You know that our elected officials are not very bright. Prohibition and the Food and Drug Act should have taught us something. Apparently not! On July 11, 2006, one week following the day we celebrate our independence, the US House of Representatives passed H.R. 4411, "The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act." The law is generally aimed at preventing individuals from using their money and accessing gambling web sites. Online Poker is specifically targetted, while lotteries and horse betting essentially get a free pass. Don't you just love the double standard? Once again, these characters we have elected presume to dictate how we Americans should conduct ourselves in the privacy of our own homes. Land of the what? Wait, yes! Land of the Free. I'm certain I read that somewhere once. The hypocrisy and arrogance is staggering. Is there a pattern beyond the stupidity? Lotteries and horse racing are activities of independent trials. Poker is a game where information is gathered and odds can be reasonably estimated on the basis of card fall and other dependent factors. Watch for HR 4412, "The Unlawful Thinking and Logic Act." Then again, it may be something as simply perverse as too many people are enjoying themselves. Money and power mongering is not a new concept in Government. That said, why not legalize online poker and everybody wins. It is estimated that the US Government would grab a cool 3.3 billion annually in tax revenue. Additionally, the states would cash in to the extent of another billion. Our history proves that if there is demand for a product or service, people will figure a way to indulge themselves, legal or otherwise. They took away liquor, enter the mob. They formed the Food and Drug Act, enter Bogata, automatic weapons and a raft of bad movies. You can bet that this ACT isn't a function of some moral high ground resulting from our Puritanical and Calvinist beginnings. Someone is jockeying for position with an agenda. Excuse me if I sound like a member of the conspiratorial lunatic fringe, but this one really has me steamed. There is hope. The Poker Player Alliance is an organization dedicated to promoting and protecting America's favorite past-time and to ensure your right to enjoy poker as you always have. I've recently joined and urge you to do the same. This a very serious organization that includes highly visible poker professionals including Paul Darden, Howard Lederer, Mike Caro and Greg "The Fossilman" Raymer. Fight the fight. Don't let them take this from us. If you love Poker get behind the Poker Player Alliance. |
