Poker And Politics : Poker News

First off, let me say that this is going to be a long post, but a good one. Please know that I was a lifelong Republican until a couple of years ago, however, the Republican party of today is not even a shell of the Republican party of even 10 years ago. We are headed more and more toward a fascist state in America where torture is legal.....but internet gaming is not!?! I have seen the light and urge you to do your homework on how your values and beliefs truly match up to your chosen political affiliation.

While I do work in an industry that is fueled by ones right to gamble online.....in the privacy of their own home.......with their own hard earned money.....my opinion would not differ if I was a doctor or a garbage collector.

Late Friday night, in a last ditch effort to appease the extreme right agenda....Senator Bill Frist piggybacked a bill that makes it illegal for a person to "wager" or "bet" online. This bill was attached to the completely unrelated "Port Security Bill". This bill is focused on securing the ports and borders of America.....a real threat to our citizens. Earlier this month, Frist attempted to piggyback this same bill onto the Defense Department authorization bill.....to no avail. He then hand picked the Port Security Bill because it was widely known that this bill would breeze through congress and be signed into law by the President.

While the practice of piggybacking is commonplace in congress, the frequency of its use does not make it any more just. Further, this bill does not accurately portray the voice of the people. A recent poll showed that 71% of Americans support the right to gamble online. Despite this overwhelming majority of opinion, Frist moved forward....sneaking this bill through at the 11th hour....all to pander to his extreme religious right backing. His interests were not with the American people, but with his 2008 presidential agenda.

Senate majority leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) spoke out today on his recent triumph in attaching his much maligned Internet Gambling Bill to the Port Security Bill today issued the following statement:

"With this new legislature, the government will finally have a stronger hold on it's citizens personal liberties."

Whether you gamble or not, you should be outraged. Our government has moved out of Washington and into your living room.....telling you how to spend your recreational dollar and with whom you can spend it. Each year, more and more of our civil liberties are being raped and stripped from our society. Let us not forget the last time we were "protected from our own bad intentions" by the government. It was called Prohibition and it lead to the least support the government has ever had from its citizens.....not to mention spawning black markets for liquor which lead to the formation of modern organized crime in America. Yes, Al Capone, Meyer Lansky, and the like came to power, fame, and fortune as a result of "big brother".

While we will likely not see resurgence in organized crime from the ban of online gaming, we will be missing out on BILLIONS of dollars of tax revenue that legalization and regulation of the online gaming industry would bring to the States. One recently published article finds that our government is leaving some $20 billion dollars on the table by banning instead of regulating. $20 billion dollars that could be put toward improving schools, teachers/firefighters/police salaries, roads, cancer research, social security, etc, etc.....think of the potential!

The bottom line is we cannot stand idly by and let the government take over our very existence. This time its online gaming, but your preferred choice of entertainment and relaxation could be next. Where do we draw the line? We draw the line here and now. Please use your power to vote and vote out the disingenuous, disconnected Republican regime. There is strength in numbers……we can make a difference. Your vote is your voice….defend your right to choose.

I strongly urge poker players and non poker players to protect your rights by joining http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org. Remember there are strength in numbers and every voice needs to be heard in order to make a difference!