic-controlled Legislature effectively handed the tribes a monopoly on casino gambling in 2004, some skeptics suggested that we might pay a price. (Some also wondered why those same legislative leaders and Gov. Brad Henry were raking in so many hundreds of thousands in tribal campaign dollars at the same time, but never mind.)

Those who questioned the wisdom of opening the gambling floodgates back then were often derided as mossback Baptists or worse when they wondered if a casino on every corner might increase crime, traffic and alcohol problems and addictive behaviors.

Not to worry, we were told. Well, here we are, with 100,000 addicted gamblers and nowhere to put them.

Government policy sometimes plants seeds that grow into nice flowers, but just as often, you get a patch of weeds. One is reminded of the “compassionate” welfare policies that essentially rewarded and subsidized sloth and illegitimacy for decades, contributing mightily to a great deal of social dysfunction.

I am just enough of a libertarian conservative to say to the gambler, if you want to piddle away your paycheck at the craps table, that’s on you. And I am just enough of a libertarian conservative to add, don’t expect the taxpayers to fix you. We are reaping what we sowed almost a decade ago under some badly misguided weak leadership.

—Mike Brake
Oklahoma City

Opinions expressed on the commentary page, in letters to the editor and elsewhere in this newspaper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ownership or management.

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