Quote:
Originally Posted by pianospike
I think you make a fair point regarding California not being a nanny state. However, i think you underestimate the power of the tribal governments and their sway on the Democratic leaders. Do you really believe that with Brown as governor and a Democrat-controlled Legislature they are going to vote to opt in when all the tribes will be aligned in opposition to that?
1. I suspect that the same political forces that made Indian gaming immensely popular (to the point where the voters overrode legislative decisions to curtail it) will make Internet gaming immensely popular as well. There's no reason to think that the Democrats are going to override public opinion.
Indeed, we have a cycle in this state whereby politicians do things, they get chastened by the voters, and then they fall in line. This happened with property taxes, the Lottery, three strikes, Indian gaming, and medical marijuana. At this point, I suspect there are very few people in the legislature, and no major party gubernatorial candidates, who are going to want to take a political bullet for Indian tribes.
2. I am not, actually, sure that Indian tribes will be opposed. I saw the hearing yesterday and it sure didn't sound like it-- rather, it sounded like they wanted a piece of the action and are willing to negotiate, which suggests that they can be bought off.