Before the Financial Services Committee Subcommittee on
Domestic & International Monetary Policy of the US House of
Representatives, April 2, 2008: Hearing on Proposed UIGEA
Regulations
Hands Off Internet Gambling
by Ron Paul
Mr. Chairman, I stand opposed to the regulations being discussed
today because I opposed the underlying bill upon which these regulations are
based. The ban on Internet gambling infringes upon two freedoms that are
important to many Americans: the ability to do with their money as they see
fit, and the freedom from government interference with the Internet.
The proper role of the federal government is not that of a
nanny, protecting citizens from any and every potential negative consequence
of their actions. Although I personally believe gambling to be a dumb waste
of money, American citizens should be just as free to spend their money
playing online poker as they should be able to buy a used car, enter into a
mortgage, or invest in a hedge fund. Risk is inherent in any economic
activity, and it is not for the government to determine which risky
behaviors Americans may or may not engage in.
The Internet is a powerful tool, and any censorship of Internet
activity sets a dangerous precedent. Many Americans rely on the Internet for
activities as varied as watching basketball games, keeping up on
international news broadcasts, or buying food and clothing. In the last few
years we have seen ominous signs of the federal government's desire to
control the Internet. The ostensible reasons are to protect Americans from
sex offenders, terrorists, and the evils of gambling, but once the door is
open to government intrusion, there is no telling what legitimate activity,
especially political activity, might fall afoul of government authorities.
The regulations and underlying bill also force financial
institutions to act as law enforcement officers. This is another pernicious
trend that has accelerated in the aftermath of the Patriot Act, the
deputization of private businesses to perform intrusive enforcement and
surveillance functions that the federal government is unwilling to perform
on its own.
In conclusion, I urge my colleagues to oppose these new
regulations and support Chairman Frank's HR 2046, of which I am a cosponsor.
Although this bill has been criticized by some for its regulatory aspects,
this act does not create any new federal laws and merely ensures that
Internet gambling firms comply with existing federal law. The passage of HR
2046 would restore the right of Americans to decide for themselves whether
or not to gamble online.
Dr. Ron Paul is a Republican member of Congress from Texas.
© 2008 LewRockwell.
Viva Liberty!
No comments:
Post a Comment