Proposed internet poker ban in MA

[catlover]

I thought that was illegal?

[Tuff_Fish]

[ QUOTE ]
I thought that was illegal?

[/ QUOTE ]

Attention PPA!

Needed:

A crash course in grassroots politics 101.

Also. Moderators, can we get a sticky into all the other forums with a message to all online poker players, "get yourself over to the legislative forum, get educated on politics, get involved, get legally sanctioned online poker, enjoy".

I have heard from several people that they never knew a thing about the Washington DC flyin. It is unhelpful to have this large a forum membership and have them uninformed and apathetic.

I realize that a number of them don't care about anything except whether they can squeeze another table onto their screen. But we should emphatically point out that there is a real possibility they could find themselves unable to squeeze ANY tables onto their screens.

Tuff

[Uglyowl]

[ QUOTE ]
I thought that was illegal?

[/ QUOTE ]

Me too, that is why I have no idea to go about donate money/time to the cause of "eliminating felony gaming clause" from the Mass. casino bill.

I know shady things go on in politics, but where is the line drawn? To be honest, I have been contacting whoever I think possible, but I feel like I am just throwing [censored] all over the place and praying some sticks.

[ QUOTE ]
Needed:

A crash course in grassroots politics 101.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed.

[Tuff_Fish]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I thought that was illegal?

[/ QUOTE ]

Me too, that is why I have no idea to go about donate money/time to the cause of "eliminating felony gaming clause" from the Mass. casino bill.

I know shady things go on in politics, but where is the line drawn? To be honest, I have been contacting whoever I think possible, but I feel like I am just throwing [censored] all over the place and praying some sticks.

[ QUOTE ]


A crash course in grassroots politics 101.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am pretty sure if you show up at the campaign HQ and volunteer to spend the next ten hours handing out leaflets, they will not care if you are from Borneo.

As for contributions:

politician Hi, how are you?

stranger Fine, are you in favor of legalizing online poker and establishing 3 in state casinos?

politician Why yes I am.

stranger Great, I like your style, I also want legalized online poker, here is my check for $100.

politician Thank you! BTW where are you from?

stranger I am from Afganistan, I am a member of the Taliban.

politician Well thank you again, have a nice day.

Tuff

[downrange]

[ QUOTE ]
Also. Moderators, can we get a sticky into all the other forums with a message to all online poker players, "get yourself over to the legislative forum, get educated on politics, get involved, get legally sanctioned online poker, enjoy".

[/ QUOTE ]
If 2p2 were so inclined I think it would be handy for some kind of sub-forum or something dedicated to either MA or legislative hot-spots. It would help here but also when average ppl start wondering what's going on, or when we send communications to inform someone (the press, asking someone for help or whatever), having links to the proposal and the current state of things, etc., all in one specific spot seems important. The last thing I want to do is make it difficult for someone new to the problem to find out what's going on.

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Also. Moderators, can we get a sticky into all the other forums with a message to all online poker players, "get yourself over to the legislative forum, get educated on politics, get involved, get legally sanctioned online poker, enjoy".

[/ QUOTE ]
If 2p2 were so inclined I think it would be handy for some kind of sub-forum or something dedicated to either MA or legislative hot-spots. It would help here but also when average ppl start wondering what's going on, or when we send communications to inform someone (the press, asking someone for help or whatever), having links to the proposal and the current state of things, etc., all in one specific spot seems important. The last thing I want to do is make it difficult for someone new to the problem to find out what's going on.

[/ QUOTE ]

I post to every forum here twice a month or so (min once a month) pointing them here to my action thread. So, they know we're here and there's stuff going on. I'll continue to do this, of course. Not everyone is interested. OTOH, many do come here and lurk for info without telling us they stopped by, so we do have more reach than we think.

[DeadMoneyDad]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I thought that was illegal?

[/ QUOTE ]

Attention PPA!

Needed:

A crash course in grassroots politics 101.

[/ QUOTE ]


Tuff,

You pretty much summed it up.

Grassroots politics is simply having the people organized to affect an election or issue, through money and volunteer efforts among other things.

The higher level strategy like where to apply the pressure for the most leverage is something of an art, but Grassroots 101 is pretty much organization and motovation.

It comes down to can you deliver the amount of troops you say you can when they are needed.


There is some training and knowledge but nothing worse than learning to drive in D.C., you just need to know how to get around....



D$D

[Uglyowl]

Keep your ears/eyes open to any any new news stories.

There was a hearing today about the casino bill. The only thing I have heard come from this (I am at work so don't have time to research too much) is that a trust fund would be set up for "problem gambling" and that opponents came away not satisfied with the solutions.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massach...ls_of_gambling/

[Berge20]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I thought that was illegal?

[/ QUOTE ]

Attention PPA!

Needed:

A crash course in grassroots politics 101.

Also. Moderators, can we get a sticky into all the other forums with a message to all online poker players, "get yourself over to the legislative forum, get educated on politics, get involved, get legally sanctioned online poker, enjoy".

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know what the PPA has in terms of helping their state directors (and more broadly their membership) gain the grassroots politics basics. Things vary state-to-state a bit, but there are some fundamentals that I might be able to toss together. Don't want to do anything duplicative obviously and not entirely sure when I'd have time, but it might be useful.

In terms of stickies across 2+2, that's above my paygrade. I think it is a nice idea, but not sure if it'll fly.

[Uglyowl]

FYI-

A group opposing casinos in Mass, barring a restructuring of the current proposal these guys may become unlikely allies to our cause:

http://www.casinofreemass.org/