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Barney Frank: Libertarian? « The Washington Independent

Jul 31, 2020
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Turning the popular concept of partisan politics on its head, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) this month reintroduced legislation to legalize some Internet gambling, which has been banned since 2006. The New York Times ran a short piecetoday on the proposal, which would empower federal regulators to license wager-takers catering to customers in the United States:
At a news conference announcing the legislation, Mr. Frank, who is chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, pointed out that the federal government could collect increased tax revenues if Internet gambling was regulated. But he said online gambling should be legal as a matter of personal liberty, calling it an activity the government should neither encourage nor prohibit.
“Most actions the government should stay out of,” Mr. Frank said.
Of note here, Frank is among those Democrats on Capitol Hill most often criticized by members of the right, who contend he epitomizes the large-government interventionism they say has threatened free markets, and thus the economy as we know and love it.
Funny, then, that the opponents of Frank’s Internet gambling bill are mostly conservatives who claim to champion small government, Adam Smith-style capitalism. For example, here’s Rep. Spencer Bachus of Alabama, the senior Republican on the Financial Services Committee, according to The Times:
Illegal offshore Internet gambling sites are a criminal enterprise, and allowing them to operate unfettered in the United States would present a clear danger to our youth, who are subject to becoming addicted to gambling at an early age.
Frank’s bill arrives roughly a month after he, along with Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), introduced another proposallegalizing the farming of industrial hemp — another concept opposed largely by conservatives under the false premise that it also somehow threatens the nation’s youth. (Industrial hemp is non-psychoactive).
Frank the socialist? Not really. On these issues he trusts free markets much more than most GOP colleagues.
Dexter Cooke

Dexter Cooke

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Dexter Cooke is an economist, marketing strategist, and orthopedic surgeon with over 20 years of experience crafting compelling narratives that resonate worldwide. He holds a Journalism degree from Columbia University, an Economics background from Yale University, and a medical degree with a postdoctoral fellowship in orthopedic medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina. Dexter’s insights into media, economics, and marketing shine through his prolific contributions to respected publications and advisory roles for influential organizations. As an orthopedic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive knee replacement surgery and laparoscopic procedures, Dexter prioritizes patient care above all. Outside his professional pursuits, Dexter enjoys collecting vintage watches, studying ancient civilizations, learning about astronomy, and participating in charity runs.
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