And, I would add, if you have the truth, there is no need to hide behind a pseudonym, which literally means "false."

In marked contrast to pro-gambling 'opinions' and pseudonyms, anti-gambling activists have been quite distinguished for both their authenticity and their factually-substantiated positions.

It is a stretch to ask me to understand how someone who shares with their son "fun card games" complete with chips could possible expect others to believe the person when he states, "I'm not trying to push my morals on anyone", especially when he states that his son "is well aware that we were 'gambling' with chips".

But Kolohe (unless he is Wurts) is not the subject of this discussion. The subject here is Brian Wurts, and his personal aspirations to represent Lakewood taxpayers in Olympia. Does Wurts - and his conduct while a policeman - represent the values which Lakewood citizens cherish and value about our community? Does being a policeman automatically qualify one to be a representative of 'we the people' in Olympia? How much do we know about Wurts' official conduct while an on-duty policeman? Has his conduct thus far in Olympia represented Lakewood's values?

Statistics for youth across the state of Washington approximate those of the nation. Children of compulsive gamblers do worse in school; are more prone to alcohol, drug or eating disorders, more likely to be depressed. Youth, once exposed, are three times more likely than adults to be hooked; 1 out of 6 adolescents are already experiencing gambling related problems; 1 of 10 has engaged in theft, prostitution, selling drugs to finance gambling related debts. Gambling is the fast growing teen addiction, with the rate of pathological gamblers among high school and college twice that of adults. In the next decade there will be more problems with youth gambling than drug use. “Teen gamblers. . .tend to be harder to treat than adults because many don’t accept gambling addiction as a serious problem and don’t stay long in therapy.”

But then you heard all that before, loud and clear. And long as it doesn't bother you, who really cares about everybody else?

An excerpt:

Get real about gambling risks with children
By THE OLYMPIAN

Parents would never think of putting marijuana or cocaine in their child’s Christmas stocking. But those same parents think nothing about slipping a few lottery tickets in their child’s Christmas stocking or holding a teen Texas hold ’em poker tournament for teens in the family room.

“They don’t associate lottery tickets or Texas Hold ’em with gambling,” said Linda Graves, problem gambling program manager for the state Department of Social and Health Services. “Parents must understand there are serious risks associated with young people and gambling.”

Graves recently participated in the 8th annual Problem Gambling Awareness Week campaign, an effort by the National Council on Problem Gambling to increase public awareness of gambling addiction in this state.

Blah blah,blah “gambling” blah, blah, blah “evil” blah, blah, blah “Lakewood” blah, blah, blah “I’m holier than thou” blah, blah, blah.

Are you tired of listening to me yet? No? OK, sit down and pay attention: blah, blah, blah “evil” blah, blah, blah, “mini-casinos” blah, blah, blah “ruins families.” Blah, blah, blah…“what part of evil don’t you understand?” Blah, blah, blah…

Signed,

Reverend Anderson

That’s the basic structure of a David Anderson diatribe folks and we’ve been hearing it for years now. Am I the only one getting tired of it? How come we never hear the Reverend Anderson talk about pornography or abortion? These offend God infinitely more than social card rooms and have destroyed infinitely more families. I guess sermonizing about gambling is more politically correct. Taking on real evil is simply too risky and would unpopular with the TNT!