am in the starting stages of prep. for AWA. still digesting the templates etc.
Would appreciate some input on my first essays..

Thanks,
-Badri

Issue
“Out of respect for individual freedom, government should impose no restrictions on an individual’s ability to wager at online casinos.”

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

YOUR RESPONSE:
The author makes the case that individual freedom is a right enjoyed by all citizens giving them the freedom to do anything they wish. Consequently they should be no restrictions imposed on their ability to wager at online casinos. I disagree with the conclusion made and will subsequently seek to elaborate on why the government should impose restrictions on an individual's ability to wager at online casinos.

Firstly, the government imposes various regulations upon it's citizens in order to maintain the rule of law and ensure the stability of a society. This basic tenent of governance is because people often indulge in actions which can be deemed harmful to both themselves and others e.g. murder, robbery. The situation of wagering at online casinos is very similar. Entire life savings of a family could be wiped out due to the callous actions of one desperate and greedy individual who is oblivious to the pitfalls of gambling. Given the widespread reach of online services, online casinos have the potential to easily entice ordinary people with the gleam of enormous riches.

Secondly the government needs to regulate businesses in their dealings with consumers. Businesses have the charter of providing goods and services to make monetary gains. Businesses need to abide by a set of government regulations as part of a system of checks and balances designed to ensure consumers rights and well-being. Any restrictions the government could place on online wagering can be viewed similarly as a set of regulations for businesses running online casinos.

On the flip side one could argue that the government does not control every aspect of one's life. Every person makes choices every day which could potentially affect his/her life. e.g. driving to work, paying rent. Given the fact that the government doesn't interfere in such cases, the same principle should apply to online wagering. However this line of reasoning is flawed. As mentioned earlier the government imposes upon it's citizens a basic set of rules and regulations designed to maintain societal stability. Otherwise by the same flawed logic one could argue for elimination of rules against drunken driving!

Thus we can see how the government establishes a basic set of rules and regulations for the good of society. Online wagering should be subject to restrictions laid down by the government. Such restrictions would serve to protect consumers and regulate businesses providing such services.