We've come a long way from Casablanca. Freedom? What's that? Individual responsibility? Whosa whatta huh? Three items, one foreign, one domestic, and one that's a little bit of both, have gotten under my skin (and not in the good Sinatra kind of way).
1. France decides its citizens are too stupid to make their own decisions. If the French (THE FRENCH!!) can't smoke, who can?
2. People who like online poker are outta luck. And I mean like, "he's got kings and you've got aces, and he thinks he'll go all in, but then the game gets interrupted", Out Of Luck. Of course, horse racing, lotteries and fantasy sports are all totally acceptable. You can wager on those, just not poker. Bush is expected to almost certainly sign it into law, and unless the Supreme Court takes a sudden turn for individual rights, that's exactly what this will become, law. Making online poker illegal.
3. Moving can be so much fun. Especially when its into a new industry. The "video games" argument (whether they're ultimately good or bad) aside, Penny Arcade has a great synopsis of what this bill is all about. And it ain't protecting the children.
So what? French smoking, online gambling, video games, and Trans Fats in New York? What's the big deal you ask? Hmmm, I know I left my soap box around here somewhere... where was it? Where? Ah yes, thank you. Ahem.
BECAUSE IT'S YOUR LIFE!
And you should be entitled to live it as you choose. Maybe it's the nutjob in me. I don't smoke, I generally dislike the French, I don't play poker online, and I don't go to New York all that often. But I just can't understand the absence of outrage over these types of nanny state laws. When did it become ok for bureaucrats to determine personal morality? Ok, I know, stupid question. But does anyone else find the idea of bureacurats telling us what's right and wrong ridiculous?
Anyone?
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
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