Posted on 09/18/2006 11:13:06 PM PDT by kms61
Outside the Beltway, way out there in flyover land on the prairies of North Dakota, not all Republicans are lining up to support U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's call to ban Internet gambling.
In fact, North Dakota State Rep. Jim Kasper says, "My fellow Republicans just don't get it" when it comes to Internet gambling.
In July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which updates the 1961 Wire Act banning sports wagering over the telephone to include all forms of online gambling.
Frist (R-Tenn.) wants the Senate to approve the same legislation in the waning days of the 109th Congress.
Kasper calls the proposal "ridiculous."
"The people of our nation want to do what they want to do in the privacy of their living rooms," Kasper told internetnews.com.
Contrary to the intent of his national party leaders, North Dakota will become a safe harbor for Internet poker players worldwide if Kasper has his way.
(Excerpt) Read more at internetnews.com ...
Money quote: "People don't want internet police in their living rooms."
You're right, this guy DOES get it. The anti-gambling movement is ludicrous. It's all about bringing revenue into the government (lottery, etc...) rather than private industry. If it were truly about Morality, why would the lottery be legal but online poker illegal???
"What happens in Minot, stays in Minot."
this issue is not about keeping people from gambling. The Indian Nations have pretty much made that moot even in states where they haven't just legalized gambling across the board.
The issue is (must be, has to be) taxation, or lack of it if you set up offshore.
the only reason the internet gambling companies set up offshore is because it's illegal here. As they've stated over and over, they want to be legal, taxed, and regulated in the US. It would be more profitable by far for them.
this senator may be a Republican, but he's clearly no conservative.
That's exactly right. It would be more profitable, and they wouldn't have to live as fugitives in some 3rd World dump. And the government would make HUGE revenue...it's all so silly that it's illegal.
Yes, he is a Conservative. One who believes in freedom and personal responsibility rather than paternalistic tyrrany more worthy of left wingers than our side.
I used to be pro-gambling, but my sister has literally RUINED her life by it. I used to believe that a person is in total control of their destiny, but I now see there is actually another side. I still believe in freedom, but I UNDERSTAND why some communities don't want it. Yes, people can make their own decisions, yes, who wants someone to tell them they can't do something, yes,it's morally "wrong". But what do you do when someone you love throws everything she owns down the toilet? What do you do when she is kicked out of her apartment? What do you do when this person lies and steals for money to gamble? When she has to become homeless? It's true that she did EVERYTHING to herself. I just only want to warn people that sometimes making something "tempting" too easy to obtain can lead to literal hell. Taxes are great to assess on internet gambling, I know it pays the bills. But there is another side. The retiree who uses every cent she had to win that "big payoff". Now she has nothing.
Boop,
I'm sorry to hear that. What a terrible story. I could make a spirited and coherent defense of my position, but I feel that might be somewhat rude of me in light of how this issue impacts you personally. I realize that there is "another side" to this issue as you say, but I think intellectual consistency supports my position. For example, I have an Aunt who will be dying very soon because of complications from being morbidly Obese, but I would never advocate banning Fast Food or Twinkies, or anything that led to her demise.
There are so many things in life that lead us down the wrong path...where do you draw the line?
You asked, "But what do you do when someone you love throws everything she owns down the toilet? What do you do when she is kicked out of her apartment? What do you do when this person lies and steals for money to gamble? When she has to become homeless?" and I guess my only answer would be that as someone who cares about her, you intervene in her life before it reaches that level...if you can that is. And you try to get her help...spiritual as well as psychological.
Again, I am truly sorry to hear of her problems and hope she is somehow on the road to recovery.
Thank you. I too am an extreme libertarian about what we can do, and whether certain activities should be "legal". Yes, she made all of her own decisions, and yes,she suffers from these decisions, but GOD I want my sister back. I have the same conflicts about drugs and legalization. I doubt she would be in the mess she is in if gambling weren't so available. Too bad we have to pay so high a price for Liberty. I love her so much, but she is almost completely destroyed by her easy access to casinos. Everyone has their own addictions, and I am no hypocrite. I just wish she didn't have such an untreatable addiction. I've tried gam-anon, for the families of gambling addicts. There just doesn't seem like there is anything families can do. It's such a strange addiction. With other addictions, you can offer money, housing, and support. With this addiction, ANY help just feeds it and makes it worse.
I, too, have two sisters who are compulsive gamblers. One still pays her bills, but the other one is destitute. My husband made the first five years of our marriage a living hell because of gambling. I finally told him to make a choice, because I wasn't gonna live like that, we have a son and I had to think of him. What people don't realize is gambling is addictive....no sh*t. It ruins lives just like any addiction, not just their own. I think it's reprehensible how anyone should be able to profit from other peoples heartaches. But it's just my opinion. I've been married for 16 years now. So, yes, my husband made the right choice, but with any addiction you're always waiting for the other shoe to drop. I know exactly what Boop is talking about. My one sister is way messed up and it breaks my heart to see her do this to herself. Gambling sucks you in, anyone can develop the habit because it's propelled by one thing and that's greed. Thank God I'm not in a position of power because I'd see to it that gambling was illegal, like I said it's just my opinion. My mom has a friend from Oklahoma who's husband squandered all their retirement. Some people have to walk a mile in some else's shoes in order to understand. I guess you had to be there.
They keep passing laws we don't need and soon everyone will be a criminal. Even if they don't know they are. We don't need four years of Congress passing new laws. They need to stop passing any new laws until they revisit the multitude of old laws that need to be done away with or improved upon.
On the other side of the coin I hit a 26,000 dollar jackpot on a 10 cent slot at the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa last year. I was able to do repairs to my home that my insurance didn't cover(high deductable)from Hurricane Charlie or one of those storms. I also opened a tuition account for my grand daughter at USF.
Now that's just funny.
If you are going to get conned; you might as well do it in the comfort of your living room.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.