Governor Barkley

As a libertarian I make every effort to not judge people regarding how they spend their money but this sports story changed my typical response:

Former National Basketball Association star, Charles "Round Mound of Rebound" Barkley recently won "about $700,000 " while gambling in Las Vegas during Super Bowl weekend.

The story went on to note that in a May 2006 interview with ESPN Barkley estimated that he had lost "about $10 million gambling over the years" and that he had "lost $2.5 million in a six hour period one night last year."

Again, I hate to judge Barkley's personal spending decisions but losing $10 million gambling is a complete waste of money!! Barkley has always talked about running for Governor of Alabama so he could have used that money for his election campaign so he would not have been beholden to contributors. Via some basic research I found Barkley's comments below regarding his number one priority in life noted in this interview excerpt below:

http://www.counterpunch.org/zirin06052004.html
On his priority in life: "My No. 1 priority is to help poor people. In this country, 90% of the money is controlled by 10% of the people, and that's not right."

Clearly $10 million would have helped a few poor people and if really spent wisely he would have given a portion of this money to a free market think tank working to transform the welfare society government has created - designed to keep people poor -- such as:

Alabama Policy Institute
www.alabamapolicy.org

What is spent in Vegas stays in Vegas,

Todd