Focus on the Family [censored] Warning About the 6/8 IGREA Hearing

[monkeyman]

the focus on the family website is quite entertaining. sad thing is, there are people who actually believe what it says.

[TomVeil]

I appreciate the other side of the story, but read through that letter again. And then again. And one more time. And ask yourself if they are speaking because they are mis-informed or if they have an agenda.

To me it's clear that it's an agenda to legislate morality on those of us who don't share their beliefs. It's also clear to me that the group as a whole (not individual people) cannot be persuaded by reason and logic, in much the same way that Bush supporters cannot be persuaded by reason and logic.

I'm not anti-religion, or anti-faith. They are powerful things that can change people's life for the better. What I have a MAJOR problem with is trying to take those beliefs and imposing them on other people. And that goes a lot farther than internet poker.

[BluffTHIS!]

Engineer,

I inferred an anti-Christian bias on the part of some posters because of unecessarily bringing in other issues and noting opposition to FOF's position on same. I should have been more clear though in that I really meant opposing the political positions that some Christian organizations take with the implied inference that religious believers shouldn't be free as any other citizen to get their values where they wish. I don't want to sidetrack this thread on a fuller discussion of this.

Regarding their "incremental strategy", I don't think that is important per se here, as what is important are their facutal and logical shortcomings in their arguments. Where the incremental thing comes in, is in negotiating with those in general opposed to gambling on just how gambling is to be regulated. For instance we shouldn't shortchange ourselves and agree to limits on games, stakes levels etc., when they would indeed like to restrict same in its entireity. This comes into play when politicians think that can straddle the fence like this. Either we have a right to spend our money as we please or we don't, and the size of that spending shouldn't be negotiated away, like in Florida and other locations with their stakes limitations.

[Legislurker]

Good read on FOF, their strengths and problems. Compared to them we are a mere handful. I don't think we want to provoke their ire or special attention. If the link requires you to be a subscriber still, and you want to read, I will PM you a text of it.
The link is messed up, wil repost

[dlk9s]

[ QUOTE ]

As gambling is not a sin and is not referenced negatively in the Bible, I'd suggest that Dobson's use of Jesus and Christianity to attack gambling is anti-Christian.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was going to ask about this.

I always read/hear Christians (not all of them, obviously) rail against gambling because it's a sin. So there's nothing in the Bible about it at all? This is all just made up?

I have never understood why people think betting money on a card game (or for some, even simply PLAYING a card game) is immoral. If there was something in the Bible about it, I could at least understand fundamentalists having an problem with it.

[MasterLJ]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

As gambling is not a sin and is not referenced negatively in the Bible, I'd suggest that Dobson's use of Jesus and Christianity to attack gambling is anti-Christian.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was going to ask about this.

I always read/hear Christians (not all of them, obviously) rail against gambling because it's a sin. So there's nothing in the Bible about it at all? This is all just made up?

I have never understood why people think betting money on a card game (or for some, even simply PLAYING a card game) is immoral. If there was something in the Bible about it, I could at least understand fundamentalists having an problem with it.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Bible has many versus concerning wealth. And I paraphrase one, "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to ascend to Heaven."

Funny... when you see someone like Herr Bush making $400k a year, no one says anything.

On a tangent, this country is going to hell in a handbasket. Your ideas and beliefs should never extrapolate to everyone in a free society full of many cultures. When it hurts you, speak up... else go back to your path of piety and leave me the [censored] alone.

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]
Good read on FOF, their strengths and problems. Compared to them we are a mere handful. I don't think we want to provoke their ire or special attention. If the link requires you to be a subscriber still, and you want to read, I will PM you a text of it. http://www.economist.com/world/na/di...ory_id=8776546

[/ QUOTE ]

We as poker players certainly have their attention. That's actually why I posted the thread. True, we don't want their attention by name (like them posting here to spam us), so I wouldn't make a point of taunting them on their sites with a link back to here, of course.

[Uglyowl]

The group is very anti-gay so they will not derail Barney Frank. I hope Frank sticks it to them.

[Legislurker]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Good read on FOF, their strengths and problems. Compared to them we are a mere handful. I don't think we want to provoke their ire or special attention. If the link requires you to be a subscriber still, and you want to read, I will PM you a text of it. http://www.economist.com/world/na/di...ory_id=8776546

[/ QUOTE ]

We as poker players certainly have their attention. That's actually why I posted the thread. True, we don't want their attention by name (like them posting here to spam us), so I wouldn't make a point of taunting them on their sites with a link back to here, of course.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rereading that and watching Stewart recently, I had an idea I would love to see come to fruition. Larry Flint has offered a million to anyone who can document a member of Congress having improper sex. Maybe something similar listing congresspeople who have gambled large sums of money or participated in illegal home or DC cardgames. Not sure if Flint would put the money up or not, but as I recall he is a blackjack freak.

[BluffTHIS!]

Lurker,

That kind of stuff will only alienate politicians who are our supporters. Focus on the shortcomings of their arguments and not attacking them personally if you want to be seen as a reasonable person making a reasonable request to be able to spend your money as you please when you don't harm others.