Government regulation has been pushing US industries overseas or simply inducing failure for years. Disdain for capitalism among policymakers is increasing. The president reportedly told the graduating class of Arizona State University to pursue careers in the nonprofit sector. North Carolina recently decided it had to raise taxes on everything except lawyers and accountants. Free marketeers are wondering what kind of economy policymakers intend to sustain with only vapours.

One might be inclined to conclude government would support gambling, since it provides opportunities for people to spend their money on nothing. This is not so because government, for the most part, only favors activities that generate money for government. Therefore, Maggie Valley has to regulate gaming machines.

The city fathers are concerned the machines would come to dominate the local economy if unchecked. Therefore, the town will impose an annual $2500 fee for the first four machines a business operates and $750 for each additional machine. However, to assure the public the government really cares and wants people to gamble responsibly:

Under the new rule, such businesses must be a minimum of 1,000 feet from any other business that allows the same machines, as well as 1,000 feet from any established religious institution, daycare center, library or public park. Furthermore, those businesses must allow 1,000 square-feet of indoor retail floor space per machine.

The identification of 1000 feet as the tipping point between good and evil is no doubt “highly technical” and “too difficult to explain.” Should Maggie Valley max out its gambling potential before the ordinance is altered, future archaeologists would have a hay-day speculating about the sacred significance of 1000 feet in their culture.