"<span><span>As you know, Internet gambling is a 24-hour a day activity, which oftentimes undercuts a player's perception of the value of cash leading to addiction, severe debt, and illegal activity." WTF?</span></span>

Anyone capable of writing and believing this sentence doesn't deserve to hold public office.

This is what he's really saying---
"I don't believe in freedom and I think my constituents are dumb and need me to parent them to save them from ruining themselves financially. Now if you'll excuse me, I need I go vote to spend billions of taxpayer dollars toward things they'll never see any benefit from but will bankrupt their social security."

Actually, I think the Congressman had a well thought out response of his opinion of online gaming. He was elected by the people of Michigan to speak for them and he obv feels this is what's best for them. You and I can disagree with his opinion but we have no right to guess his "true intentions". The OP is doing the right thing contacting his congressman and the Congressman is doing the right thing in responding. Can't force the guy to change his mind and bad mouthing him b/c he doesn't agree certainly doesn't help the cause.

This is pro online poker. Dont jump to conclusions. What this can easily mean is that he is in agreement that online poker needs to be legit and regulated.

Very nice quote. Intriguing.

lol @ thinking that's a form letter.

I work for a politician and write hundreds of these a week. This is a form letter.

Dear Joe,

Thank you for taking the time to contact me about online gambling. Please rest assured that you views are important to me, and I will consider them carefully should they come before me in the Congress.

If I can assist you or your family with any other matters please don't hesitate to contact my office on xxx

Sincerely,

xxx

THAT's a form letter people. The Congressman's response is actually well thought and articulate, letter which addresses the issues you raised with him.

I feel the same way. I felt that was a more positive response than we have seen in the past. I don't see too many issues with having online poker regulated right here in the U.S. For sake of following money, protecting kids from ruining themselves financially/mentally (i.e. addiction) In fact, it be nicer to know that we are throwing the money back into American owned and operated companies. It would suck having regulation on the money and having to file it away squarely every year, but hey it's better than wondering if one day it will just disappear from your account with an overseas company that decides to close up shop. It shows, at least from this one Congressman's perspective, they are willing to hash it out and let the industry live and not just close the doors completely.

I agree with TheFirm53.

We have no right to question the true intentions of people elected to Congress. Once we elect somebody to Congress they should be able to do whatever they like. How else can they get anything done? Being a Congressman is a powerful position and rightly so, since they need the power to protect all of us from evils that lurk around every corner.

I can only hope that my congressmen and women are looking out for me too. We all need to be protected from ourselves. There are too many temptations out there for us to be able to identify and avoid them all. Isn't this why we elect people in the first place?

Why would anybody smart enough to get elected to Congress think that a guy like me could take care of myself and my family? Obviously some people in this world are better equipped to make these types of personal decisions for me then I am. It takes a lot of pressure off me knowing that there are many people in Washington dedicating theirs lives to care are of me.

I am so glad that we have the government to make sure that me and my under age kids don't get hurt by their lack of understanding of electronic transfers. I am an adult and I still can't figure it out. You click a button and poof, your money is gone.

I am so glad that we have brave men and women in Congress who will step forward and let me know that they care enough about me and my family that should I fall off the deep end and ruin myself financially through online gambling that they will be there to put me in prison so I cannot do further harm to my family.

It is unbelievable to me that there are people who would actually question the thoughts and decisions of a duly elected member of Congress. Duh. Didn't we elect them to take care of us?

Not to mention that The Firm53 is an attorney, so he knows the Constitution and how it was designed to protect government from intrusion and interference by simple minded individuals who might have the audacity to question the intentions of elected representatives.

He knows that in order for this country to flourish, individuals cannot be out there questioning the intent of elected officials, because that can only weaken the government and render it unable to help us as much as it does now.

You actually think that congressman sat down and wrote that? All it is is a bunch of bullet points, probably written by whoever tells him how to think on this issue.

I have also written my congressman and senators. Congressman Stupak and Senator Levin. Both sent back e-mails that essentially stated 'I do not support gambling'. I've written both mentioned above at least a dozen times, now I don't even get a resonse.

These two are ANTI INTERNET GAMBLING PERIOD. I am now writing to 'Letter to the editor' of the newspapers in my district stating this.

My senator voted for Flag Burning under the First Ammenment and voted to keep Internet Pornography from being block under the same. SIMPLY PATHETIC.

I am not pro republican or pro democrat, I just want someone new. Michigan has become a terrible state to call home. Most dangerous cities (yes plural), high unemployment, etc...

I am waiting for someone to sponsor a political party that doesn't allow all this government intervention. Allow people to do their own thing as long as it doesn't hurt others, offend many, etc... Be respectful of others opinions, needs and wants.

We JUST NEED A FRICKEN CHANGE. Hope it happens during next election. I know I am going to actively campain AGAINST the ones I have.