What Happens When Gambling is illegal

[jt1]

There is also a 3rd option between the everyday man and the altruist. One can be selectively altruistic. The OP,for example, can forgo gambling, meat and alcohol but use oil, go on vacations and otherwise spend money on himself. I suppose that is better than nothing but leaves oneself a credibility issue. A person like that can just as easily be mean, destructive and otherwise corrupt as the everyday man. For example his self righteousness could lead to anger, which of course, fosters hostile relationships, which in turn, leads to violence and bitterness. He may also be just as greedy as anyone else. Whereas the altruistic hero would have to undergo such a transformation that vices like anger and greed would be virtually impossible for him.

In other words, I think you have to choose one or the other. The middle ground can too easily lead into an angry self delusion and cause a violent backlash against the individual.