Betting and the U.S. military

I have nothing against gambling. I enjoy playing blackjack from time to time in places like Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe, and even turned a nice profit once at the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco playing craps and roulette.

However, we should all be outraged at this report saying that the U.S. military makes money from slot machines in its overseas military bases. The military profits from its hard-working officers and enlisted personnel, to the tune of US$130 million last year from the Army and Marine Corps alone. (Figures weren’t provided in the CBS story from the Air Force and Navy.)

The military, according to the story, claims that this revenue funds recreation facilities at those bases. That’s no excuse. Such facilities should be funded by taxpayer dollars, not by exploiting the soldiers. We should support our troops, both in war zones and in peaceful postings overseas, as much as possible. We should not take advantage of our troops’ loneliness in this despicable manner.