If that happens, I'll cut the fat pipe and use the PC for home networking and business apps.
I don't need the bloody internet.
I can quit any time I want to. Yeah. Any time at all.
Posted on 06/08/2006 10:59:30 AM PDT by seacapn
Rep. Bob Goodlatte is in the process of pushing through Congress a bill that would "ban" Internet gambling. I've previously explained why the bill is bad public policy.
But since that column, it has come to light that online auction giant eBay has thrown its support behind Goodlatte's efforts. Why would an Internet company open its arms to congressional regulation of the Internet?
Some speculate that eBay is attempting to win favor with Goodlatte, who also happens to sit on the Congressional Internet Caucus. There's probably some truth to that. But there's another, more likely explanation for eBay selling out the e-commerce world: Good, old-fashioned protectionism.
The funny thing is, even as eBay has joined Rep. Goodlatte's moral crusade against gambling, the company's overseas operations are moving into the gaming business. According to the gaming industry publication igamingnews.com, PayPal Europe has recently entered into agreements with two online gambling services to allow PayPal to be used by Europeans who want to gamble online.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
If there are any VA 6th District Freepers out there, let Rep. Bob Goodlatte know that his nanny-statism isn't appreciated. Seems like he's as bought and paid-for as they come in Washington.
BS. More regulation.
GREaAT! now if they can just get their foot in the door, they can levy a tax on it next......
First Senator Microsoft, now Representative E-Bay.
Probably wouldn't be that hard.
this from a company that allows people to scam others using their services....
How about a freeper poker game on the Internet?
My wife will be dealer, and she will email you what your cards are, awiting your betting instructions.
Really.
;-)
Who gave the federal government the power to regulate the internet? Do they justify it by claiming that the internet involves interstate commerce?
That's exactly the claim.
Some of the internet clearly does involve interstate commerce-- if I order merchandise from someone in another state, send them money, and they send me goods, that's interstate commerce, whether the order was transmitted over the internet, by mail or over a telephone wire.
The power grab will come when they start to argue (if they haven't already) that, because some commerce is transacted over the internet, everything on the internet can be regulated because it's a "medium of interstate commerce."
bump. The train is rolling here, and a lot of people don't seem to be aware of what's happening. If they can do this, they'll start trying to regulate your use of the internet in other ways too. This should be of concern even if you're not into online card playing, etc.
GREAT catch from an underrated writer (Balko).
In this case, their rationale is that the Wire Act prohibits gambling by telephone, and that the internet, using telephone wires, is the same thing. There's more to it than that, but that's the gist of it as I understand.
If that happens, I'll cut the fat pipe and use the PC for home networking and business apps.
I don't need the bloody internet.
I can quit any time I want to. Yeah. Any time at all.
You're right. The only way to enforce such a prohibition is to look deeper and deeper into people's internet browsing habits. Fishing expeditions will be launched; the laws will be arranged so that internet gamblers are in violation of untold money laundering and wire fraud statutes. The state can then jail them at will for indefinite periods of time. This certainly isn't our grandpa's GOP.
I know there's a lot of other big news today, but I couldn't believe that this thread gathered so few responses. This should be a huge issue for people who believe that less government regulation is better than more government regulation. Goodlatte has been trying to get this passed for years, and it looks like he might have a chance this time.
A lot of people are going to be shocked at what comes of this down the road. This goes directly to whether the government can dictate how you spend your own money and what you can do with your own time. It doesn't get much more fundamental than that.
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