2 River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 22 No. 870 • November 26 - December 10, 2014 Business • Politics • Arts • Culture • Now You Know • RiverCitiesReader.com Business • Politics • Arts • Culture • Now You Know • RiverCitiesReader.com River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 22 No. 870 • November 26 - December 10, 2014 3 GUEST COMMENTARY by Ron Paul Online-Gambling Ban: Winner for Adelson, Losing Bet for the Rest of Us ost Americans, regardless of ide- will not eliminate the not justify federal gambling opponents to use force to stop ology, oppose “crony capitalism” demand for online Arguing that “states’ legislation on the people from playing poker online than it Mor “cronyism.” Cronyism is where casinos. Instead, passage issue. Nowhere in the would be for me to use force to stop people politicians write laws aimed at helping their of this legislation will rights” justifies Constitution is the from reading pro-war neo-con writers. favored business beneficiaries. Despite likely guarantee that creating new federal federal government Giving government new powers over public opposition to cronyism, politicians the online-gambling given any authority to the Internet to prevent online gambling still seek to use the legislative process to market is controlled crimes turns the 10th regulate activities such will inevitably threaten all of our liberties. help special interests. by criminals. Thus, it as online gambling. Government bureaucrats will use this new For example, Congress may soon vote is those who support Amendment on its head. Arguing that “states’ authority to expand their surveillance of on legislation outlawing Internet gambling. outlawing online rights” justifies the Internet activities of Americans who It is an open secret, at least inside the gambling who may be aiding criminals and creating new federal crimes turns the 10th have no interest in gambling, just as they Beltway, that this legislation is being terrorists. Amendment, which was intended to limit used the new powers granted by the USA considered as a favor to billionaire casino A federal online-gambling ban would federal power, on its head. PATRIOT Act to justify mass surveillance. owner Sheldon Adelson. Mr. Adelson, overturn laws in three states that allow Many supporters of an Internet- The proposed ban on Internet gambling who is perhaps best known for using his online gambling. It would also end the gambling ban sincerely believe that is a blatantly unconstitutional infringement enormous wealth to advance a pro-war ongoing debate over legalizing online gambling is an immoral and destructive on our liberties that will likely expand foreign policy, is now using his political gambling in many other states. Yet some activity that should be outlawed. However, the surveillance state. Worst of all, it is all influence to turn his online competitors have claimed that Congress must pass this the proposed legislation is not at all about being done for the benefit of one powerful into criminals. law in order to protect states’ rights. Their the morality of gambling. It is about billionaire. Anyone who thinks banning Supporters of an Internet-gambling argument is that citizens of states that ban whether Americans who do gamble should online gambling will not diminish our ban publicly deny they are motivated by a Internet gambling may easily get around have the choice to do so online, or be freedoms while enriching criminals is desire to curry favor with a wealthy donor. those laws by accessing online casinos forced to visit brick-and-mortar casinos. making a losing bet. Instead, they give a number of high- operating in states where online gambling Even if there was some moral distinction minded reasons for wanting to ban this is legalized. between gambling online or in a physical Ron Paul is a former U.S. representative activity. Some claim that legalizing online Even if the argument had merit that casino, prohibiting behavior that does not from Texas who ran for president in gambling will enrich criminals and even allowing states to legalize online gambling involve force or fraud has no place in a 1998, 2008, and 2012. This commentary terrorists. But criminalizing online casinos undermines laws in other states, it would free society. It is no more appropriate for originally appeared at RonPaulInstitute.org. For less than $2.00 per guest you can serve The Hungry Hobo's legendary Party Sandwiches with 4 types of sliced-to-order meats and provolone cheese $ on our baked-from-scratch soft French bread. 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APP DELIVERY MOBILE REWARDS Accepting: Download for mobile ordering Order at good2goqc.com Text HOBO to 81018 4 River Cities’ Reader • Vol. 22 No. 870 • November 26 - December 10, 2014 Business • Politics • Arts • Culture • Now You Know • RiverCitiesReader.com ILLINOIS POLITICS by Rich Miller CapitolFax.com GOP Legislators Overeager About Appointments henever a new governor is about this year. to be sworn in, one of the most Heck, I’ve even heard that two Downstate Wpopular Springfield parlor games is GOP legislators are actually fighting bitterly figuring out who is on their way out and who over who ought to be the next director of a is on their way in. major state agency. Of course, when a new governor is Last week, Rauner was finally asked by a sworn in from a different party, the “who reporter how many Republican lawmakers is out” part is relatively easy – pretty he’d spoken with about joining his much everybody without civil-service administration. job protection is out. “None,” Rauner replied. Governor-elect Bruce While everybody and Rauner is a Republican who There are so many his brother are out there just defeated Democratic touting themselves or Governor Pat Quinn, so rumors going around their pals as the next almost all of Quinn’s people about so many director of an agency Win are surely gone. or chair of some state extra cash But who will Rauner legislators being commission, absolutely bring in to run the nobody is a sure thing, for the government? I cannot tell “sure thing” Rauner and Rauner hasn’t yet you how many times I’m offered anybody anything. holidays! asked that question every appointments that I “Everybody who voted • Earn entries now until 5pm on November 30 day. for Bruce thinks they • Drawing: November 30 at 5pm Much of the recent local long ago lost track of ought to be a director,” speculation has focused on cracked one insider last • Deposit entries between 2pm EARN 10X ENTRIES and 5pm on November 30 Monda Republican state legislators, the count. week. y, November 24 partly because most of Keep in mind that Rod 10 winners will be drawn 10 FREE ENTRIES Frida the people closest to the outsider Rauner Blagojevich didn’t unveil his new agency and each will win y, November 28 are unknown to the Springfield crowd. directors until a few days after he was Legislators, on the other hand, are very well sworn into office in 2003. I think it was late $1,000 cash! known. Some of those legislators are not-so- December before we first got word about Must be present to win subtly floating their own names; some are whom George Ryan was appointing. just naturally assumed to be on a short list. Rauner could move faster than that, and As a result, there are so many rumors he did act very quickly to put a budget team Give Thanks for Great Food going around about so many legislators being in place, headed by highly respected Senate “sure thing” appointments that I long ago Republican Chief of Staff Tim Nuding. at Great Prices Thanksgiving Day Buffet – Serving from 10am to 8pm! lost track of the count. It seems at times that Blagojevich didn’t announce his budget team the number could be half of the Republican until almost a month after the 2002 election. pRIcEd AS LOW AS caucus. Once the lists are pared down (and, as of Presenting a traditional Thanksgiving Buffet that’s so tasty and so spectacular, your family Some folks were actively spreading last week, that process had barely begun), $ 99 with 100 earned points and friends will gobble it up! We’re featuring rumors for weeks that Senate Republican potential nominees will then have to be 9 Bloody Mary and Mimosa Bars and the special Leader Christine Radogno was in line for an thoroughly vetted. The one thing Team $14.99 with 50 earned points buffet price includes one drink. Rauner doesn’t want is an unpleasant Here are some highlights of our Thanksgiving agency directorship, possibly to undercut her $19.99 regular price Buffet menu: re-election bid as party leader. But nothing surprise during the confirmation process. could have been further from the truth. She The Republicans have been out of power • Carved Slow Roasted Turkey • Fried Shrimp • Full Salad Bar • Prime Rib and Horseradish • Peel & Eat Shrimp Cocktail • Creamed Pumpkin Soup never wanted to move into the executive for a dozen years, so it’s understandable that • Traditional & Corn Bread Stuffing • Roasted Brown Sugar Acorn Squash • Turkey Noodle Soup branch, and as far as I know nothing was ever they’re hungry to get back into the game.