It should come as little surprise that Question 2, a Maryland constitutional amendment to legalize slot machines at select locations throughout the state, passed overwhelmingly on Tuesday. It seems that whenever folks here in the People's Republik of Maryland have a chance to vote away their freedom, they rarely hesitate to do so.
Former Republican Gov. Bob Ehrlich, who preceded current Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, tried repeatedly to legalize slots while he was governor, but he was constantly rebuffed by the Democrat-controlled General Assembly. Ehrlich's intent was to relieve the burden on taxpayers by generating revenue at the expense of gamblers who would willingly part with their own money, knowing full well the state was grabbing its cut. Fittingly, Democrats in the legislature jumped right on board with a gambling initiative once one of their own was at the helm.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the state GOP -- along with former Gov. Ehrlich -- was opposed to the initiative this time around. While in office, Ehrlich rightly opposed a full-blown constitutional amendment to legalize slots and now fears that this new plan will encourage unrestrained government spending. Of course, one would be foolish not to assume many Republican legislators and voters are also in opposition today due simply to petty partisanship, or perhaps a personal or religious opposition to gambling itself.
At this point you're probably thinking that I oppose gambling. However, nothing could be further from the truth. It's none of my business what anyone does with the money he earns. As I explained in an article earlier this week, I oppose government control over gambling (as with anything else). People should be free to use their property however they please, and, unfortunately, that's exactly what many Marylanders mistakenly believe this new law will allow. To wit:
“Anything might save me a dollar on my taxes, I’m in favor of,” said William Marshall, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle salesman from Russett. “We already have vices in the community. I’m not concerned about slot machines bringing any in.”
I obviously appreciate Mr. Marshall's aversion to government theft. Sadly, however, he has been hoodwinked by the state, along with everyone else in his shoes who voted for these slots. To believe Gov. O'Malley will alleviate taxation in the least is wishful thinking, to put it charitably. As soon as O'Malley took office he pushed through tremendous tax hikes in the attempt to close an enormous budget gap created by his own deficit spending. Slot machines are nothing more than an attempt to generate revenue to cover the governor's profligacy. After all, it's not like he hasn't already proven he's perfectly willing to spend money he doesn't have. What makes anyone think he'll restrain himself when he's actually accumulating billions in gambling revenue?
The state is disingenuously giving the impression that it's giving citizens the freedom to gamble, when all it's actually doing is asserting its dominance over all of us by arrogating unto itself a right it does not morally have. Anyone should be able to open a gambling parlor or run slot machines out of his basement if he likes, but he'd soon feel the full wrath of the state's stormtroopers if he ever even attempted such a thing.
By dictating the course of human action, the state is merely determining, according to its own standards, how we may live our lives. This latest legislative atrocity is nothing but a fascist step toward totalitarianism that will lay the foundation for even more government growth and autonomy over the rest of us.
