The Federal ban on sports betting has been blasted by anyone who knows anything about the subject for a number of different reasons. Though the US professional leagues suggest that sports betting threatens the integrity of their games, the opposite is the case. This is important because there would still be no shortage of outlets for college sport wagering, be it offshore or with your local illegal bookmaker. The professional bookmaking industry is usually where any type of compromised or fixed game is discovered. Ultimately, the true injustice of banning sports betting lies in its contempt for the Constitution.

Unfortunately, the Congress of the United States has shown very little respect for the Constitution in recent years. Were it to abide strictly by the role outlined for it by the founding fathers, the Legislative Branch of our government would have to relinquish any number of its powers in a variety of areas. The primary problem with our Congress is that it has increasingly become a collection of career politicians rather than a body representative of its constituency. As a result, the overriding concern of the average Senator or Congressman is increasing the power that he is able to wield, and as a result the power that his body is able to bring to bear. Most problematic for you and I, every increase in power at the Federal level must be brought about by a usurpation of state and local sovereignty and, more alarmingly, personal liberty.

The Federal prohibition of sports wagering which was enacted a few years back is of very dubious Constitutionality. Were it not for the grandfather clause, which allowed it to remain legal in jurisdictions in which it already existed, it would have certainly been struck down as unconstitutional on a number of different fronts.

Unfortunately, the mere fact that a proposed law or initiative is unconstitutional offers little protection for the citizenry. In fact, the concept of state sovereignty is one of the most important–and most abused–in the Constitution:

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Under the 10th Amendment, unless the power in question has been expressly given to the Federal government by the Constitution, and/or unless it has expressly been prohibited to the states to govern as it sees fit. If an individual state chooses not to regulate a certain activity, it is the right of each individual citizen to make their own decision.

So, you should be asking yourself at this point, where exactly does the Constitution delegate to the Federal government the right to make policy on sports gambling? The answer is that it doesnt, and it is very questionable that they have the Constitutional authority to do so. Fortunately for all freedom loving Americans the founding fathers would beg to differ.

Sports gambling may seem a minimally important issue to some, but the erosion of liberty is an incremental danger. The danger to broader concepts of personal liberty may seem a million miles away, but with each additional law intended to protect us from this or that the Federal government becomes larger and more powerful and the rights of the sovereign states”and the individuals that comprise them”are shrinking and being weakened.

Ross Everett is a well known freelance writer specializing in travel, casino gambling and sports handicapping. He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and deep sea diving. He lives in Southern Nevada with four dogs and a pet coyote.

Tip (1) Do your research. Get ahead of the competition by doing your homework. I’ve lost count of the times when I’ve asked someone what they knew about our company and couldn’t answer. You’re on the way out the door if you don’t know who you are dealing with. You really have no place being in that chair if you don’t know the answer to this question. Preparation is everything. Miss this one out and forget it.

Tip (2) Allow plenty of time to find the location of the interview. Borrow a satellite navigation system if traveling by car but make sure the post code you are using is correct. If you are in any doubt, go to the post office postcode finder and make doubly sure. Do not under any circumstances turn up late. If you do find yourself running late, phone ahead

Tip (3) Conservative dress is best. Suit and tie for men, smart business attire for ladies. If you are too smart, it won’t matter- you can always dress down later. Underdressed? Watch out- some people are still very conservative in their expectations- if you want to run the risk of offending someone’s traditional dress sense, go ahead. My advice, don’t! If you’ve made the effort to get a smart attire, complete the job by making sure it’s clean and pressed. Pay attention to shoes, even the back. I know someone who always lets candidates walk upstairs in front of them to make sure the back of their shoes are clean. Picky? Oh Yes but they pay the best in their industry and this is one quirk that you would do well to understand.

Tip (4) Lemony fresh is the way. Clean teeth, clothes, hair etc show that you care about how you look. You don’t have to spend hundreds on a new hairdo unless you’re going for a job as a model- smart, clean and tidy just like your mom used to tell you is just fine.

Tip (5) Find out about who you are meeting. Telephone ahead a couple of days earlier and ask some questions. Explain that you will be attending an interview and you want to be prepared properly. This is such a powerful tactic that I am amazed that more people don’t use it. Word soon gets round most places- this is one area where you want it known that you are different.

Tip (6) First impressions really do count Never ever assume anything about anyone- I’ve lost count of the times that people have failed to get a job because they have ignored/ been rude to someone. Everyone is important- from the receptionist to the MD. You never know who you are meeting, and also how much influence they have. Be civil, be polite and treat everyone as you would wish to be treated yourself. I know plenty of interviewers who, after the interview will make a point of asking the receptionist how the interviewee behaved in reception.

Tip (7) Sit still and listen to what is being said. Don’t ruin your strong preparation by sitting down before you are asked to do so- show your good manners and your respect for authority. Use active listening skills- listen on purpose and make good eye contact. Show you are interested and lean forward.

Tip (8) Questions are asked of you for a reason- to find out what you think is the answer. Golden rule of answers, answer the exact question that is being asked of you. If the question is about college, don’t answer about school. You know this makes sense but you really do need to listen actively even if you are nervous. If in doubt, ask for the question to be repeated- it’s far better to be sure you’re answering the right question that waste everyone’s time answering the wrong question.