[Bluehorseshoe]

Hands Off Internet Gambling

by Ron Paul




Before the Financial Services Committee Subcommittee on Domestic & International Monetary Policy of the US House of Representatives, April 2, 2008: Hearing on Proposed UIGEA Regulations

Mr. Chairman, I stand opposed to the regulations being discussed today because I opposed the underlying bill upon which these regulations are based. The ban on Internet gambling infringes upon two freedoms that are important to many Americans: the ability to do with their money as they see fit, and the freedom from government interference with the Internet.

The proper role of the federal government is not that of a nanny, protecting citizens from any and every potential negative consequence of their actions. Although I personally believe gambling to be a dumb waste of money, American citizens should be just as free to spend their money playing online poker as they should be able to buy a used car, enter into a mortgage, or invest in a hedge fund. Risk is inherent in any economic activity, and it is not for the government to determine which risky behaviors Americans may or may not engage in.

The Internet is a powerful tool, and any censorship of Internet activity sets a dangerous precedent. Many Americans rely on the Internet for activities as varied as watching basketball games, keeping up on international news broadcasts, or buying food and clothing. In the last few years we have seen ominous signs of the federal government's desire to control the Internet. The ostensible reasons are to protect Americans from sex offenders, terrorists, and the evils of gambling, but once the door is open to government intrusion, there is no telling what legitimate activity, especially political activity, might fall afoul of government authorities.

The regulations and underlying bill also force financial institutions to act as law enforcement officers. This is another pernicious trend that has accelerated in the aftermath of the Patriot Act, the deputization of private businesses to perform intrusive enforcement and surveillance functions that the federal government is unwilling to perform on its own.

In conclusion, I urge my colleagues to oppose these new regulations and support Chairman Frank's HR 2046, of which I am a cosponsor. Although this bill has been criticized by some for its regulatory aspects, this act does not create any new federal laws and merely ensures that Internet gambling firms comply with existing federal law. The passage of HR 2046 would restore the right of Americans to decide for themselves whether or not to gamble online

[BIGDAY]

We're fukkkkked

[cant call it]

Love some Ron Paul

[beerman2619]

At a boy Ron Paul

[cant call it]

I had a sign in my yard for a while after the last election.
ron paul 2008
"I tried to tell you"

cops came and took it down.
fukks

[pronk]

Call your senator, call your congressman and warn those idiots about the consequences

[muldoon]

Paul would be 80 at the end of term one.

Seems sharp, but so did Reagan to many people.

[yahoonino]

ron paul for president

[Bluehorseshoe]

Paul would be 80 at the end of term one.

Seems sharp, but so did Reagan to many people.

That's fine. I'm sick of both parties. I'll take a shot next election.

[patswin]

i will vote for this guy in 2012

[King Mayan]

That's fine. I'm sick of both parties. I'll take a shot next election.

[Affirmed3]

[Socrates]

interesting thread. and opinions as well.

[ChileCheese]

Call your senator, call your congressman and warn those idiots about the consequences

Consequences of what exactly? Im curious.

[pronk]

Consequences of what exactly? Im curious.

Take a wild guess

[jarvol]

98% of Americans are so void of critical thinking skills that the 2 party destruction of a free America will never be overcome. The ignorant sheep just get led to slaughter every November.

[Swinging Johnson]

98% of Americans are so void of critical thinking skills that the 2 party destruction of a free America will never be overcome. The ignorant sheep just get led to slaughter every November.

98%? Thank you for researching this and also articulating how we've been whittled down to 2 parties from the original 123 that we had only a short time ago.

[ChileCheese]

Take a wild guess

That you wont vote for them? A backlash will ensue? Yes, no?

[Deuce]

Would be great if legalizing gambling in the US was our first priority.

[milwaukee mike]

98% of Americans are so void of critical thinking skills that the 2 party destruction of a free America will never be overcome. The ignorant sheep just get led to slaughter every November.

most of us americans have been brainwashed since birth to call any "critical thinking skills" a wild conspiracy theory. and to try and wake up the masses is pretty futile, they will either realize some of these truths on their own or they will continue sleep walking through life.

most americans are too busy running the rat race to stop and ask themselves who designed the race and why they are running in it.

i have tried for 10 years and running to explain that there would be no reason for "muslim extremists" to attack us on 9/11 - what benefit did they gain other than get their region bombed to smithereens and their friends and neighbors killed? but for some reason those 98% (even with every single detail of 9/11 proving otherwise) seem to think that people smart enough to overtake the u.s. military are dumb enough to pick on the biggest bully in the world because they hate our freedom...

[Deuce]

most of us americans have been brainwashed since birth to call any "critical thinking skills" a wild conspiracy theory. and to try and wake up the masses is pretty futile, they will either realize some of these truths on their own or they will continue sleep walking through life. most americans are too busy running the rat race to stop and ask themselves who designed the race and why they are running in it. i have tried for 10 years and running to explain that there would be no reason for "muslim extremists" to attack us on 9/11 - what benefit did they gain other than get their region bombed to smithereens and their friends and neighbors killed? but for some reason those 98% (even with every single detail of 9/11 proving otherwise) seem to think that people smart enough to overtake the u.s. military are dumb enough to pick on the biggest bully in the world because they hate our freedom...

Open a history book and it is pretty self explanatory.

[drunkenbeaver]

98% of Americans are so void of critical thinking skills that the 2 party destruction of a free America will never be overcome. The ignorant sheep just get led to slaughter every November.

Although I understand what you're saying, I think a bigger reason that the 2 party system won't be overcome is because of money.

[Bluehorseshoe]

Would be great if legalizing gambling in the US was our first priority.

You mean like sending money to countries that do nothing for us? Staying out of wars that suck out the economy? Having lobbyists make the rules? That's the other benefits with Paul. Think of what the US would be like without all that financial hemorrhaging.

[TexansFan]

What percentage of Americans even care about gambling? I'm thinking most care about other things.

[The Inevitable]

Ron Paul for President will never happen. I like his stance on many things, but it's wishful thinking if you think he has a chance.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Ron Paul rules!

[sportsfun]

ron paul is right on.

[Boner_18]

Yeah. This guy believes in a true gold standard. That's real astute.

[vividjohn45]

yeah. google. says he is running for president in 2012.. i will most definetely not be voting for obama and his nasty crew.

this guy has my vote.

[Jnas]

I love Ron Paul but unfortunately he will never win. AUDIT THE FED, FREEDOM ONLINE thats a good start. but he will never get out of the primaries

[Jnas]

Yeah. This guy believes in a true gold standard. That's real astute.

actually it is

[vividjohn45]

i mean c'mon homeland security divison vs bingofuntime..com. fukked.

government going bad on us. whole world can game online. but us homelanders going after bingofuntime.

sh.it.

[vividjohn45]

seriously considering upon retiring moving to mexico. (i'm 50) and get out of this communistic country. u can game online all u want there.

why live somewhere where u are not free to do what is natural.? the whole world is gaming online.

[vividjohn45]

why should a poker player. who plays all day. have to play tourists and only las vegans.? why can't a american get online and play poker with the soviets. (legal), chinese (legal) french (legal) brazilians (legal) canadians (legal) yugoslavians (legal) japanese (legal)

but for me as a american. i can only play live where i live. (vegas) and only against the small audience that entails.

total. corruption. and bs. and government is going the wrong way with these matters.

here for china.

http://gamingzion.com/poker/china


here for fkking. russia. http://www.onlinepoker-news.com/2009...poker_jag.aspx

here for the germans


http://gamingzion.com/poker/germany


those are three countries that we would of used to say were the worst the previous 80 years for communistic and totalitarian. government.

hard for us to say that now.

[wiffle]

Would be great if legalizing gambling in the US was our first priority.

would be great if preventing gambling in the US wasn't "our" first priority.