"The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants" - Albert Camus

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Another Day, Another Liberty Gone

Those of you who are fans of online poker are surely aware by now that the Department of Justice just cracked down on online Poker.  PokerStars.net where I played, along with two other major poker sites were taken over, and for all purposes shut down, by the FBI. 

Of the 50 million or so poker players in the U.S., those sites hosted probably 2-3 million players.  What was the reason?  To save Americans from their own bad habits.....you know, like smoking, drinking, etc. 

Yes, the nanny state has struck again and another simple (symbolic) liberty that a free people should be able to enjoy is gone. 

You know what they say: Do not steal, government hates competition.  In this case, do not gamble, government hates competition.  It is okay for the states to run lotteries (a form of gambling, pure and simple), but if you play online poker..... tsk, tsk...

As long as people do not revolt, we will lose new liberties with each passing day because, regardless of Administration in place, the nanny state reigns supreme.  Now I understand hippies and libertarians better!

So long, online poker.  It was fun while it lasted.

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