"Your mother has this crazy idea that gambling is wrong. Even though they say it's OK in the Bible." ~Homer Simpson
It is once again a time of fiscal crisis in Annapolis, and the state government has once again turned to the dark side; it is considering the legalization of slot machines to raise revenues. The new debate is over a popular referendum on the desirability of slots. If adopted, the estimate is slot machines would bring in $550 million in the first year. A portion of this would be set aside for the Higher Education Investment Fund and would, thus, directly benefit the university. It would be a step toward achieving the permanent and steady funding source this page has consistently argued for.
The slot machine measure is a no-brainer for the university; it will undoubtedly help the entire University System of Maryland. But that does not mean we can ignore the larger debate. The comptroller of Maryland, Peter Franchot, is one of the most vocal opponents to legalizing slots. He cites "the crime, the corruption, the broken families, the welfare [and] the gambling addiction that flows from this vice" as reasons to oppose slot machines.
Gambling is undeniably a vice and also a potential addiction. However, the suggestion that slot machines would lead to a societal collapse is simply hyperbole. Gambling will always hold an attraction for large segments of society. Nevada figured this out a long time ago, as did Atlantic City, not to mention many Native American reservations around the country. It would be instructive to compare this issue to that of smoking. Cigarettes are an undeniably destructive vice. There is unequivocal evidence to prove prolonged smoking causes bodily harm. It is absolutely impossible to smoke a cigarette without any knowledge of the dangers involved.
Yet cigarettes remain perfectly legal. Maryland levies a $2 tax on every pack sold. The government brings in vast amounts of revenue on the misery of smokers, and smokers comply willingly. Slot machines should function the same way. If people want to feed quarters into a machine in vain and there are others who want to provide this service, it should be legal, especially when there is no direct harm to any party involved.
If the state can distribute the penalty from such activity in a way that does some good, then all the better. We learned from Prohibition in the 1920s that government always fails when it takes a position rigidly based on moral objection. The human propensity for vice is as strong a force as any. The best we can hope for is a tolerable accommodation, like the one that has been achieved with smoking. Government should legalize slots but vigorously police the illegal activities associated with them, and the government should progressively use the revenue from slots to ensure its future in securing higher education funding. The only ones who lose out are the helpless slot jockeys, but in life, not everyone can be a winner.
POLICY: The signed letters, columns and cartoon represent only the opinions of the authors. The staff editorial represents the opinion of The Diamondback's editorial board and is the responsibility of the editor in chief.
Be the first to comment on this article!