While politicians bicker about budgetary problems, policy, and economic philosophy, the Department of Justice and the FBI have concentrated their efforts and our tax dollars on an issue that is clearly top of the priority list of most Americans; the scourge of online poker.
Right now, across this free country, millions of Americans are choosing to play poker online. And the government has decided, having learned nothing from Prohibition, that we should be spending millions of our tax dollars attacking a business that is enjoyed freely throughout the free world.
While many Americans worry that big corporations are not paying tax, that they don't have a job, that their health care benefits are becoming more expensive and covering less, the government is apparently worrying that some Americans are choosing to play poker on the Internet. Never mind that poker is a true all-American game, with a rich history in this country, never mind freedom, capitalism, or common sense.
So in a move so disgusting it can only have been pulled from the George W. Bush Douchebook, the DoJ and FBI recently seized the domain names of several leading online poker sites, forcing them to block United States customers from their sites.
It is truly mind blowing that with all the issues we face in this country right now, such a concerted effort should be put into this. Especially given the obvious reality that it is not supported by the majority of Americans.
We live in a country where gambling is a way of life for the vast majority of states. Whether it be horse race betting, the lottery, bingo halls, slots, casinos, card rooms, or dog tracks. Gambling exists legally in one or several forms, in just about every state. In fact some of the largest casinos and gambling competitions are here in the US. And Americans benefit tremendously from this reality. Gambling has brought enormous income that has helped keep taxes lower, and fund programs that benefit our communities.
So why is the government attacking legitimate businesses around the world, that attract law abiding American citizens? Why is it that I can go and spend $100,000 on scratch off tickets this week, but not bet $1 on a hand of online poker? How come I can go to a fucking gas station three hours from my home and put my entire pay check into a slot machine without breaking the law, but I cannot bet 1c on the small blind of a game of online poker?
It's time we had a 'grown up conversation' about this. America has clearly decided that gambling is okay. Only a handful of states outlaw every form of gambling. So on that basis why is the Federal government spending money that could be given to teachers or firemen, to try and create some kind of hypocritical prohibition on gambling, that violates trade agreements America has made around the world, makes no sense whatsoever, and clearly doesn't jive with America's public opinion?
It's time to end this insanity once and for all? Allow online poker (which by the way isn't even gambling compared to the lottery or other legal gaming), regulate it and tax it. Tap into the billions of dollars Americans want to play with, and take a little slice for the Government.
We've been hearing that America is broke for most of 2011. So let's look to issues such as online gambling, and online poker, as potential revenue sources. Because if it's a choice between legalizing online poker, or laying off 10,000 teachers, it is as they say, a no brainer.
No comments:
Post a Comment