The joys of prohibition

"Prohibition didn't work for alcohol. It won't work for gambling." - Rep. Barney Frank, D-Massachusetts


Okay, I know there are bigger issues in the world than internet poker, but this does hit a little close to home for me. House passes online gambling restrictions I know it's not a done deal, but it depends on what the Senate's mood is.

I understand gambling is a problem for many people. But is it up to the government to legislate selfcontrol? And if you believe that it is at some level, how intrusive do you feel the government should be? Should it be allowed to block internet sites? If they are going to block sites, then why don't they block child porn sites? Maybe because some politicans need a good sound byte and they know that smut sites hide, and that the reputable online gambling sites operate out in the open. I'm not real excited about some of the parts of the bill, or atleast the proposed bill, that didn't make it to the article. The part where the government would be requesting banking recordings and other things like that... The article eludes to it when it talks about using "credit cards" to lose lots of money. I'm not real happy with the government telling me what I can't spend my money on.

I know that I have a baised opinion on this. Even though if Brian does well at the WSOP he'll be playing more live games. He's not all that enamoured of online games sinces it's hard to read pixel players. But still.... I think it would bother me even without that. I still think they sould regulate it, and thus earn money off it, instead of do away with it.