Bachus Honored for Opposition to Internet Gambling

My favorite patriots are my libertarian friends. Conservatives must remember, as Ronald Reagan stated, that libertarianism is the heart of conservatism. When asked, I often state that I am 90-95% libertarian. But occasionally, an issue comes along that accentuates my differences with some of my libertarian friends. I say some, because some would agree on this issue. The great free-marketer Adam Smith felt that a free society could not tolerate gambling. Gambling is the antithesis to free enterprise, since the entire motive behind gambling is to abuse another by taking advantage of the weakness of a gambler. The free enterprise system is built on initiative, investment, and labor. Gambling exploits one's greed in an ill-determined manner.
In recent years, college campuses have experienced an epidemic of young students who jeopardize their future to cover gambling debts acquired through internet gambling. Gambling through the internet is easily accessible and tends to capture the mind. Remember, Romans 13 defines the government's role as that of keeping a sinful heart from blossoming into sinful actions that harm others. Hence, I support efforts to cripple internet gambling. While I respect the rights of states to determine their own gambling laws, I would believe that federal legislation has a right to deal with internet gambling, since the internet cannot be regulated within a state.
Alabama Congressman Spencer Bachus has been instrumental in legislation passed, under a Republican Congress and signed by President George W. Bush, that has severely crippled internet gambling, reducing this scourge by three-fourths. Legislation to repeal the Bachus-supported legislation failed by one vote in the House Committee. Congressman Bachus is to be commended for his work on this effort.
On Monday, June 29, a group of Alabama Baptists and other concerned conservatives met at Samford University to honor Congressman Bachus for his work on legislation on internet gambling. Barrett Duke of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission spoke of Bachus' leadership on the important issue of internet gambling. Musings from Maytown was privileged to be one of two media outlets invited to cover this event. We are pleased to express support for Congressman Bachus in his efforts to end the blight of internet gambling. This writer is pictured here with Congressman Bachus.