Please...wanting things regulated is something we see eye to eye on. Can't imagine where you got the idea I don't think online gambling should be regulated.
I definitely don't think it's "impossible" for things to go wrong if they're regulated though. Jeez. It's not anything we've ever even discussed. Not sure why you would characterize it that way....
You scolded me for saying this (which I never said): "Regulation ensures that nothing funny can happen"
And then you said this: "The problem is that the U.S. government has its head in the sand and refuses to listen to arguments as to why regulation can work and what benefits it can create"
The pieces aren't fitting together there...
I'm for regulated online gaming. I'm for this website creating a coherent vision that can be expressed in the debate. I'm against this website mis-characterizing the other side of the debate when we can win the debate on the facts alone. I'm against using name-calling or derogatory labelling when we can win the debate on the facts alone.
I posted the Nigerian identity theft thing because I found it interesting and hadn't come across it before. I thought I made that clear in the post. Hackers can manage identity theft in all sorts of ways.
I recall the article about religion. I had lengthy posts in that one too because I felt the whole thing missed the point regarding the headline. America isn't based on religion, and the separation of church and state doesn't forbid religious people from being part of the government. I can see having a problem with what these particular religious people were doing. I don't see why we would want to misstate how the democratic process works while making that point.
Can you explain this sentence to me regarding the politicians?
"they don't vote based on what's best they vote on personal convictions"
I'm pretty sure they voted based on their personal convictions on what's best for the country. We can disagree with them. But, they are religious people who think it's best for the country that gambling be illegal everywhere. They were voting their convictions about what's best for the country. Yes, they have a religious agenda. It goes hand in hand though, those aren't opposite things. You wouldn't trust them because they were religious people who voted against gambling? If they were religious people who preached against gambling but then voted for it...I could see not trusting them. They voted what they believe. We disagree with what they believe. Why would anyone think they weren't voting for what they thought was best for their country?
Regarding NBC Dateline...there are multiple problems there. It's not one or the other. The internet has made it much easier for perverts to scout out unsuspecting naive minors. Perverts have always been a problem. Internet access increased the problem. Using the internet to catch these guys helps counteract the problem though. The internet can be used by either end to speed up the process and make it more effective. The internet is both part of the problem and part of the counterattack. You want to go tell the families of a victim that the internet wasn't part of the problem? That's how the bad guy met the kid. That's how bad guys increased the number of kids they could meet. Of course it was part of the problem. Did MySpace make dramatic changes to help ensure the privacy of the kids who post there because they didn't think the internet was exacerbating the problem? Horrible example.
I'm going to bed, lol. If you post again this evening we can pick up the discussion tomorrow. I'll bring the kool-aid...  |