Posted on 07/26/2002 9:50:57 AM PDT by chance33_98
Tribe Closes Casino 07-26-2002
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe has complied with a federal court order and shut down the casino it has been operating at its reservation near Livingston, about 90 miles north of Houston.
Employees and gamblers cried as the midnight deadline came and went Thursday night. They joined in a prayer and then left the small building.
U-S District Judge John Hannah Junior ordered the casino to shut down several weeks ago. He ruled the casino illegal under the Native American Restoration Act of 1987.
In that treaty, in exchange for federal recognition, the tribe agreed not to sponsor any gambling activities not allowed by the state of Texas.
Tribal leaders say they're concerned how they'll provide services and jobs to members of the Alabama-Coushatta tribe. Tribal leaders say they'll ask the Texas legislature to make it legal for them to operate a casino.
By what moral authority does government (state, local, or federal) deign to tell a free man that he may not wager his own money?
Exactly..
Why can't you?
Who is government to tell you otherwise?
I live within it, and I didn't give government the authority to tell me I couldn't gamble my own money.
You are only as free as the state government allows you to be.
Amazing...
Don't like it? Move to another state.
I see... We're government... and we're taking all your stuff, and we're going to tell you what you can think, what you can own, what you can say, and who you can associate with... Don't like it? MOVE!
(wonderful notion of liberty that)
That is the one thing state governments cannot stop you from doing. Also you do not own currency. It is nothing more then federal debt.
No of course... we don't own anything... it all belongs to the state.... we merely use it at their discretion. You've already made that clear Mr. Marx.
So, as long as that weak-willed father of four "decides" to gamble away the grocery money at the "palace of shattered dreams," it's okay? Your philosophy of total personal autonomy doesn't work because people are flawed and succumb to evil temptations, especially the weaker ones. Gambling appeals to the hedonistic dark side of human nature and is diametrically opposed to the ethics of personal responsibility and hard work, and is linked to higher suicide rates, divorce, and other ill effects as can be seen in Nevada statistics (highest levels per capita in the U.S.). Would you like to defend gambling?
By what moral authority do you hold your position other than your own subjective relativistic ethic? If your moral authority is yourself, then you have no moral authority to project those subjective morals outside of yourself, not even to object to someone else's morals; because if morality is just personal preference, then all others have the equivalent authority to you, even the State.
Do you reject this moral code?
If that is true, then it is contradictory for you to support legalized gambling, because gambling is anathema tto interpersonal love. Gambling is rooted in narcissism, selfishness, disregard for others (opposite of golden rule) and irresponsibility. Is the bible your authority for living or just this one single verse? If a man fritters away the grocery money, how is that an example of the Golden Rule?
Simple...
Protection of women and children (and their welfare) is a legitimate function of the State. Gambling hurts women and children. No doubt about it. Study after study prove it. If you are opposed to laws against gambling, then let's do away with all other laws that protect society while we are at it, shall we? Why not make murder legal (oops - already is - abortion), and theft (oops - already is - confiscatory taxation, social security). [sigh] - I guess there are no taboos left. Sweet anarchy!
What are you squawking about - the scourge of gambling is legal in every state but Utah and one less Indian Reservation makes no difference at all. It's a drop in the bucket. What does that say about the moral state of our society? Do you really think Jesus would approve? You cited Him as your moral authority - what about his COMMANDMENTS? Do you keep them?
Indeed, states have the power to regulate PUBLIC gambling.
Our constitution empowers them to do so in the 10th. - And denies them the power to violate individual rights, [life & liberty] - IE - non violent PRIVATE acts such as gambling, - in the 14th.
The idea is if you do not like it try to change it and if you cannot live without it and you fail move to another state.
Not at all.
Every state is guaranteed a republican form of government. [Art. IV] -- Fiat prohibitions enforced by majority rule is not part of a constitutional republican form of government. Such rule is democratic tyranny.
This is more akin to a Confucian "negative" golden rule than to Jesus' Golden Rule. Confucius said, in effect, "do not do unto others what you would not want them to do unto you." This requires NO ACTION on our part - it simply states do not commit evil acts. However, Jesus' Golden Rule requires POSITIVE LOVING ACTION. See the difference? I think your position is better adapted to Confucius than Jesus.
The issue is that the tribe left the reservation so to speak. The agreed to not allow gambling on the reservation and broke their word. (forked tongue)
Some politicians and some lawyers must be assured of renumeration.....then people can visit the reservation and wager.
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