Card Games Banned for Seniors

Old folks, having worked hard all their lives, now want to enjoy their retirement. Many go to senior centers for recreation, and playing cards provides a good structure for socializing. Making small bets on the games puts a little spice into the action and motivates the players to win, and so make it a little challenging. But now the mayor of Baldwinsville, New York, has banned games played for small change at the Canton Woods Senior Center. Gambling for low stakes does not violate state or county laws at Baldwinsville, but the mayor pointed out that any gambling at all is against the rules of the senior center. Since the center is owned by the village government, in effect the village government bans playing cards for money, even if it is small change. This ban on petty gambling is in itself not a major issue, but it points to a deep problem in laws and policies. Government is often not a servant of the people, but a cruel master...FreeLiberal