BEASTLY TALES

QUITE A GAMBLE

“Gamble Responsibly”, the sign does declare,
A contradiction of terms, they do so air.
What can be “responsible”, about such a chance,
As gambling away your financial advance.
Politicians are responsible for such action absurd.
Always blathering about, always needing to be heard.
Social Groups pressure them, they want to take action,
They may as well stay in bed, preferably in traction.
The sign, itself, is lost in the showy glare of poker machines
The ringing and dinging as hopefuls chase gleans.
The government rakes in huge levels of loot,
From, gambling, cigarettes and alcohol to boot!

The cost of consuming such dubious vices,
Does not deter most using such devices.
But the enormous revenues brought in,
Seem to cover up any thought as to sin.
Take cigarettes, by way of example,
A foul habit, to be sure, not one to sample.
Fifty years ago you could buy a packet of fags for a shilling.
Now-a-days, over thirty dollars, if you are willing.
The majority value of such exorbitant price,
Goes to the Treasury, yes, very nice.
But, to be seen to be doing something about it,
Obscene pictures on packets really do shout it,
Loud and clear, the dangers of smoking,
Consequences vile, surely not joking.

I suppose politicians harken back to prohibition years.
Not wanting to create new criminal activity fears.
So banning such vices appears out of the question,
And we wouldn’t want the Treasurer to get indigestion.
So what, from such deliberation, can we conclude?
Upon such lifestyles the government cannot intrude.
So, if some factors cannot be beaten,
They make sure the profit-pie can be well eaten.
With politicians staunchly at helm,
All the time hearing the clink of Coin of the Realm!