Limitless possibilities, and not in a good way

It's an unconvincing 67^°. The attic fan hasn't been able to cool the house. Sleep was hard to find. Nevertheless, this kind of hot air has a reasonable explanation. It's August. It's supposed to be hot.

The kind of hot air that's generated by stupidity, however, drifts across seasons and seems limitless. This time, again this time, it's about gaming.
The Boston Globe is reporting this morning that state legislators are finding renewed support for casinos and other expanded gambling options.

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-Albert Einstein 

Folks get all torqued up about tax increases, including new taxes on beer, wine, and liquors. And yet, the kind of retail-level taxation known as public-sponsored gambling has politicians, investors, and the populous falling over each other to identify new ways to siphon away your money and have you saying, "Thank you. That was fun. Can we have some more?"
Sheesh.
As I've often suggested, why not just put up whorehouses on the Mass Pike? And, if people are objecting to taxes on booze, then open state-run barrooms with Keno machines and craps tables.
A couple of years ago, I noted that Mario Puzo, writing the Godfather series to pay off gambling debts, said that Las Vegas was paid for with losers' money.
We can call it recreation or entertainment but we use those descriptions because we don't have the balls to say that it's taxes but with pretty colors, flashing lights, and loud noises.