Column for Jan. 5, 2012

I have a rather libertarian bent in my views and I make no apologies for that.  This is not to say that I am a member of the Libertarian Party, a political party.  It means that I preach liberty as a way of life.  This has been my guiding philosophy in my views in government, politics, civil affairs, and even in church life.

When I was a member of the Planning Board in the Town of Selma, I voted with liberty in mind.  I believe in private property rights as long as they do not infringe upon the rights of others.  With that in mind, there is a place in society for rules and regulations on property use and business, but a limited one, in my opinion.

I realize that my views are about to sound like fingernails on a chalkboard to legalistic church folks, especially here in The Bible Belt, but I really don’t care.  My views are theologically sound and I am at perfect peace with what I am about to say.

Back when Johnston County was debating about whether to allow liquor by the drink, I heard some preachers hammering against the evils of alcohol.  It is not the alcohol that is the problem, it is the people who abuse it.  Alcohol consumption is not a sin, drunkenness is the sin mentioned in Holy Writ.  I believe in Christian liberty, and since I doubt Jesus turned water into Welch’s grape juice as his first recorded miracle, I don’t want to hear some legalistic whining about it.

I take the same view on gambling.  I had no problem with North Carolina instituting a lottery.  I lived in states that had lotteries before.  Our country has a history of colonial and state lotteries.  What I had a big problem with was the way in which North Carolina passed its lottery bill.  It was sneaky, underhanded, and unethical, but that is another discussion for another day.

When I was in Florida recently, I took note of how many internet sweepstakes cafes there were.  In the city of Jacksonville, they were all over.  When visiting my cousin, she took us to one and my wife and I both spent $20 each.  After depleting my online credits playing video slot machines, I recouped all but $3 or so of the cash staked.  My lovely bride actually won $66 or so, for a net profit of $46.  My cousin and her boyfriend did not fare as well.

The Town of Selma has decided to delay action on a petitioned request to open an internet gaming cafe.  The whole idea was to put off the decision on allowing the business or not until the state clarifies a ban on the businesses.  This to me is the epitome of hypocrisy, on both the part of the town and the state.

The town wants to increase business but has declined to allow a tattoo parlor and delayed a decision on an internet gaming business within the past year or so.  Personally, I don’t plan on allowing myself to be stabbed with a needle and ink, nor do I plan on sitting in front of a computer terminal playing video slot machines or Texas Hold ‘em poker.  However, a town cannot constantly cede their decision taking authority to the state, nor frown upon every legitimate, legal business that some may find a tad unsavory.  I hate tobacco products, but I defend wholeheartedly the right of JR’s Outlet to sell all the cigarettes they can to interstate travelers and locals alike.

Every once in a great while, I will buy a Powerball ticket.  I don’t do it often, but when I was in Florida for the aforementioned trip and the jackpot was over $200 million, I did buy five tickets.  I won $15 and am still waiting for the State of Florida to process my claim and send me a check.  

I don’t drink a lot, but I do like the occasional mudslide or Samuel Adams draft beer with my dinner.  At least we have decent quality restaurants in Johnston County and not just McDonald’s, country buffets, or barbecue restaurants because we chose to allow liquor by the drink and attract better quality restaurants.  I am sure that also helps with sales tax revenues.

I am not a big gambler, but if I want to put a few dollars in a slot machine or play a few video games, that is totally my business and my freedom.  I was recently in two casinos, one aboard a cruise ship and one in the Bahamas.  I spent nothing at the casinos.  If I wanted to, I could have.  That is my choice, and my freedom either way.  There is an internet gaming establishment across the walkway from the church my family attends each week.  If I want to walk over after Sunday service and play video poker, that is my choice.  I don’t do so, but I would have no problem with my conscience even if I did.

I would rather err on the side of liberty than tyranny when it comes to what some consider vices.  That is the freedom we have in this country, and we should not hesitate to encourage it rather than defer or decline it.