Time To Do Something

[RDog 0]

Hey Everyone- I copied this over from P5's. I'll be honest, up until today, I hadn't signed up as a member at the PPA. Not really sure why. Heard stories about them not doing what they should be, me feeling like they should have done something way before it got to this point, blah, blah, blah. But honestly folks, these are the cards we have been dealt. We HAVE to do something. And this is something that is easy and painless that could do the most good. For those of you that don't want to give them any money, you can join for free. I would recommend making a small donation if you can but at the least, become a member. Go read some of Waco's posts on P5's. We really shouldn't be going down without a fight. The State of PokerBy Michael Bolcerek, president, Poker Players Alliance Tonight, in an annual tradition, the President of the United States will address the Congress, his cabinet and our country on the “state of the union” and the goals of the government for 2007. It is not likely the president will include the “state of poker” among his crucial national issues. Thus, I would like to take this moment to provide an update on where poker sits today and examine how you and the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) can continue to work together to preserve and protect the game we love. As we know painfully well, poker has come under vicious attack over the past year. We continue to learn on a regular basis about home and tavern poker games being raided by law enforcement and how charitable Texas Hold ‘Em tournaments are being shut down. Perhaps even worse, we have seen the federal government’s full force efforts to curb this American tradition from the Internet. Legislation aimed at prohibiting you from funding your online poker accounts passed the U.S. House this summer, then was quietly slipped into a port security bill, literally in the dark of night, which was signed into law on October 13. During these troubling times, the PPA has given you a voice to express your opposition to the government’s intrusive actions and to rally in a united fashion against these constitutional incursions. The impact has been jarring, as the largest, publicly traded online poker operators shut down services to U.S. players. While many reputable sites still offer services to U.S. players, recent actions to close down payment processors and to subpoena banks are clear indications that the federal government is aggressively pushing the online gambling prohibition. We don’t have to tell you that a prohibition won’t work, and in fact will likely cause many more problems than it aims to solve. The unintended consequences will soon be apparent and all the good intentions of protecting children, helping problem gamblers, and ensuring the integrity of financial transactions will be lost as rogue sites and unregulated payment methodologies surface to replace the trustworthy operators the government is driving out of business. The PPA is not standing idly by. Poker should be exempt under the new law and that exemption is our primary goal. I have spent a good portion of January in Washington, D.C., meeting with lawmakers and others to get support for legislation that would provide a “skill game” exemption for poker. We hope to have a bill introduced very soon and then bring to bear the voice of more than 135,000 members of the PPA to push Congress to do the right thing. This would be a very positive development for the game. For the past year, we have been on the defensive, but now is the time to go on the offensive and get a bill introduced. This year we will also be taking the issue directly to Members of Congress in their home districts, to truly nationalize the debate. We had a tremendous response from our members about becoming PPA grassroots representatives on the state and regional levels. Soon we will be announcing our positions across the country and engaging U.S. Representatives and Senators where they used to feel safe from facts and spirited debate. While we are working toward the short-term goal of a poker exemption, the PPA will also be laying the foundation for the eventual U.S. regulation of online poker. This is the only proven public policy for online gaming. Licensing, regulating, and taxing online poker is technically feasible and the sensible and fiscally responsible thing to do. We will be working with others in Washington to move Congress in this direction. Finally, we not only rely on your active participation but also on your active support to achieve our goals. Our new site now offers no cost introductory annual memberships. Please help us build our membership to enable us to deliver a full house to Congress and stop further threats to our game. Tell your friends, family, and fellow players to become members of the PPA. We also offer an ability to upgrade your membership from introductory to full membership and beyond. Our new and improved Web site, www.pokerplayersalliance.org, gives you tools and information to help our cause, as well as make it easier for you to donate to the PPA. I hope you will make a contribution at http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/donatenow.php. 2007 will be an important year for poker. With your help and continued support we are optimistic that poker will remain a great American tradition.

[terradawg 0]

it's about time the PPA showed up.

[RDog 0]

it's about time the PPA showed up.

I agree. I didn't say they were perfect, I just think they are our best option.And for those of you that figure, "Meh, I pretty much lose at this game anyway", do it for people like Hoosier and JC who make their living off this game or people like myself who took out a fairly large mortgage with the expectation of poker as a very large supplemental income.

[TwoFourOffsuit 0]

Michael made a ton of excellent points. Worth a shot. If this government movement on poker is the first step in a draconian witch hunt, then it seriously needs to stop and we need to do what we can to educate the public on what makes poker different from your standard three-card-monte-like underground gambling. Ignorance is fueling about 99.9% of this movement.

[nutzbuster 7]

In....

[nutzbuster 7]

State of the Union...zomg!Bush just mentioned something regarding the topic of earmarks., i.e. riders that are snuck into the bills at the last minute "even when CSpan isn't watching", until the bill that finally arrives for signature isn't even the one Bush approved initially.Bush said it had to stop and apparently this is an all too common practice in Washington and some 13,000 were added last year alone!Bush then said "They are not debated...they are not signed into law...but yet they are TREATED AS IF THEY HAVE THE POWER OF LAW" !!"WTF!!!?? Is this not exactly what this poker bill is???And did Bush just say that earmarks and riders have NO basis in law and therefore perhaps are NOT enforceable??? ("more Grey Goose please"....)

[jburn812 0]

There is no skill in poker. My luck is going to run out at any minute. But seriously there should be an exempt for this game. It is not roulette but not enough people understand that.

[omahahilo 0]

"We don’t have to tell you that a prohibition won’t work."Oh rly? Is that why Pot is still illegal? I know they're not the same thing whatsoever, but, many many many Americans would like to see it legalized.Plus, you have to make online poker a big enough issue that Congress will have to give it some attention. Any suggestions?Sorry, but I think we're all going to have to move to Vegas.My $0.02

[rog 0]

Oh rly? Is that why Pot is still illegal? I know they're not the same thing whatsoever, but, many many many Americans would like to see it legalized.

Pot prohibition doesn't work. People still smoke pot. A lot of people. how could anyone claim it worked?

[RDog 0]

Sorry, but I think we're all going to have to move to Vegas.My $0.02

Could be true but what do you have to lose by spending 5 minutes inputting your information on their website? At some point we all have to stop having this defeatist attitude and attempt to do something about it. That includes myself. Why are we so quick to give our rights away when we see the hammer coming down?

[GWCGWC 83]

I've been a card carrying member since early last year.

[WhatArunAA 0]

i'm not donating anything until 2+2 says that it is worth it.

[omahahilo 0]

Pot prohibition doesn't work. People still smoke pot. A lot of people. how could anyone claim it worked?

However, online poker banning is much tougher to get around. You need banks, online wallets, and sites all to work togeather. When one of the three are shut down, so go the other two.With pot all you need is some money.

[omahahilo 0]

Could be true but what do you have to lose by spending 5 minutes inputting your information on their website? At some point we all have to stop having this defeatist attitude and attempt to do something about it. That includes myself. Why are we so quick to give our rights away when we see the hammer coming down?

I will do this for sure. It definately can't hurt to try any available options.

[Hatchet 0]

I'd like to hear some names of some of the Lawmakers he has met with. Frankly, I think he hasn't done jack ***.

[cwik 0]

I'm really glad it sounds like they are doing something proactive. glgl.

[offset 0]

Everyone should sign up with the PPA. All of us are seriously concerned about the future of online poker. Once enough of us show the politicians that a large percentage of the population considers this a big issue something will be done about it.

[delphi12 0]

Everyone should sign up with the PPA. All of us are seriously concerned about the future of online poker. Once enough of us show the politicians that a large percentage of the population considers this a big issue something will be done about it.

LARGE POPULATION?? Cmon - you laughed when you typed that, right? Even if it had 1mil people (totally unreasonable), thats still not enough to make this change. You guys are totally wasting your time and fueling this guys ego that he can make a change (which he can't). Move to vegas or la. The games are fine. And thats what the lawmakers will say. Poker is not illegal. Why does everyone seem to think its a war against poker. Its not.

[HoosierAlum 0]

Joined as a "full" member.I don't know how my $20 is going to help save online poker, but I guess I'll try anything at this point.

[RDog 0]

Move to vegas or la. The games are fine. And thats what the lawmakers will say. Poker is not illegal. Why does everyone seem to think its a war against poker. Its not.

Do you realize how stupid this sounds? I can drive down the street, put my money down on the table, get some chips, and play poker. But in my own home..........NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.........OH GOD........WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN!!!!!

[finztotheleft 0]

Pot prohibition doesn't work. People still smoke pot. A lot of people. how could anyone claim it worked?

Because a lot of us don't smoke it because it is against the law. A lot of people with professional licenses don't dare risk it.

I'd like to hear some names of some of the Lawmakers he has met with. Frankly, I think he hasn't done jack ***.

And why his receptionist in the PPA's Washington office never saw him during the month of January, per the 2+2 article

[11 to 1 0]

However, online poker banning is much tougher to get around. You need banks, online wallets, and sites all to work togeather. When one of the three are shut down, so go the other two.With pot all you need is some money.

With online poker all you need is money. And patience. Pstars, for instance, accepts money orders and other methods of payment. They return your money the same way. I just opened a new account this way. However, I still think the real point has little to do with gambling in any form. The gov't wants to get control of the Internet in America. This is a jumping off point for creating a new regulating agency - all in the name of "national security," and using technology to liscense and control the Internet access of all Americans. By the time everyone figures it out, it will be very late in this day.

[Highlow16 0]

Im going to become a member but im not going to contribute any money until the PPA starts publicly saying who they have met with and so forth. Im hopeful that this guy isnt just talking a good game but i have my doubts.That being said, even if it makes only a small difference, please take the time to sign up and atleast become a member. It can only help the cause

[TwoFourOffsuit 0]

With online poker all you need is money. And patience. Pstars, for instance, accepts money orders and other methods of payment. They return your money the same way. I just opened a new account this way. However, I still think the real point has little to do with gambling in any form. The gov't wants to get control of the Internet in America. This is a jumping off point for creating a new regulating agency - all in the name of "national security," and using technology to liscense and control the Internet access of all Americans. By the time everyone figures it out, it will be very late in this day.

Well, I must add that, for online poker, you also need a webhost, and these things are much more grounded and easier to track than a pot dealer, who need not officially register himself in any way and can remain incognito indefinitely, running his business without a trace.

[RDog 0]

Because a lot of us don't smoke it because it is against the law. A lot of people with professional licenses don't dare risk it.And why his receptionist in the PPA's Washington office never saw him during the month of January, per the 2+2 article

I agree there are lots of questions we all have about the PPA. The question I would ask is, what is 2+2 doing for the poker community? For as much traffic as they get on 2+2, they do very little for the community compared to say P5's or even FCP. It is easy for them to criticize and many of us are looking for alternatives, so I say, give us one Mason. Instead of looking for reasons not to support PPA, provide a place for us to feel like we can make a difference.