“When they came for the online poker players I did nothing, because I wasn’t an online poker player.”
Some may take that attitude. We, at DownsizeDC.org, do not.
Congress harmed American businesses that run online gaming sites by outlawing money transfers to those sites. We stand with those harmed and against Congress.
Congress harmed American taxpayers who used to enjoy playing Texas Holdem on PartyPoker, and using Fireplay to enter the game and collect their winnings, but who can no longer do so because of Congress. We stand with those Americans and against Congress.
Some may take the attitude that this new law will help those with gambling problems, but a junkie can always find his fix. Perhaps now he will simply do so with a non-American online gaming site. Besides, Texas Holdem is more a game of skill than luck.
Some may like the “values” this new law symbolizes. They can sit and wait for William Bennett’s next “virtue” book (though given recent news about Mr. Bennett, we now suspect will probably include a chapter titled, “The Virtue of Gambling”). But we prefer to act for the virtues of small government, self-determination, and free enterprise.
Some may prefer to buy a government sponsored lottery ticket, go play bingo at a church charity, or go to one of the Indian casinos from which Ralph Reed (of Christian Coalition fame) has earned so much money (via Jack Abramoff). We prefer to make Congress pay for its sins.
We must be prepared to defend others if we expect them to help us when we need defending. We want to make common cause with the online Texas Holdem players . . .
* We will ask Congress to repeal the anti-gaming law they passed before they adjourned.
* We want to ask online poker players to help us pass the “Read the Bills Act.”
Here’s what online gamers need to know: If the “Read the Bills Act” was already law, then Senator Frist couldn’t have hidden the anti-gaming law in a Port Security Bill at the last minute. Please do the following . . .
* Send Congress a message asking them to repeal the online gaming law. Do so here.
* Forward this message to friend, and ask them to do the same
* Send a second note to Congress, and to your friends, about the “Read the Bills Act.” Start here.
But don’t stop there:
* Help us grow by making a contribution here. We only need another $1,996 to pay our October bills.
Thank you for being a DC Downsizer.
Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.