China May Teach US A Lesson On Internet Freedom
from the alternate-takes dept
While politicians in the US are working overtime to ban online gambling, it seems that politicians in China, where the internet is so controlled, may be taking a different route. They're realizing the significant tax revenue they could bring in from legalizing it and are apparently exploring the possibility of legalizing online gambling. Perhaps all of those online gambling companies who are getting worried about the US should start to prep some marketing plans for the population in China.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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A lot of people...
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Re:
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Gambling doesn't generate revenue...
Human nature is depraved and the more freedom we have the more depraved we become. I believe gambling laws should be determined at the local level - just like porn. Those who want gambling can have it - along with the Mob, prostitution, drugs and murder. But to act as if gambling is some high freedom and those who oppose it just aren't bright is wrong headed.
Imagine a world in which we had 100% freedom, but no one had invented gambling, firearms, alcohol or drugs. It would be a better world if we were just unaware of the vices around us and unable to choose a path of personal destruction. Alas - we are free to shoot ourselves in the foot daily.
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Re: Gambling doesn't generate revenue...
Also, you can't forget the whole reason we're uptight about gambling as a nation (and we're getting less and less so every decade) is the whole religious angle. China has no such similar religious history.
Gambling used to be considered immoral, now politicians don't like gambling because... well, who the hell knows why. (I would contend that it's moral inertia).
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Re: Gambling doesn't generate revenue...
Democracy has the same problems as freedom. Most people don't care about politics and therefore really shouldn't be voting because they don't actually think about the policies invovled and tend to get tricked.
But democracy and Freedom, for better or for worse, is the only fair system.
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He did say Chinda is "slowly" becoming the land of the free. Just as the National Security Survellance Act "slowly" brings us closer to oppression.
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However legalizing online gambling would be a HUGE task
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Dear Against the stream
On a more personal level - revealing your view of human nature as being depraved and believing that our freedom to shoot ourselves in the foot is a bad thing, makes me feel very sad for you. How self hating! (Do I detect a religious undertone?)
Personally, I'll take the risks that personal freedom offers, thank you.
As for the choices that your mindset leaves you with, they are few and bleak indeed. You live in a world where - for the most part - individual freedom is cherished.
Don't do anything rash. Life is good.
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Re: Dear Against the stream
Our freedom is restricted everyday by our laws so we can life together without killing one another. I merely suggest that the locals know best what laws suit their community. Others waft through with a smell of anything goes is a superior philosophy and only understood by the intelligent. I say - you haven't lived enough to know how important boundaries are to freedom. Yes, you read that right.
And let me know when you find a human that deep inside isn't a selfish depraved individual. There aren't any.
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Re: Dear Against the stream
I submit that gambling is a voluntary tax on...
1. The poor -who dream of being rich
2. The greedy - who want easy money
3. The stupid - who don't understand that the odds will always catch up to them if they gamble long enough.
I don't propose to take anyone's personal freedoms, only suggest that the laws regarding gambling should be decided locally. And please, don't condescend to me with how bleak my life is and don't do anything rash. It just makes YOU look like an ass.
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Not So Fast
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You do
As far as the rest of the world is concerned you do (if you are an american) just not as out of control and blatant as china
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Not all gambling is a tax.
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Online Gambling
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