Dakota Voice: Hope for Chad
As the Rapid City Journal has reported today, it appears that Chad Schuldt’s accusations of embezzlement may stem from a gambling addiction.
While Sibby and commenters on S.D. War College want Chad de-nutted with a dull spoon, the Bob Ellis at the Rightwing Dakota Voice may have the most compassionate view of the situation in the blogosphere:
To Chad, we’ve gone at it like cats and dogs on each other’s blogs, but despite the crime involved here, my heart goes out to him. Having been a drunk some 15 years ago, I know the power of addictions. Chad has my prayers that he overcomes this gambling one. I believe throwing yourself at the feet of Jesus Christ, with no pride and pretension left, is the best way to get the power to overcome addictions. Over 15 years later, I haven’t wanted a drop of alcohol, praise God! I hope Chad has as much success 15 years down the road.
Whether Schuldt faces criminal charges may not depend on his boss Steve Hildebrand. And I can see the case being made for prosecution.
On the other hand, as Ellis points out, addictions are a terrible thing. For Bob, turning to Jesus was his salvation. Perhaps that is the path. And there are other paths as well.
Unless you have experienced an addiction or had a family member experience an addiction, you cannot understand it. It’s easy to be a hard ass when it is someone else who is a drunk or a gambler. But when it is you or a loved one, well, most people’s views change pretty quickly.
Bob Ellis, thanks for sharing your personal story and how you overcame your demons. That in my book is true strength of character.
Todd Epp
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The Chad Schuldt matter has made me stop and think about how many embezzlements I have covered as a reporter and observer. What strikes me is how many embezzlements I have become aware of since the advent of video casinos. In the Aberdeen area, there has been a rash of them. but most involve people on very low incomes who day-after-day try the gambling machines in the belief that they are going to strike it lucky and get some relief from the lack of money. The contention of one blogger than only the right wing bible-thumpers object to video gambling while the left wing glories in spending the proceeds is pure blogspeak. Casinos exploit the weaknesses of a segment of the population, and it is hard for many of us to relate to the compulsions that drive those people. I can't even estimate how many times at party meetings I have heard leaders say that there is something fundamentally wrong with financing government on human weakness, but the alternative is a form of regulation that would be as offensive to the right wing as gun control.
Our best hope is to gather information and contemplate this problem in some quiet place where scurrility, like that being heaped upon the Chad Schuldt matter, can't reach. In the meantime, I will note that punishment does little to rectify these matters. Only restitution does.