There is something seriously wrong with this country. If the nightly news programs are anything to go by. Aside from stories of approving more 5am drinking venues, bashings, rapes, stuffing murdered grandmothers in a barrel, for a bit of light entertainment we turn to horse racing. Under the sporting banner we see a former jockey visit a regional school to tell them all about the Melbourne Cup. Come on kids, let's have a punt? Empty out your piggy bank and take it to the tote? We see the local school children complete with white cotton glove fondling the shiny cup as if it were something they should aspire to. It's about gambling folks, it's about an industry that takes money off punters and puts it in other people's pockets who know a hell of a lot more about the race than the punters. Occasionally they will give some back. Rarely enough to cover a HECS debt but enough to get to a new nightclub where you can drink until 5am. So what do you do when your kids come home from school and say "mummy can I have a tenner each way on the 4th in the last at 3 to 1 and a box trifecta on Saturday?" Well at least if they can't spell, they might learn to add up.
Gambling is a harsh way to learn math.
ReplyDeleteAnd subtract, from their savings, that is.
ReplyDeleteIf only pokies had their own public holiday, then we might actually like them.
ReplyDeleteI do find it quite odd that we have a holiday in the name of gambling, binge drinking and seeing which midget can whip a horse the hardest. But I will take the day off thankyou (blessed tradition!).
I'm just annoyed that we don't get the public holiday! I did buy a few tickets in the sweep!
ReplyDeleteWell the Melbourne Cup falls on my birthday this year and being in the city that gives you the day as a public holiday I feel rather special.
ReplyDelete....However, living in the suburb that hosts the damn horse race makes me feel less than special and I suspect that young Sapphire is going to get a visual -ahem- 'education' on the dangers of drinking, bad fashion and using up your betting money and not being able to afford a taxi ride home.
Am I hypocrite then, for accepting a friend's invitation to go with her and her sister (arriving from OS) to Oaks day two days later? I have never been to the races, have never ever placed a bet and am more worried about whether I'll be able to stand wearing the high heels I've just purchased....
Kath, I always take a bag big enough for a spare pair of shoes. I've just got to make sure I can fit in the tranquilizer gun, it helps with the crowds.
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