Just emailed the ACLU about the SAFE PORT ACT - Gambling Addition

[WagerWitch]

Please consider getting them involved.

Send a Feedback request - if they get enough - maybe they will look into it.

Wager Witch

Here is what I wrote:

Subject: H.R. 4954

Has anyone checked into the rights of the US to pass H.R. 4954 (see pdf
search Google hr49543.pdf)

Read pages 212-end.

In my humble opinion this section violates multiple rights. It creates
watchdogs out of banks/financial institutions and Internet Service
Providers - to provide information on Internet activity to the Government -
WITHOUT a Search Warrant.

Not only that - it really isn't about Gambling. It is about the United
States Government spying on it's own nation - and taking control of the
WORLD WIDE WEB - in a pre-emptive strike... Claiming it under
terrorism.

Bush signed the Bill into law on October 13, 2006.

The media has not even covered it... It was barely mentioned and the
only people who noticed it were gamblers online.

Bush didn't even talk about it - money passed hands from Gambling
agencies to Frist.

Like I said the media hasn't even discussed it. America as a whole is
completely unaware of the rights they have lost.

Could you please have someone read the Bill - and see if it violates
American Civil Liberties?

Could you please take a moment and decide if this will affect all of
us?

Thank you so very much.

Any and all consideration of this would be appreciated.

If you need to contact me - please contact me by email - I can provide
links to people who know more about this than I ever will.

Wager Witch


American Civil Liberties Union

Click on CONTACT at the bottom right

Click on FEEDBACK FORM

Unless you are a member - and join the forum - etc.

[cipher]

Please consider getting them involved.

Send a Feedback request - if they get enough - maybe they will look into it.

Wager Witch

Here is what I wrote:

Subject: H.R. 4954

Has anyone checked into the rights of the US to pass H.R. 4954 (see pdf
search Google hr49543.pdf)

Read pages 212-end.

In my humble opinion this section violates multiple rights. It creates
watchdogs out of banks/financial institutions and Internet Service
Providers - to provide information on Internet activity to the Government -
WITHOUT a Search Warrant.

Not only that - it really isn't about Gambling. It is about the United
States Government spying on it's own nation - and taking control of the
WORLD WIDE WEB - in a pre-emptive strike... Claiming it under
terrorism.

Bush signed the Bill into law on October 13, 2006.

The media has not even covered it... It was barely mentioned and the
only people who noticed it were gamblers online.

Bush didn't even talk about it - money passed hands from Gambling
agencies to Frist.

Like I said the media hasn't even discussed it. America as a whole is
completely unaware of the rights they have lost.

Could you please have someone read the Bill - and see if it violates
American Civil Liberties?

Could you please take a moment and decide if this will affect all of
us?

Thank you so very much.

Any and all consideration of this would be appreciated.

If you need to contact me - please contact me by email - I can provide
links to people who know more about this than I ever will.

Wager Witch


American Civil Liberties Union

Click on CONTACT at the bottom right

Click on FEEDBACK FORM

Unless you are a member - and join the forum - etc.

Damn good job!!!

Let me know if there's anything that I can do to help this along.

Have a good one.

[littlebit]

Please consider getting them involved.

Send a Feedback request - if they get enough - maybe they will look into it.

Wager Witch

Here is what I wrote:

Subject: H.R. 4954

Has anyone checked into the rights of the US to pass H.R. 4954 (see pdf
search Google hr49543.pdf)

Read pages 212-end.

In my humble opinion this section violates multiple rights. It creates
watchdogs out of banks/financial institutions and Internet Service
Providers - to provide information on Internet activity to the Government -
WITHOUT a Search Warrant.

Not only that - it really isn't about Gambling. It is about the United
States Government spying on it's own nation - and taking control of the
WORLD WIDE WEB - in a pre-emptive strike... Claiming it under
terrorism.

Bush signed the Bill into law on October 13, 2006.

The media has not even covered it... It was barely mentioned and the
only people who noticed it were gamblers online.

Bush didn't even talk about it - money passed hands from Gambling
agencies to Frist.

Like I said the media hasn't even discussed it. America as a whole is
completely unaware of the rights they have lost.

Could you please have someone read the Bill - and see if it violates
American Civil Liberties?

Could you please take a moment and decide if this will affect all of
us?

Thank you so very much.

Any and all consideration of this would be appreciated.

If you need to contact me - please contact me by email - I can provide
links to people who know more about this than I ever will.

Wager Witch


American Civil Liberties Union

Click on CONTACT at the bottom right

Click on FEEDBACK FORM

Unless you are a member - and join the forum - etc.

I wish I could remember the source but I did read the ACLU may end up being strange bedfellows with gamblers. The concern is with the attempt by government to insert itself into the operation of the internet and mandating personal finances, etc. Their stance wouldn't be pro gambling but the method being used to try to dilute freedoms. They may be the ticket to cause enough of an uproar if they chose to enter the battle.

[WagerWitch]

Thank my sweets.

Yes.


I believe they will be out for the Truth.

I do NOT believe this bill is about Gambling at all.

And the sooner we make the world understand that we just noticed it because it directly affected us (at least on the surface) - that we the gamblers took the time to realize that it was and is a much more significant and pre-emptive strike the liberties and freedoms of Americans.

I the the ACLU will be our ONLY Fighting chance!

WagerWitch

[Mister]

Luckymeki, I wish there were more of you out there...I commend you for putting out so much effort to nullify this ill conceived law...

I like the direction you have taken to protect our pastime. Its a hard sell to persuade the numbers of people who normally don't gamble online to see how wrong this law really is. The uniformed public must be made aware of the hypocritial politics that invade our privacy.

Even though saying "we want to preserve our right to gamble online" is'nt as lofty as saying "we want to preserve our right to pursue happiness". It is still a right of individual choice...Sure its not like collecting porcelain unicorns or chasing butterflies or dancing around the maypole. BUT IT IS A RIGHT !!

To the citizen who is unconcerned of his/her right to gamble online is being
taken away, sooner or later there is going to be a right out there that the government is going to stomp on...So why not start with online gambling ?...Although this new law is'nt directly aimed at taking away our individual freedom, it is still strangling our means to be able to support it.

It is a sensible approach to argue for our freedom by exposing the government for what they are. It makes me sick to hear of the politicians promoting family values, protection of the underage, protection against our own excesses (as if we can't control our own impulses- How dare they !!) and then turn around to accept donations from the other gambling pastimes
(namely horseracing and landbased casinos) that paid these politicians
to "LOOK" the other way.

Although I am repeating here what has already been mentioned in other posts in this forum, I'll risk redundancy if it means one more individual reads this post and feels inspired to get the word out. This election year has given me opportunties to convince one more person to see how "REALLY WRONG" this law is....

[WagerWitch]

My whole problem is that at first...

When I read this Bill - I read GAMBLING - as the headline issue.

I thought - nahhh... Big deal - the gambling companies will do something - Bush is trying to make online gambling regulated for the US.

Then I watched... And read more - and listened - and started watching the News CLOSELY.

Then I read it again and again and again.

This Bill - that is now LAW - goes into affect in less that 270 days is NOT about GAMBLING...


It is about US Privacy Laws and Owning the Internet - which by International Free Trade - Cannot be owned.

There are so many things wrong with it.

But because it says gambling on it - people who don't gamble regularly are NOT looking.

We're the only ones who noticed it.

The media didn't cover it.

Sigh...

ABC, NBC, CNN, HEADLINE News, PBS, NPR, None of the large news agencies carried the information.

No one has cared.

But when they realize what freedoms and liberties it REALLY takes away - then it will be too late.

So thank you for replying - I only hope Americans can stop this insidious evil before it is too late and we become like those movies about the future where we are all wearing the same clothing and looking like clones and acting like clones - saying Be Happy.

Wager Witch
Luckymeki

[dhayman]

Some other things that may help the cause in the short-term:

- The elections: The Democrats look to be taking over the House, and
the Senate is basically a pick-em' right now. A democratic Congress
will surely help the cause, in that it could accelerate any amendments
to this bill (should that recourse exist) and may help in creating
interference to slow down the enforcement of banking industry
mandates, to support the new bill. By the way, to check out daily
election predictions, check out this great site:

Election 2006: Senate and House Races Updated Daily

- The WTO issue with Antigua and Barbudo (sp ?) vs. US has yet to be
resolved. US has clearly violated the WTO mandates, and the
European community (UK) is now pro-gambling, and is close to
changing administrations (Blair leaving), so the allegiance to US may
be less stellar than it has been. Also, since US is pressing China for
WTO trade violations, this WTO gambling issue could have some impact
come the new year (by January or February).

- The banking industry is vehemently opposed to any sort of
implementation that will be imposed on them by this new law. It is
a lose-lose for the banking industry - lots of work for no pay, and it
will ultimately result in worse services for their customers in terms
of services and interest (since ultimately the cost will be passed onto
the customer). The banking industry could very easily "stall" (since
there are definitely clauses in the law that protect the banks from any
sort of liability), and as such, this law could wind up withering away
into obscurity (a la Bush's CAN-SPAM act of 2003), for not being able
to be realistically implemented. This certainly wouldn't surprise me,
since I am of the belief that this bill was ALL about press for the
Republicans before Election Day.

- Gambling will not wither away and die. People will find alternate
sites and alternate monetary mechanisms to fund their accounts.
Although the short-term looks devastating, as other sites and
"banks" become available, the gambling craze will persist and actually
increase overall. Rogue sites and less-than-credible banks, will beg
the cry for legalization. Legalization will pave the way for land-based
casinos to go-online (we all know that this is coming), but will also
help non-US-based casinos to gain credibility as well, IMO.

So, ALCU involvement is definitely a great tactic indeed, but if one looks at the truly BIG picture, there are other factors that could easily contribute to the demise of this law. It will be a combination of these things, that will help contribute to the law's upheaval.

All IMO, but if you think about it, it all makes sense.

[WagerWitch]

Cipher - everyone


You all could ALSO write the ACLU.

If they get enough questions regarding this - they actually may take some action.

[cipher]

Cipher - everyone


You all could ALSO write the ACLU.

If they get enough questions regarding this - they actually may take some action.

Consider it done.

Have a good one.

[jetset]

Well thought through and interesting post, dhayman! Definitely elements to bear in mind amidst all the doom and gloom.