EDITORIAL on Internet gambling

bigboydan · 02-18-2006, 12:58 PM

Feb. 18, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: Internet gambling

Congress should reject expansion of the regulatory state
If House Republicans were serious about denouncing the influence of lobbyists and the "everything for sale" approach to legislation enforced by former Majority Leader Tom DeLay, they would embrace the concept of limited government.

Instead, they appear ready to expand the regulatory powers of the federal government and criminalize more victimless behavior.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and 112 co-sponsors on Thursday reintroduced a bill that would outlaw Internet gambling. The legislation would update the U.S. Wire Act of 1961, which forbids the use of telephone lines to place interstate bets, to include Internet technology. A similar bill introduced by Rep. James Leach, R-Iowa, would ban the use of credit cards and electronic fund transfers to pay for Internet wagering and require federal policing of billions of financial transactions every year.

Whatever incarnation of this effort emerges will have majority support in the House. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., believes Rep. Goodlatte's bill will become law before year's end.

Internet gambling, which allows Web users to play virtually every casino game imaginable as well as wager on sporting events, has grown into a $12 billion a year industry. It tears at most members of Congress that they can't get their hands around this revenue and take a share to fund their own outrageous spending habits. Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, is preparing a report on the feasibility of legalized (and, by association, taxed) Internet wagering.

But the conservative patrons of many lawmakers (and some members of the gaming industry) frown upon the further spread of legalized wagering, so their inclination is to ban it altogether, regardless of how many government agents would be needed to uphold such a law. And more regulation inevitably leads to more lobbying.

The last thing Americans need today is a regulatory presence on the Internet or federal snooping on individual financial transactions. Any ban in Internet gambling has misguided intentions and even worse consequences.
Find this article at: http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_ho...s/5950681.html

isetcap · 02-18-2006, 01:19 PM

I will make a solemn promise at this point in time...

I will not reside in this country any longer if this legislation is passed. I wonder if the government will miss the $27,000 I provide it with on a yearly basis? I wonder how many people out there share my sentiments?

It's not that I dislike the States. I love the USA. It is where I was born and has always been my home. It has more to do with wanting to live my life on my own terms. Unlike many countries on this planet, the greatest asset America has is its population. I'm concerned that more is being done by our government to push people away than inspire them to stay.

The Great One · 02-18-2006, 01:33 PM

This is one of the reasons why I aspire to take over this country as it has shown has truly week it has become. Put it this way, if I was in control, 9-11 would not have happened. I can guarantee that. These politiicans are so ridiculously weak and making this country to damn pussified.

Whats the real chance something like this could happen anyway? Knowing this country, they seem to try to take away thiings like this forever, but it never works. It won't this time, right? How could it? These offshore books will still be on the internet.

Dark Horse · 02-18-2006, 02:28 PM

I had the same thought, Isetcap. No way I'm staying in this country if this passes. Why don't these f*cking morons mind their own business?

It's unenforcable, but it would be a problem if offshore books got intimidated into not accepting US accounts. Anyway, plenty of free countries left.

isetcap · 02-18-2006, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

I had the same thought, Isetcap. No way I'm staying in this country if this passes. Why don't these f*cking morons mind their own business?

It's unenforcable, but it would be a problem if offshore books got intimidated into not accepting US accounts. Anyway, plenty of free countries left.

Well said, my friend. I'll happily go to an island or somewhere in Europe and collect my funds if the gov wants to push me out. All I need is a connection and besides everything is cheaper than where I am right now anyway. Screw all this, I'll go to Crete. Hang out by the Med. I probably should just do that anyway...US gov doesn't want my money.

Come on god dammit, this is the Home of Freedom. What the hell is going on? Supposedly the party in charge stands for less government. I'm confused...

The Great One · 02-18-2006, 02:51 PM

Couldn't you just move to Vegas and bet on some of their books there?

I'm not too big on foreigners.

isetcap · 02-18-2006, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Great One

Couldn't you just move to Vegas and bet on some of their books there?

I'm not too big on foreigners.

Why do I want to use Vegas lines at those crappy ass books?

What the hell does this have to do with foreigners?
This is a country of foreigners.

No disrespect to Onlooker, but Vegas is just about the last place in this country I want to live except maybe Jersey or Scranton.

The Great One · 02-18-2006, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isetcap

Why do I want to use Vegas lines at those crappy ass books?

What the hell does this have to do with foreigners?
This is a country of foreigners.

No disrespect to Onlooker, but Vegas is just about the last place in this country I want to live except maybe Jersey or Scranton.

Exactly. That is how I could have prevented 9-11. There allowed in here any time they want, but if you don't them in, you're a racist. But lets make anabolic steroids and gambling illeagal when they are both personal choices and do not hurt a damn person.

I'm not familiar with Vegas lines. I guess someone could bet Vegas online if they wanted to bet without having to move? This is worse case as the people always outsmart tghe politicaians. Whatever is made illeagal, I always find a way to getaround their rules.

But once again, this country and the 75 year-old supposed war-veterns proved they are morons. Most of these people, I just want to go up too, push them down, as they try to get up, push them down again, and not let them up until they admit they are not a real person.

slacker00 · 02-18-2006, 04:50 PM

Any chance at an itellectual coup of the U.S. government?

Violence and warfare obviously can't dent the U.S. Can't hurt the U.S. in the pocketbook either, not really. The only remote possibility is to somehow launch an intellectual war that works within the democratic process. Somehow get it through the thick skulls of idiot USA that they are being fleeced by the people they are voting into office.

SBR_John · 02-18-2006, 07:01 PM

These bills come up every year. I dont remember any even getting close to getting out of the senate.

I doubt this one will make it either.

kalmikrazy · 02-18-2006, 07:57 PM

Have they though about setting it up to where they regulate it and collect taxes on the winnings. Start up their own books sponsored or backed by the gov so the money will always be there to pay winners. Set it up to where once you make a withdrawal, the tax amount is autmatically deducted.

Now thats an idea!!!