[I saw Rep. Frank's speech, and as Norm says, it was well done. Naturally it was ignored. Previous Politech message: http://www.politechbot.com/p-04844.html --Declan] --- From: "Singleton, Norman" <Norman.Singletonat_private> To: declanat_private Subject: RE: Politech quotes of the week from members of Congress Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 08:05:56 -0400 X-UIDL: f0f40f5b3e5d0f088ed69f26546c5c97 Here is Ron Paul's statement on internet Gambling (also barney Frank made a great speech on the floor of the house against this bill): Mr. Speaker, HR 2143 limits the ability of individual citizens to use bank instruments, including credit cards or checks, to finance Internet gambling. This legislation should be rejected by Congress since the federal government has no constitutional authority to ban or even discourage any form of gambling. In addition to being unconstitutional, HR 2143 is likely to prove ineffective at ending Internet gambling. Instead, this bill will ensure that gambling is controlled by organized crime. History, from the failed experiment of prohibition to today's futile "war on drugs," shows that the government cannot eliminate demand for something like Internet gambling simply by passing a law. Instead, HR 2143 will force those who wish to gamble over the Internet to patronize suppliers willing to flaunt the ban. In many cases, providers of services banned by the government will be members of criminal organizations. Even if organized crime does not operate Internet gambling enterprises their competitors are likely to be controlled by organized crime. After all, since the owners and patrons of Internet gambling cannot rely on the police and courts to enforce contracts and resolve other disputes, they will be forced to rely on members of organized crime to perform those functions. Thus, the profits of Internet gambling will flow into organized crime. Furthermore, outlawing an activity will raise the price vendors are able to charge consumers, thus increasing the profits flowing to organized crime from Internet gambling. It is bitterly ironic that a bill masquerading as an attack on crime will actually increase organized crime's ability to control and profit from Internet gambling! In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, HR 2143 violates the constitutional limits on federal power. Furthermore, laws such as HR 2143 are ineffective in eliminating the demand for vices such as Internet gambling; instead, they ensure that these enterprises will be controlled by organized crime. Therefore I urge my colleagues to reject HR 2143, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act. Norman Kirk Singleton Legislative Director Congressman Ron Paul 203 Cannon 202-225-2831 "Those who have been intoxicated with power... can never willingly abandon it." Edmund Burke ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ Like Politech? Make a donation here: http://www.politechbot.com/donate/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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