Probably the last thing Harry Reid needs right now is for Barack Obama to keep telling Americans not to go to Las Vegas.  He made a comment this week where he says something like, “during these difficult times, blah, blah, blah, we need to tighten our belts, blah, blah, blah, and if we need to save for college we shouldn’t go gambling in Vegas.”

Given the fact that Las Vegas is getting completely screwed by the recession, the last thing the city needs is for the president to be using his bully pulpit to discourage tourism.  I can’t say I disagree with Obama’s statement, but I can understand why Las Vegas and the state of Nevada would be upset.

My problem, is where does Barack Obama get off lecturing anyone about gambling.  If times are so tough, Mr. President, why are you so insistent on gambling the future solvency of the country on failed car companies, green jobs, failed banks, and the federal government’s ability to do anything in a way that yields a higher output of value than was put in (e.g. health care).

Every year I get my Social Security newsletter, and it tells me that for every dollar I put into Social Security, I will get $.78 back.  Slot machines in Vegas at least pay out $.96 on the dollar.  If the president were smart he would be encouraging citizens to stop paying taxes and go gamble their money away, but unfortunately gambling away Americans’ money is an activity that he has reserved for himself.  Sorry Vegas!