Expanding gambling and putting religion in schools - that goes together, right?

[MH1]

Disclaimer: I have no problems with friendly wagering between, you know, friends. However I am very opposed to the expansion of opportunities for profiteers to exploit those with addictions of any sort, and gambling is unfortunately an addictive behavior for many people.

It just strikes me a little ridiculous that on the one hand, the legislature in Harrisburg wants to put religious indoctrination in schools:

https://ssl.capwiz.com/aclu/issues/alert/?alertid=62994101&type=ST

ACLU of Pennsylvania

Keep religion out of Pennsylvania's public schools

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is considering a bill to mandate all public schools to display “In God We Trust” somewhere on school property. Religious proselytizing has no place in Pennsylvania’s public schools.

A mandate of the type in HB 1728 fails to recognize that 21st century America is a diverse country with people of many faiths and no faith. It is not the place of the government to preach to our children. That job belongs to parents and communities of faith.

House Bill 1728 is also counter to a foundational principle of American jurisprudence. There is a wall of separation between the state and the church.

But on the other hand, they continually look for ways to expand for-profit gambling venues (remember the attempts at lottery privatization earlier this year also):

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20131114_Pa__bill_would_let_bars_host_gambling.html

Pa. bill would let bars host gambling

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania House gave approval yesterday to a bill that could allow thousands of bars to profit from gambling contests called small games of chance while flushing some of the profits into the state's cash-strapped coffers.

The Republican-controlled House voted 102-96, with Democrats largely opposed, to send the bill to the Senate, where final approval is expected next week. Gov. Corbett also has signed on to the concept, which would represent Pennsylvania's largest expansion of gambling since 2010, when table games were legalized in slot-machine casinos.

Under the bill, about 4,500 bars and taverns could seek licenses to conduct pull-tab games, daily drawings and tavern raffles. Individual prize limits would be $2,000 for a single game and $35,000 over seven days, while raffles would be limited to one a month. The state's budget analysts expect - based on the experience in Indiana - that about 2,000 bar owners will get licenses.

The bill passed over objections to the expansion of gambling, the lack of time to review amendments inserted Tuesday night and the competition it would create for veterans' organizations that raise funds through gambling and programs for the elderly that are traditionally underwritten by the Pennsylvania Lottery.

I realize not everyone shares my aversion to organized gambling. However I'm betting you see the incongruity of proclaiming religion on the one hand and supporting exploitation of the vulnerable on the other.

[Curmudgeoness]

1. Both of these issues are slippery slopes.

Gambling started down that slope years ago when the state decided that it was a great idea to get money from lotteries. And we can see how far we have slid down the gaming slope....and it keeps getting worse.

Since the schools are still sitting at the top of the hill, and have not started that slide to indoctrination of all students by the schools, we have to keep this from starting. The dominionists would like nothing better than to have the Ten Commandments in every public building, as well as Christian prayer in all the schools. They think that this will solve all the problems in our society, and they will not stop at step one.