Thomas Paine 1737–1809
As the latest setback to the comprehensive legislation of online poker in the U.S of A continues its tortuous path, I have recourse to think about the man who basically created the concept of ‘The United States of America” Thomas Paine.
I wonder what he would think now about ‘….the pursuit of happiness…” when a fully grown individual is still told that they cannot partake in a game of rouges, degenerates, vagabonds and people with a duplicitous gaming nature? Thomas Paine would probably attack the game as a corrupting influence but defend the right to be hustled, and lied to since it would be done to your own free will.
The negative bad attitudes that are admired on a poker table, should stay at a poker table. It gives a necessary escape valve for all the worst behavior of a human being. Exhibiting such behavior in normal life is abhorrent and despicable, but, when used in a game of poker it is frankly to be expected.
So in the end although Thomas Paine may have been appalled by the game and what it represents it is a odds on shot that he would not want to persecute online poker players who happen to be US citizens.
To misquote Thomas Paine:
“Poker makes more converts than reason.”
“From the errors of other nations, let us learn wisdom and create a strong regulated online poker game,”
“When I was teaching children online poker, I began every day writing this on the blackboard: “Do to others what you would like them to do to you”…but don’t tell them, how much better the game would be if everybody lived by this rule.”
“Common sense will tell us, that the legislation which hath endeavoured to subdue our online poker desires, is of all others, the
most improper to defend us.”
“Give me online poker, or give me death.”
“Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the default position of all good online poker players.”
“It is not in numbers, but in position, that our great strength lies; yet our present numbers are sufficient to repel the force of all the other players”
“Of more worth is one honest man to a poker game and in the sight of profit, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.”