Funny thing how the tobacco and the alcohol industries had both escaped the rigorous moral criticism of William J. Bennett (ex-Drug Czar under Bush and ex-Secretary of Education under Reagan), while both marijuana smoking and peace marches were exhibited as examples of America's "erosion of moral clarity." Now it turns out that gambling happens to be one of those victimless peccadillos, too. "If it's a problem, you shouldn't do it." Strong words, indeed, but it probably wasn't Bill's fault, just something henky in his upbringing. It is a relief to know that while he may have lost upwards of $8 million dollars, he never really put his family at risk. Whew! Bennett's people are not hanging him out to dry yet. After all it's the man who has a little gambling problem, and that really has little to do with the validity of his argument. (Yeah, like that argument flies in Washington DC.) What they don't seem to realize is that Bennett's being a meally-mouthed hypocrite doesn't validate his argument either. They also don't seem to understand that there's a natural tendency of those so harshly chided to enjoy some Schadenfreude when a self-appointed virtues-monger fails so miserably to lead his community by virtuous example.
Posted by jim at May 7, 2003 04:42 PM