From: Webmaster <webmaster@basicallycredit.com>
While you may be curious as to what levels each person considers ethical
or
morally correct, be aware that this is a touchy topic. The same
individuals
that think your "a cheat or thief" for taking coupons, might be the same
person that justifies not reporting all his income on his tax return.
There's at least some basis for distinguishing between "cheating" a casino
vs the government.
Paying my taxes is something I'm forced to do. If I don't, men with guns
will come & put me in a cage. One could reasonably say that when faced with
coersion of that level, it mitigates some of my moral responsability to be
truthful.
Further, I know that much of the money I pay in taxes will be used in
violent ways, such as supporting dictatorships, or imprisonment of people
for behavior that is private or between consenting adults. This could also
provide a reasonable argument for cheating the government.
But in the case of a casino, you're dealing with an entity that never forces
you to do anything. It provides a service that anyone is free to engage in,
or free to ignore. Whatever profit the casino makes may be used in efforts
to *persuade* more people to gamble, but it will never force anyone to do
anything.
Since the casino is a much more peaceful entity than the government, one
could reasonably consider cheating a casino a much more serious matter than
lying to the government.
Stuart ("RandomStu")
sresnick2@attbi.com
http://home.attbi.com/~sresnick2/mypage.htm