Sweepstakes didn’t hurt anyone

To the editor:
As a local resident of Brunswick County for more than 20 years, I must say I am shocked and appalled at how our state doesn’t look at the big picture of harm they’ve done to our state. They are leaving hundreds without jobs who are already struggling to live and make ends meet due to our economy.
Who does this affect? Everyone and anyone who works at sweepstakes businesses, played there, business owners and those companies such as electric, phone, Internet, etc.
How as a state can we sit back and watch the unemployment rate go from high to even higher, depriving our local and surrounding residents of a full-time or part-time job, giving them a chance at life?
These places are not hurting anyone. It gives employees a chance to make wages to earn for their families. It gives customers a chance for peace and quiet and a chance at making some extra money. It gives owners a chance to feel independent and know they can make it on their own. It gives our state a chance to earn some more money, from the tax winnings anyway.
People have the right to do what they want with their money, and no one should be allowed to tell them what they can or can’t do with their money or how they can spend it.
I mean, if we can have lottery and scratch-offs, then we should be allowed to have sweepstakes.
This is the problem with politics. They are more worried about themselves and not the little people (American citizens). Don’t think about yourself.
Michael Gonzalez
Shallotte