Gamblin' and Dinner—A Shot in the Arm for What Ails You This Season

Jeff Stahler's editorial cartoon from Monday literally made me laugh out loud. What’s going on with bargain-basement flu shots this season? Are they a loss leader, designed to bring patrons in to the hosting establishments?

Seems one business is treating it that way. Excuse me, it’s not a business. It’s a voluntary taxation arm of New York State. It’s a supporter of all things education. Coming up later this month the Hamburg Fairgrounds Casino is giving free (or minimal fee) flu shots. Just make sure—along with proof of insurance—you bring your Player Rewards card.

And then after the needle is stuck in you and your arm begins to throb, chills begin to set in—don’t forget to pull the one-armed bandit. Hopefully nausea hasn’t set in yet and you can still patronize the Midway Buffet. Remember, you’ll be suffering to educate New York’s future leaders. The same leaders that today are running the state into fiscal bankruptcy and using lottery as a means of willful taxation.