tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post2012413766073194981..comments2024-03-20T09:32:16.592-04:00Comments on Michael James on Money: Casinos and GovernmentsMichael Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-79273532850629660952020-11-03T12:06:05.432-05:002020-11-03T12:06:05.432-05:00The comment above is a reply to Promod's comme...The comment above is a reply to Promod's comment:<br /><br />We live in a world of buyer beware. Unfortunately, we also live in a world of increasing temptation. It's difficult to be good when the opportunities to misbehave are so prevalent. We really do need to look out for ourselves.<br /><br />I'm more likely to eat junk food if it's sitting there on my kitchen table. We're more likely to gamble when gambling becomes more convenient.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-42268476384878183802013-01-30T17:44:24.386-05:002013-01-30T17:44:24.386-05:00@Open Source Portfolio: No, I wouldn't say th...@Open Source Portfolio: No, I wouldn't say that. To some degree all businesses try to exploit human weaknesses, but gambling is an extreme case. A modest amount of gambling is inevitable because an outright ban would simply lead to illegal gambling or gambling in foreign establishments. Having enough government sponsored gambling to suppress most illegal gambling and gambling by Canadians in foreign countries is desirable. Extending beyond this point is undesirable. It may be challenging to exactly define where this point is, but our governments aren't even interested in this question. They just want more money.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-18211708024157426002013-01-30T17:35:56.440-05:002013-01-30T17:35:56.440-05:00So would you say that as long as the gambling esta...So would you say that as long as the gambling establishment is private then it is net gain for society? That's a lot more comforting for me.Opensourceportfoliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16359681243571858503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-28522619096191724942013-01-24T15:38:25.702-05:002013-01-24T15:38:25.702-05:00@Patrick: That's certainly true if Canadians ...@Patrick: That's certainly true if Canadians weren't permitted to enter, but that's not how we do things. The problem is that targeting Americans tends to prompt the U.S. side to open their own casino nearby and we're back to both sides having a net loss. If the decisions about building casinos were based on trying to make a net gain for Canada, I'd be happy. But I doubt that this is even a consideration. The real test is whether they are a benefit to government revenues.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-54477161175373107032013-01-24T15:25:40.080-05:002013-01-24T15:25:40.080-05:00Casinos on the border can be a net benefit for Can...Casinos on the border can be a net benefit for Canada if they're populated by American tourists.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16816252455472704262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-40609138211838437532013-01-24T11:49:56.922-05:002013-01-24T11:49:56.922-05:00@Opensourceportfolio: Interesting question. If t...@Opensourceportfolio: Interesting question. If the government were to grant themselves a monopoly on movies and operated movie theaters for profit, I might well think they were a net loss to the country. But that's not how it works. Movie theaters have to survive on the money they get from their customers. In a sense this proves that they give something of value. <br /><br />While one could argue that casinos provide a useful service (entertainment), I think they are much more about exploiting human weakness. So, I think the criticism that they divert resources away from more useful pursuits is fair in this case.<br /><br />Let me be clear, though, that I don't think we should get rid of all government-sponsored gambling. It makes sense to compete with other gambling avenues that divert money to criminals and other countries. However, we don't need more government gambling venues to accomplish this goal. And we certainly don't need nearly as much advertising of lotteries and other government-sponsored forms of gambling.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-30509945546732475772013-01-24T10:34:55.605-05:002013-01-24T10:34:55.605-05:00Hi Michael, I'm just wondering about your stat...Hi Michael, I'm just wondering about your statement about Casinos being a net loss to the country. What about movie theaters? Couldn't the same logic apply there too? They cost money to operate and they take away people from more useful pursuits? Or is it different because there is a whole (useful) movie industry backing it?Opensourceportfoliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16359681243571858503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-27032196775844064412013-01-24T09:31:08.659-05:002013-01-24T09:31:08.659-05:00@Promod: I agree with you. My strategy for eatin...@Promod: I agree with you. My strategy for eating well involves never having junk food in the house. If it's there, I'll eat it. Limiting gambling opportunities can certainly be justified by looking at the effect it has on individuals, but note that I made my case in this post for limiting the number of casinos based purely on economics. Even staunch believers in individual responsibility have reason to not like casinos on economic grounds.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-20372116554328021712013-01-24T08:10:45.331-05:002013-01-24T08:10:45.331-05:00@Anonymous: Thanks for the endorsement. Unfortun...@Anonymous: Thanks for the endorsement. Unfortunately, I'm no good in debates. I tend to say what I really believe, and I tend to stop and think. In public debates you have to be willing to make convincing-sounding arguments you don't actually believe, and you have to be able to fire quickly from the brain-stem.<br /><br />@Big Cajun Man: You're right that lotteries and taxes on cigarettes and liquor are big sources of revenue for governments. Sensible policies for these matters have to begin with systemic changes to governments to reduce their thirst for money. Otherwise, governments are just going to do whatever brings in more revenue.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-9574995581729540652013-01-24T06:58:25.739-05:002013-01-24T06:58:25.739-05:00Not JUST Casinos, but remember those government ru...Not JUST Casinos, but remember those government run lotteries too! Wonder if I could get a permit to open a booth at the entrance of the O/C Raceway for Gamblers Anonymous? I somehow doubt it, but you never know (might make it more popular like all those nasty pictures on the cigarette packages). Oh and Governments also love the income from Taxes on Cigarettes too!Big Ranting Lunatichttp://canajunfinances.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-13046116562302782952013-01-24T01:06:05.761-05:002013-01-24T01:06:05.761-05:00Hear, hear.
How do we nominate you for public off...Hear, hear.<br /><br />How do we nominate you for public office? Would you consider an appointment as deputy finance minister?<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com