Addiction to wasting money?
The DH's 7/21/08 article, "Gambling With Addiction," could not be a more definitive metaphor for the problem(s) with the State of Illinois itself. Skip to the gray tab running along Page 10 of the article where it says "People who show 5 or more of the following symptoms may have a problem and need treatment."
• Preoccupation with gambling related thoughts: Blago/Jones.
• Restlessness/irritability when trying to stop gambling: Blago/Jones.
• Gambling to escape from problems OR to escape having to make fiscally sound budgets: Entire state government.
• Chasing loses: Illinois' budget.
• Lying about gambling: Take your pick.
• Gambling is the answer to balancing the state budget: BIG LIE.
• Jeopardizing relationship, work or education: I'm not sure there are any working relationships in Springfield, and education has been in jeopardy since they started the lottery.
• Borrowing money to gamble, cover losses: That should sound familiar since the state of Illinois borrows billions to cover its pension and other obligations.
• Repeated attempts to control, quit betting: No matter how hard they try, the governor and legislators of our state just can't resist gambling with the future and the lives of the good people of the state of Illinois.
Maybe we need to take the funding they cut for addiction treatment and use it to fund a special "treatment" for those in Illinois government who just can't live without more and more and bigger and better gambling. Think they'll come up with a good budget? Don't bet on it.
Scott Frillman
Antioch