Bill O'Reilly was talking to John Stossel last night about legalizing gambling to help state revenues. Stossel is for it, while O'Reilly is against it. O'Reilly thinks it would tank because it would make more gambling addicts, and we would eventually have to use the extra money made, plus some, to bail them out. Stossel is on the side of adults should have the right to make that decision for themselves. I side with Stossel, who is also on the side of legalizing drugs. We're adults for a reason. Let us make that choice.
-
-
Here is the transcript:
00:01:15 ññññññ >> Bill: Stossel matter segment tonight, because many s
stays are on the verge of bankruptcy legal gambling come into play.
00:01:25 States wanting to tax the action.
00:01:27 The small town of bethlehem, pennsylvania for example now has a casino, if you can believe it.
00:01:32 Governor ed rendell was asked about it on 60 minutes.
00:01:34 >> People are losing money for the state to get its revenue.
00:01:38 They are losing money.
00:01:39 >> Let me ask this.
00:01:42 I have known you for two or three decades.
00:01:44 You are a very smart person.
00:01:45 >> But not now.
00:01:46 >> You are not getting it.
00:01:48 Those people would lose that money anyway.
00:01:51 Don't you understand?
00:01:54 >> Our pressing him on this point led to this.
00:01:57 >> You guys don't get that!
00:01:59 >> I do get it.
00:02:00 >> You are simpletons, you are idiots if you don't get that.
00:02:03 >> Bill: With us now fox business anchor john stossel.
00:02:07 We know it's not great and people do lose money and get addicted to gambling but they are going to get addicted to gambling anyway so why don't we get our piece?
00:02:15 And you say?
00:02:15 >> I say the same fight I have with you about the drug laws.
00:02:19 You are a simpleton.
00:02:20 You are an idiot about this.
00:02:22 They are going to do it anyway.
00:02:24 Adults should be free to do what we want to do as long as we don't hurt somebody else.
00:02:31 >> Bill: Let rereiterate the drug law thing there is a public safety exon nent to being intoxicated in public.
00:02:37 Gambling doesn't have that child component with drugs.
00:02:40 >> Gamble your money away that hurts your kids.
00:02:43 >> Bill: It's a lot harder to place a bet than buy a joint.
00:02:46 So anyway.
00:02:48 Look.
00:02:48 The stats that we have say that predatory gambling costs more revenue than would be raised.
00:02:54 So, that if you do legalize gambling everywhere in every state and people can walk in and do whatever they want, a certain segment of those people become addicted.
00:03:02 Because they become addicted, they will go bankrupt.
00:03:04 They will be a lot of bad things that happen.
00:03:07 Society will have to bail them out.
00:03:08 So you really don't make any money by taxing the gambling because of the social problem that escalates.
00:03:14 You say?
00:03:15 >> This advocacy group balances the numbers that way.
00:03:19 Nobody knows.
00:03:20 But if we're going to ban things that hurt people, and gambling does hurt some people, ban sex.
00:03:25 Ban alcohol.
00:03:26 Ban the stock market.
00:03:30 >> Bill: Again, it's a matter of greed though, is it not?
00:03:32 >> Right now, we have banned gambling in america so that all the action overseas.
00:03:37 >> Bill: Vegas has it.
00:03:38 >> Internet.
00:03:42 >> Bill: Look.
00:03:42 Would you concede that gambling is addictive?
00:03:44 >> Sure.
00:03:46 >> Bill: To a certain degree.
00:03:47 >> To a certain degree.
00:03:49 >> Bill: Okay.
00:03:50 Would you concede that if there were casinos everywhere and sports betting was legalized everywhere much easier to do, right?
00:03:55 >> Yes.
00:03:56 >> Bill: So that more people would become addicted, correct?
00:03:59 >> Probably.
00:04:00 >> Bill: Then, the social problems kick in on that level would then counter the revenue that you get.
00:04:07 >> Some of it would by having it be illegal costs a lot of money, too.
00:04:11 And drives crime, it drives the business underground which creates crime.
00:04:16 >> Bill: I am not seeing -- i think there is a middle ground here.
00:04:21 I think that you can have sports betting, certainly everybody is going to bet on the super bowl.
00:04:24 I might bet president obama on a game.
00:04:27 >> Bill: Which in washington, d.c. would be illegal.
00:04:30 >> Bill: Thanks for telling me that because if I bet president obama on a game holder would probably come in and arrest me right there during the interview.
00:04:37 >> A friendly bet between friends is illegal in half the states.
00:04:41 >> Bill: I think if the states got to do it got to be 21.
00:04:44 Got to be limits on it and all that kind of stuff.
00:04:46 You know as well as I do there is always going to be bookies and underground stuff even if you do legalize gambling.
00:04:52 Underground economy is still going to exist.
00:04:53 >> But much less and perfect isn't one of the choices.
00:04:56 Adults should be free to do what we want to do.
00:04:59 >> Bill: Not in the drug range because there, the child abuse component kicks into a level that you don't acknowledge.
00:05:05 >> I don't acknowledge.
00:05:06 I don't think many drug users.
00:05:10 >> Bill: 70%.
00:05:10 This is in stone and you listen to me now.
00:05:13 70%.
00:05:13 >> What kind of stone?
00:05:16 >> Bill: Child abuse is caused by substance.
00:05:20 >> Alcohol mostly.
00:05:21 >> Bill: Alcohol and drugs.
00:05:22 >> Mostly alcohol.
00:05:24 >> Bill: 70%.
00:05:25 You add that component in by legalizing drugs that child abuse component goes up.
00:05:28 That's a big difference between gambling and drugs.
00:05:31 Last word, stossel.
00:05:33 >> Adults should be free to do whatever we want to do.
00:05:36 >> Bill: Free to be you and me.
00:05:38 >> Unless they hurt somebody else.
00:05:40 >> Bill: You can sing that song.
00:05:41 >> Can I sing o little town of bethlehem.
00:05:44 Think of the lyric cast out our sin.
00:05:46 That's what rendell was talking about.
00:05:48 You can't deal with your sin unless you are free.
00:05:51 >> Bill: He got feisty there.
00:05:53 >> I liked it.
00:05:56 >> Bill: John stossel, everybody.Comment -
same tired arguments from a dude like Bill-O, who claims to support freedoms, but really doesn't.Comment -
Bill O'Reilly is a fukking hypocrite. Just like the network that he represents.Comment -
Gambling should be allowed and it's up to the indvidual to control it. We don't ban beer or guns just because someone may become an alcoholic or a mass murderer.Comment -
"Small government"
unless we don't like it.Comment -
This. The mainstream media (ABC, etc) could not handle an independent, libertarian thinker like Stossel. That is why he was let go and went to the place that gives voice to all sides.
They may not give voice to the side you like as much as you want, but the rest of the media on TV give no voice to the other side. It has come back to bite them and I think they will not recover.Comment -
Gambling is already legalized (Horse Racing, Bingo, Lotto, Indian Casinos)
It really comes down to why are we picking and choosing what is allowed and who benefits from these decisions.
Comment -
It's all about politics. The consensus in the US is that gambling is good if it is done in physical casinos (not online) for obvious reasons. It stimulates the economy from construction boom and provides jobs for workers in the casino. This is the main reason online gambling is banned in the US. You can't have a foreign nation with very little overhead in Antigua or Curacao operating online gambling in the US and the US taxpayers get no benefit from it.Comment -
if any government official spend 3 days here they'd outlaw it completely
Comment -
A physical casino makes more money for the state/city/county than an online casino. First is the construction of the casino which can bring thousands of jobs. Then they make property taxes every year. Sales taxes. Alcohol taxes. Cigarette taxes. Winnings taxes. It provides jobs to the local economy. All the money collected is used to build schools and other community projects which stimulates the local economy further more. This is why the politicians in the US vehemently oppose offshore gambling. It's all about the benjamins and their constituents who vote them in office.Comment -
The US is so far behind the times.Comment -
Its just like any other vice people will find a way to do it.Comment -
I understand your point, but US citizens are going to gamble anyway, whether it be through a local or through offshore gaming. Politicians can oppose it all they want, but they are being too shortsighted in neglecting to fully realize the massive revenue potential by allowing citizens to do something that they are already doing. Something is better than nothing, isn't it?Comment -
people are doing it anyway, just legalize it and its a win-win situation, let us make the decision whether we want it or notComment -
This is the big difference between legalizing crack which is almost globally illegal and gambling which is legal most places and in some places in the USA. That's pretty much the argument made by the WTO. You can't have it some places and not let foreign counties offer the service.Comment -
It was interesting.
Best thing about it is it's getting exposure.
Hopefully we get closer to legalized sports gambling.
Everyday I head to the gym, I pass by Albuquerque Downs(horse racing for those that don't know).
Just about every time I pass it by, I think about how great it would be if I could stop in and wager sports.
Online gambling is the only way I can gamble and we know that it can be a little inconveniencing to go through the wait and process of cashing out.
I sure would love to just stop by the track to cash tickets, instead of going through the hassle of the internet.Comment -
Comment -
it's amazing that all the fox haters come out even when the two guys had a respectful debate on the topic and it couldn't me more fair and balanced. They talked and you can take something from it and decide what makes sense to you.
I agree with Stossell on this and I think O'Reilly is wrong on this topic.Comment -
The notion that the government can tell you how to or not to spend your post taxed income is preposterous.Comment -
Typical republican turd who thinks he knows what's best for everyone.Comment -
i think gambling should stay the way it is ..just keep it in the gray area. if we legalize it is going to harm society and possibly ruin sportsComment -
Legalizing gambling would really hurt you gambling wise, because now everyone going to be bought off to shave points one way or the other.
I don't disagree with leaving it off shore though, and have it regulated. Just don't bring it into the states.Comment -
Could you imagine the juice if the government got a cut?
-110 would go to -175. Might be better of the way it is. Maybe oreilly uses a local.Comment -
Stossel is very smart and believes in Freedom. O'reilly is a complete moron and he doesn't believe in Freedom. End of Story.Comment
