Distortionary Motives

After my last post on profit, I have also come to the conclusion that the profit motive has other negative consequences.  In Las Vegas, the most obvious example is the intertwining of gambling with most everything else.  While casinos draw people in with glitz and glamour, don't be fooled: their motive is to ruthlessly extract as much money as possible from you.

If you walk through a casino, you will notice that there is almost no open space.  There are no places to hang out, to relax and separate yourself from gambling.  You can go to the bar, but video gambling machines are built into all the bar counters.  There are no clocks, and there are usually no maps to show the way out.  To me, their message is clear: they want as much of your money as possible, regardless of what may benefit you.

Even if you don't go to the casinos in Vegas, you will be assaulted by video gambling machines: in the airport, at gas stations, even at the grocery store.  Does anyone even pretend that all of this is good for people?  Does having gambling machines at the grocery store enhance anyone's quality of life?  Please. 

Such are the problems when an industry ruled by the profit motive is allowed to run amuck in a city.  Some definitions may help clear things up: the purpose of a community is to protect and enhance the quality of life of its members.  Good businesses provide something of value to the community while, of course, making a profit if they are to stay in business.  Other businesses prey on human weakness or produce products that appear to be valuable, though they are really not.

Casinos fall into the latter category, yet, they are given prime importance here.  On the other hand, community is not.  Las Vegas has one of the lowest amounts of open space (like parks) per person out of the whole country.  Other things that would benefit the community have also been squeezed out because more public services means more taxes on the casino industry.  But hey, who needs good parks, schools, and medical services if they've got keno at the grocery store?