Re: Fight for Online Gaming!! -- Plan for weeks of 5/14 & 5/21
 

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1. If you haven't yet, please contact your congressman and senators by phone and by mail. Ask them to support and cosponsor IGREA and HR 2140. Additionally, let's ask our representatives and senators to honor our commitments to the WTO in this matter. The PPA has an automailer at http://activate.pokerplayersalliance...t.php?rindex=1 . <font color="brown">As you've probably already done this, please tell your friends. Barney Frank asked us each to get six others to write to their congressmen in support of IGREA. </font> Perhaps post the PPA automailer web address in blogs (where it pertains to the topic, of course), or spam your friends and family. This isn't about IGREA as much as it is demonstrating political support for freedom to choose to gamble online.

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Just a reminder. Please try to get six friends or family members to write. Thanks! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Fight for Online Gaming!! -- Plan for weeks of 5/14 & 5/21
 

A Bob Novak article about Gonzalez at townhall.com (a conservative site)

One more blog post. I know these seem to be of small consequence, but it's free media and it gets the message out. Also, I'll reuse this a few times. Something to consider.

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Another good article
It seems we conservatives have been too busy drinking our own bathwater (reading only conservative pubs, listening primarily to conservative radio, etc.) to see what's going on with our party. We were elected on the promise of LIMITED GOVERNMENT, especially at the federal level. Instead of that, we decided to spend and spend and spend some more. Then, we decided big government was fine, so long as it promoted a socially conservative agenda (one that Goldwater would not have even recognized, by the way). We don't like online poker? Fine...pass federal legislation mandating banks to comb through our financial transactions and mandating our ISPs nose in on our Internet sites (and also mandating that ISPs block access to certain sites, like in China or Iran). After all, we can't trust Americans to make wise choices, right? We don't like Democrat corruption? Fine, we have lots of hearings (as we should). Republican corruption? We'd better hide that and criticize reporters who mention it, then act surprised when we lose elections (and blame the liberals for our own transgressions).

It's time to take our party back. Limited government is just that. There's nothing conservative about big government, regardless of how much you love the laws it passes.

Re: Fight for Online Gaming!! -- Plan for weeks of 5/14 & 5/21
 

I wrote this in the sticky in HSNL, but I'll write it here again. A really easy way to get the message out is through Facebook. You can create a flier that will send people to the auto-messager for $5 a day. That $5 will send the ad out to 10,000 people in your network. So for $35 you can send out 70,000 ads. I really think that's worth the investment, especially from people who just want to donate money. Well, this is how to do it.

Re: Fight for Online Gaming!! -- Weekly action thread
 

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There are also people with cigerrette, alchohol, shopping/credit card and eating problems. Are we going to ban cigerrettes, alchohol, shopping/credit cards, refined sugar, trans fats, etc. because some people can't control themselves?

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Just because people have problem with something doesn't mean that the State gets to ban it. The Nanny State doesn't preserve our freedom or our liberty, something millions have died to protect. If you are going to ban something because it is not good for people then the next step will be to force people to do things that are good for them. And who gets to decide? This is a very dangerous line of thinking that seems to be pervading politics these days: people in power think they know what is best for others and then run their lives accordingly. The problem with that is, no one really knows what is best for someone. And don't we have the liberty to find out for ourselves?

Moreover, if you really truly believe that gambling can be bad and therefore needs to be banned then you MUST ban the stock market, lotteries, dog racing, horse racing and business and real estate investments. Let's not pretend that living does not involve taking a lot of risks with our time and money. We all take risks every day. But if you are going to be against one kind of gambling then you must be against them all. Many more fortunes have been lost in the stock market than all the poker games ever played combined. So let's stop the hypocrisy please.

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I agree with this entirely, but it's not the best way to broach the issue with politicians, who need to convince their electorate. I would suggest to eloquently present the preceding points (which are critical ones), but also make the suggestion that the bill include some measure of support for problem gamblers. These can include an agency to regulate the industry, perhaps compelling sites to provide concrete services for problem gamblers, or implement a gambling tax whose proceeds can be used to implement support systems and whatnot. There are many constructive ways to address maladaptive behaviour (such as gambling addiction, or alcohol or drug addiction for that matter), apart from prohibiting them entirely. The latter approach did not work for alcohol, is not working for drugs, and will not work for gambling. What it will do, if history is any indication, is drive gambling underground and cause a whole new set of problems, take problem gambling to an entirely new level, and ultimately run up the bill for taxpayers without really addressing the problem.. Regulate and tax. What's the problem?

Action plan for week of 5/28
 

Well, it's action item time. I'd like to post it Sunday at noon. What would you all like to do? Here are some suggestions to start with:
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1. If you haven't yet, please contact your congressman and senators by phone and by mail. IGREA has just picked up eight more cosponsors, so work it being done behind the scenes. Please do your part and ask them to support and cosponsor IGREA and HR 2140. Additionally, let's ask our representatives and senators to honor our commitments to the WTO in this matter. The PPA has an automailer at http://activate.pokerplayersalliance...t.php?rindex=1 . As you've probably already done this, please tell your friends. Barney Frank asked us each to get six others to write to their congressmen in support of IGREA. Perhaps post the PPA automailer web address in blogs (where it pertains to the topic, of course), or spam your friends and family. This isn't about IGREA as much as it is demonstrating political support for freedom to choose to gamble online.

2. Write to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Treasury Secretary Paulson (and anyone else responsible for implementing UIGEA). Sen. Kyl writes to them, so it seems we should be as well.

3. Now that we have bills out there, we should try to work on our public image. Let's write to newspapers, magazines, post to blogs, etc. with positives of online gaming.

4. We've been focusing on the federal government to date, but there's a state component to this as well. Please write to your state representatives this week and ask him/her to sponsor a bill legalizing Internet gambling within your state. </font>

Re: Action plan for week of 5/28
 

Could you explain what #2 would do? I highly doubt internet gambling regulations are what AG is spending much time on right now. Do they even care what people say?

Re: Action plan for week of 5/28
 

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Could you explain what #2 would do? I highly doubt internet gambling regulations are what AG is spending much time on right now. Do they even care what people say?

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Kyl is taking the time to badger Gonzales about these requirements via letters to Bush and by actually asking during Gonzales' last Senate hearings. It's easy to write to our friends. Our opponents should hear from us as well, I think. Anyway, something to discuss. I sent mine earlier. Here they are:

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May 15, 2007

The Honorable Alberto Gonzalez
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

Dear General Gonzales:

On behalf of millions of law-abiding Americans, I am writing to ask you use care when drafting the regulations to implement the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, so as not to exceed the specific requirements of the Act.

Many Americans oppose the UIGEA in its current form. It “passed” the Senate not by a majority vote on its merits, but by being sneaked into the Safe Ports Act, where it was safe from debate and discussion. As a result, reform measures like HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, have already been introduced, and others are sure to follow.

However, the UIGEA is law, and your department is tasked with enforcing it as written. As such, I humbly ask that you to just that – write regulations that address the legislation as written. I understand that some who advocate restricting the rights of Americans to choose to play poker online have been lobbying your department for regulations that are well beyond the scope and authority of UIGEA. For example, although recent court decisions have defined the scope of the Wire Act of 1961 as covering wagering on only sporting events and races, in your last Senate appearance Sen. Jon Kyl specifically asked you for regulations affecting all Internet gambling, even Internet poker. It seems that if Congress wanted to outlaw Internet poker, they would have passed an act that did so. They did not. I urge you to resist the efforts of individual politicians who would use your department as a “back-door” means of creating laws that they were unable to create legislatively.

Internet poker is not illegal under any federal law. I ask you to keep this in mind as you draft the UIGEA regulations. Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,

TheEngineer

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May 15, 2007

The Honorable Henry Paulson
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220

Dear Secretary Paulson:

On behalf of millions of law-abiding Americans, I am writing to ask you use care when drafting the regulations to implement the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, so as not to exceed the specific requirements of the Act.

Many Americans oppose the UIGEA in its current form. It “passed” the Senate not by a majority vote on its merits, but by being sneaked into the Safe Ports Act, where it was safe from debate and discussion. As a result, reform measures like HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, have already been introduced, and others are sure to follow.

However, the UIGEA is law, and your department is tasked with enforcing it as written. As such, I humbly ask that you to just that – write regulations that address the legislation as written. I understand that some who advocate restricting the rights of Americans to choose to play poker online have been lobbying your department for regulations that are well beyond the scope and authority of UIGEA. For example, although recent court decisions have defined the scope of the Wire Act of 1961 as covering wagering on only sporting events and races, in Attorney General Gonzales’ last Senate appearance Sen. Jon Kyl specifically asked him for regulations affecting all Internet gambling, even Internet poker. It seems that if Congress wanted to outlaw Internet poker, they would have passed an act that did so. They did not. I urge you to resist the efforts of individual politicians who would use your department as a “back-door” means of creating laws that they were unable to create legislatively.

Internet poker is not illegal under any federal law. I ask you to keep this in mind as you draft the UIGEA regulations. Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,

TheEngineer

Re: Action plan for week of 5/28
 

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Could you explain what #2 would do? I highly doubt internet gambling regulations are what AG is spending much time on right now. Do they even care what people say?

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I just found out Focus on the Family has been writing to Bush and Paulson for tough UIGEA regs and against IGREA. The letter is at http://www.citizenlink.org/FOSI/gamb...A000004244.cfm . The letter isn't on Focus on the Family's website, but they have a link to it, along with encouragement to participate. Here it is:

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Internet Gambling Take Action
3-29-2007

by Chad Hills


In 2005, U.S. citizens illegally exported $6 billion dollars to unknown, unaccountable foreign online casinos. Congress passed legislation to stop Internet gambling in the U.S., but the Department of Treasury needs to hear your voice to keep this legislation strong.



Background

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was attached to the SAFE Port Act (H.R. 4954) and passed in 2006. This legislation delegated authority to the U.S. Department of the Treasury to determine the details and regulations pertaining to the Internet gambling portion of this legislation (Title VIII).

Needless to say, the foreign online gambling industry hired a number of lobbyists to influence this legislation and ultimately weaken the UIGEA. Foreign Internet casino operators lost an estimated $6 billion when Congress passed this legislation in 2006. They are intent on lobbying to reclaim their lost business by advocating porous Internet legislation and regulation.

The U.S. Department of Treasury is expected to release their regulations very soon, so voice your concerns today (see talking points listed below). Read the letter written by professional and amateur sports organizations that encourages strong regulations against Internet gambling.



Take Action

Send a message to President Bush:

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461 (most effective)
E-mail: comments@whitehouse.gov

Emphasize these points:

The Department of the Treasury is tasked with drafting strong and thorough regulations. Word from legislators working closely with this bill is that the regulations are too weak, and the law will may be undermined by the rules and regulations. A handful of federal agents could create and maintain a list of unlawful Internet gambling operations to existing Pro-family organizations and citizens must contact the White House and urge President Bush to direct the Treasury to create strong regulations to uphold this legislation.
A second concern is Rep. Barney Frank's (D-MA) bill, HR 2046. His bill would effectively repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, reversing nearly a decade of Congressional efforts to keep families safe from the predatory online gambling industry. Citizens need to voice their opposition to the dangerous bill that would open the gates wide for all Internet casinos.
Citizens should also be aware that Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) sponsored a bill that seeks to "study" the option of Internet gambling in the United States and ultimately justify its legalization. Oppose HR 2140, because more than 230 million Americans access the Internet, including children. We do not want thousands of virtual casinos tempting adults and children to gamble, nor can we verify whether these sites are funding criminals or terrorists. We don't have to study Internet gambling to know that risks are too great.

You can also contact Secretary Paulson, of the Department of Treasury. Express your concern for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act regulations to remain strong.

The Honorable Henry M. Paulson

Secretary of the Department of the Treasury

1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, D.C. 20220

Phone - 202-622-1100

Phone - Department of the Treasury Main Switchboard - 202-622-1100

Fax - 202-622-6415

Web site: http://www.ustreas.gov/





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Talking Points:

(Choose three or four)

Internet gambling sites took approximately $6 billion out of the U.S. economy in 2005 and may have funded foreign terrorist groups or criminal organizations.
More than 2,500 foreign online virtual casinos were soliciting more than 230 million U.S. Internet users, without effective age verification, validation of payment sources and no financial accountability.
Internet gambling holds catastrophic potential for organized crime, funding terrorists and laundering money. Read more …
Betting on sports is illegal in the United States, with the exception of Nevada and Oregon (Montana and Delaware chose not to wager on sports). Online sports-betting sites were – and still are - making a mockery of U.S. legislation by violating federal Internet gambling laws daily.
The integrity of amateur and professional sports is compromised by the growing number of online sports-gambling sites (i.e. point shaving, player payoffs, corrupting coaches, etc). Read more ...
The American Psychological Association found high school and college-aged populations to be at an increased risk for Internet gambling addiction. [APA Advisory on Internet Gambling, March 17, 2002] See Advisory ...
Machines cannot verify your age, and children are at extreme risk for exploitation and addiction. Already, gambling addiction with adolescents and on college campuses is at epidemic proportions.
The National Gambling Impact Study Commission (NGISC) calculated that approximately 7.9 million adolescents have a problem or pathological gambling addiction. Imagine filling 113 NFL football stadiums to capacity; that's how many under-aged teens and children have gambling problems. Read more of the NGISC Report …
Four out of five students under the age of 18 say that going online is a vital part of their schoolwork. One in five adults says their children spend too much time on the Internet. This age group is extremely vulnerable to online solicitation and subsequent gambling addictions. [USC Annenberg School, 2005] Read more ...
Availability and accessibility are key components in creating addiction to gambling. The Internet is available and accessible 24/7 with no accountability. Addicted gamblers can remain anonymous and feed their addiction in secret. Pathological gambling addiction doubles within 10 to 50 miles of a casino – one can only imagine the addiction rates for 2,500 or more casinos within the reach of a mouse click. Read more …
Video gambling is the most addictive form of gambling in history. Research finds that addiction can occur in about one year, compared with gambling addictions to traditional slots and card games occurring in three to four years. Read more …
Taxpayers and the federal government should not be burdened with monitoring thousands of separate, foreign gambling sites for corruption, illegal activities or jeopardizing homeland security.
Effective and strong regulations are necessary to ensure that the online gambling industry does not infiltrate millions of homes, destroy children, ruin families and mock U.S. laws prohibiting Internet gambling.


"On the Internet, there is no regulation.' Nor is there any safeguard to keep people from gambling with money they don't have. - Rep. Jim Leach [Newsweek October 28, 2002]


More Information

· Internet Gambling Legislation Passed: A Victory For Families

· Link to the entire SAFE Port Act of 2006 (see Title VIII for Internet gambling legislation)

· Read the letter written by professional and amateur sports organizations encouraging strong regulations against Internet gambling

· Internet Gambling: The 'Perfect Storm' of Harm

· Facts compiled by Senator Jon Kyl's office

· John W. Kindt, Gambling With Terrorism: Gambling’s Strategic Socio-Economic Threat To National Security

· Testimony and Statement of Professor John Warren Kindt, Univ. Ill., Internet Gambling Prohibition Act of 2006: Hearing on H.R. 4777 Before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcomm. On Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security

· John W. Kindt &amp; Stephen W. Joy, Internet Gambling and the Destabilization of National and International Economies: Time for a Comprehensive Ban on Gambling Over the World Wide Web

· 'Clean' NCAA Playoff Games Sought [USA Today, March 27, 2007]

Re: Action plan for week of 5/28
 

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3. Now that we have bills out there, we should try to work on our public image. Let's write to newspapers, magazines, post to blogs, etc. with positives of online gaming.



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Online gaming or poker?

Re: Action plan for week of 5/28
 

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3. Now that we have bills out there, we should try to work on our public image. Let's write to newspapers, magazines, post to blogs, etc. with positives of online gaming.



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Online gaming or poker?

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Either/or. Whatever your game is. Poker is easiest for this, by far.

I cross post this on non-poker specific sites, so I try to be inclusive. However, as poker players are driving this movement, by far, we get the lion's share of the focus.