Amen, Barry. I read a recent study that said there were 15 million gambling-aholics in the U.S. and almost a million in Canada. I was intrigued by your remark that this stuff does better when the economy is bad. I wonder if that is true, now. Lotteries and casinos seem to be everywhere. There is some dark relationship between games of chance and the whole free market ethos -- this sense that there is a large invisible hand with its hands on the dice. Who knows why the stock market works, why Joe's Internet company makes millions, while Fred's fails. The ethos says that it is hard work, but everyone knows that there is luck involved. It is this shifting back and forward over the line of control over your life and lack of control that must make people go for the lottery. Like touching a bad tooth with your tongue. Or something. But having the government peddle it stinks anyway.
yours, Peter T.