Wayne Allyn Root
May 16, 2009
I am asked constantly by talk show hosts across the USA why I left the
GOP and became the leader of a national Libertarian movement for
smaller government and economic and personal freedom. Nothing could
symbolize my bold decision more than the issue of online poker and
gaming. It was only 5 years ago that Republicans controlled every level
of government from Congress, to the U.S. Senate, to the Presidency, to
a majority of Governorships, and even a majority of state legislatures.
Now they control NOTHING. Now Democrats control every one of those same
levels of government. The Republican brand went from wildly popular to
poison. Amazingly, Republicans haven't a clue how it happened. Worse,
they're digging the hole deeper. I believe the meltdown of the GOP all
started and crystallized with the Republican-led ban on online poker
and gaming. Once again, this issue is roaring back to life to haunt the
GOP. It may be the final death-blow.
Congressman Barney Frank, a
politician that I have attacked with gusto on numerous occasions for
his ultra-liberal fiscal views, unveiled a plan on Wednesday to
legalize online gaming. For once, I find myself on the same side as
Barney Frank and actually cheering his words. I never thought the day
would come where I uttered these 7 words- “I love what Barney Frank
just said.” I am a Barry Goldwater/Ronald Reagan disciple who believes
the GOP has abandoned its fiscal conservative roots- and therefore
abandoned me. When Congressman Barney Frank and I agree on something,
you know that either hell has frozen over, or the GOP is in big
trouble.
Plain and simple, gambling is an issue of FREEDOM and
personal responsibility. What I do in my bedroom, on my computer, with
my money is none of government's business. In any free society, I have
a right to enjoy gambling as my choice of either entertainment, or
investment, without government getting involved. It's that simple.
Gambling
in my opinion is as American as apple pie. George Washington and
Benjamin Franklin both enjoyed gambling. The original colonies
successfully raised money with lotteries. Virtually any business
decision involves financial risk. That is why the biggest winners on
Wall Street are virtually all world-class gamblers with nerves of
steel. That is why our wealthiest citizens are often business owners-
what could be a bigger risk (or produce a bigger reward) than betting
millions on a start-up? Entrepreneurship (risk-taking) is at the very
heart of capitalism. Billions are risked every day on Wall Street.
Billions are risked every day on the commodities market. Billions are
risked on Main Street by small business owners. Without risk, there is
no reward. Without risk-takers (capitalist gamblers), America could not
be the world's greatest economic power. Those who attack and denigrate
gambling, have no understanding of the very roots of capitalism.
Gambling
has been in our blood and DNA from the first days of America. The
world's biggest gamblers left their homelands, leaving behind their
safe lives, to travel on dangerous boats, filled with disease, to a New
World called America- often with no money, and no friends or relatives
waiting on the other side. Later the pioneers risked their lives to
travel thousands of miles in covered wagons, facing starvation, Indian
attacks and disease to tame the Wild West. What would you call that?
Playing it safe? The very idea of America is symbolized by gambling,
throwing caution to the wind, betting your life on a new start in a new
land.
The Republican-led ban of online gaming badly damaged the
Republican brand. It was all downhill from there. I believe this issue
killed the GOP message of smaller, more limited government. Republicans
may believe in just a little bit more economic freedom than President
Obama and his socialist tax and spend crowd, but when it comes to
personal freedom, Republicans want bigger government in your bedroom;
on your computer; interfering in your personal decisions; limiting your
freedoms; violating your civil rights; deciding what behavior is
acceptable and “moral.” The ban of online gaming and poker morphed the
GOP into Big Brother. Worse, it exposed Republicans as hypocrites and
uptight prudes looking to take away our personal freedoms and limit the
choices of consenting adults.
The smokescreen used to defend
this ban was “morality.” But morality based on whose standards? Here's
the great thing about freedom. I like to gamble. You don't. Great. So
don't gamble. No one is forcing you. Feel free to teach your children
not to gamble. But why would you ever want to stop me from enjoying
what I want to do? What right have you got to limit my choice of
entertainment? Are you upset that I'm having a good time and you're
not? Are you upset that I can enjoy gambling without becoming addicted
or ruining my life, while you can't? You know what they call groups
that police morality and ban choices of personal freedom in Iraq and
Afghanistan? The Taliban.
Whether I choose gambling as my form
of entertainment, or investment…either way, it doesn't effect you and
it's NONE OF YOUR DARN BUSINESS. Any political party that disagrees
with that simple philosophy deserves to lose power at all levels of
office, destroy their popularity, and tarnish their brand forever.
Sound familiar?
What's the GOP's new slogan? “We are the Nanny
State. We're going to save you- whether you like it or not.” If that's
your political slogan, good luck. You aren't the party of smaller
government. You are the party of bigger government. You are the very
symbol of political hypocrisy (and stupidity). I wish you a wonderful
future in the world's smallest and most uptight political minority.
The
truth is that the ban of online poker and gaming is not an
insignificant issue. It is a huge issue. If our government thinks it
has a right to tell citizens what games they can play on their own
computer, then there is no limit to what control they want to hold over
our lives. The ban of online gaming cost the GOP the support of many
Libertarian-leaning voters. It cost them the support of many fiscally
conservative, socially tolerant small business owners (whose
contributions fuel the GOP). Most importantly, it cost them the support
of millions of men who love to play poker and gamble on sports.
How
popular is sports gambling? It has made the Super Bowl and March
Madness two of the most popular television events in the country and
for all intents and purposes, national holidays. How popular is poker?
Just one organization, The PPA (Poker Players Alliance) has over one
million members. Experts estimate that 10 million to 12 million
American citizens play online poker. Over 50 million Americans play
poker as a recreational sport. The World Series of Poker held in Las
Vegas each summer has become the world's richest sporting event (with
over $100,000,000 in prizes). Poker TV shows dominate the television
screen.
What are the demographics of these online gamblers?
For the most part, they tend to be males- macho, fiscally conservative,
free spirited, entrepreneurial, small business owners, stock investors,
self-employed. Like me, they are passionate capitalists that believe in
limited government, low taxes and free markets. They distrust and
dislike government. They certainly do not trust or support Barack Obama
or his plans to redistribute the wealth. Do you get the idea who we're
describing? Republicans! The brilliant GOP, with this ignorant ban on
online gambling, has screwed over the worst possible group of voters-
their own constituents.
Instead of learning from this fiasco,
it appears the tone-deaf GOP is a glutton for punishment. They appear
to be gearing up to fight Congressman Barney Frank in order to uphold
this ban on the freedom of their own supporters. And you wonder why
millions of former lifelong, loyal Republicans just like me have
changed sides? We're never going to fall into the arms of Barack Obama
and the Democratic Party, with their socialist tax and spend ideas that
limit our economic freedom, denigrate capitalism and greatly increase
the size, scope and power of government. But we're done with the GOP.
We've found a home in the only political party that supports both
economic and personal freedom: the Libertarian Party.
Libertarians
understand- unlike the GOP- that asking government to play Nanny; to
take control over your personal behavior; to play Big Brother in your
bedroom or on your computer; to limit your personal freedom; is no
better than Democrats forcing big government into your personal
financial decisions or trying to steal (they call it “redistribute”)
your hard-earned money. It’s all about the same issue- freedom. It’s
the reason our ancestors came to America (or died trying). It’s the
reason we fought the American Revolution. Freedom is at the root
(excuse the pun) of what America is all about.
Gambling is about
freedom. Whether you like it or not, approve of it or not, that
personal choice is none of government's darn business. More
importantly, what difference is there between making a $100 online bet
on a hand of poker; a $1000 online bet on the Dallas Cowboys or Los
Angeles Lakers; or a $100,000 wager on Microsoft or ExxonMobil with
your Charles Schwab or E*Trade online account? There is no difference-
except that the last few years have proven Wall Street is far more
dangerous and costly. Should we ban stock investing? Should we ban
online stock accounts at Charles Schwab, E*Trade or TD Ameritrade? Well
we shouldn’t ban online poker either.
A far bigger problem in
America today is obesity. Only 6% (at most) of Americans have a
gambling addiction. But as much as 60% of the U.S. population has an
obesity problem. Should we ban delis? Should we ban McDonalds? Should
we ban Krispy Kremes?
Alcohol kills more Americans than any
other addiction. Yet we allow bars, restaurants and clubs to sell
alcohol, don't we? We tried Prohibition in the 1920's- it was the
greatest political failure ever. Our citizens kept drinking; lost
respect for the law; millions of dollars of tax revenue was lost; and
organized crime was born to fill the void. Nothing about online
gambling is any different. Banning it will solve nothing; the people
who enjoy it as entertainment will keep doing it; they will lose
respect for the law; billions in tax revenues will be lost; problem
gamblers will move underground; and organized crime will rake in the
profits. Perhaps we should call this ban “The Gambino Family Support
Bill.” Afterall, the mafia is the greatest beneficiary of this ban. It
is estimated that Americans have gambled over $100 Billion per year
online since the ban on online gambling. Pretty effective, huh? Once
again, more proof of the utter futility and stupidity of trying to
limit freedom under the guise of morality. They should just rename the
morality police, “the Keystone Cops.”
This ban has nothing to do
with morality. If it did, the same politicians who railed against
online gaming would not have carved out exemptions for online
lotteries, online horseracing, tribal casinos, or fantasy football. The
next time you hear a politician say he or she supports a ban on online
gaming or poker, you should ask them which organized crime family is
bribing them with campaign contributions.
PriceWaterhouseCooper
recently studied the issue of online gaming and concluded that
legalization will produce over $50 Billion in tax revenues for the
federal government. That's $50 Billion (with a “B”) at a time when our
budget deficits and national debt grows by the trillions. Why would we
throw away $50 Billion in revenues just waiting to be collected, at the
same time we limit the freedoms of millions of Americans? Seems like a
no-brainer to me. But then I also understand why the GOP brand has been
ruined, leaving the party in shambles. The answer is clear: this
tone-deaf obsession with limiting the personal freedom of consenting
adults. It's funny how a little issue of taking away people's freedom
can destroy a political party. Or even more remarkably, drive a
free-market, limited-government Libertarian into the arms of…Barney
Frank.
Wayne Allyn Root was the 2008 Libertarian Vice
Presidential candidate. His new book will be released by John Wiley
& Sons this July entitled, “The Conscience of a Libertarian:
Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gambling & Tax
Cuts.” The book is available for pre-sale at Amazon.com.
Reprinted with permission of the author. For more articles by Mr. Root, please visit www.rootforamerica.com.