General Discussion

Drale

(7,932 posts) Sat Feb 4, 2012, 01:55 PM Feb 2012

Oklahoma the latest state to pin problems on video games, proposes sin tax

An Oklahoma legislator is proposing a ‘what about the children?’ bill (HB 2696) that aims to tax violent video games. Former schoolteacher and current Democratic member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, William T. Fourkiller, wants to levy an excise tax rate of one percent on the sale of violent video games; because these games supposedly spawn the obese bullies which plague our society.

“Violent video games contribute to some of our societal problems like obesity and bullying, but because they raise a lot of revenue, they can also provide part of the solution,” Fourkiller told Oklahoma City’s KFOR.

A sense of urgency surrounds HB 2696 as it has been pushed under the emergency heading; Fourkiller says its necessary for the “preservation of the public peace, health and safety.” The tax’s goals seem to be genuine, and not simply intended to fatten the government wallet. The money gained from HB 2696 will go directly to curing Oklahoma children of the socially undesirable gaming sins which the bill is attacking; half of the money will go towards the Bullying Prevention Revolving Fund, and the other half will go towards the Childhood Outdoor Education Fund.

“A gentleman shot a police officer and stole his car,” Fourkiller points out. “He had been playing Grand Theft Auto.”

A glaring problem with the bill is that it seems to be geared towards a vague swath of video games in its definition: “’Violent video game’ means a video or computer game that has received a rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board of Teen, Mature or Adult Only.” That means, aside from obvious games like Fallout, Bully, Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty, the bill would be taxing games like Beatles Rock Band, You Don’t Know Jack and The Sims 3; though according to the KFOR piece, Fourkiller says he isn’t targeting the video game industry.

http://news.yahoo.com/oklahoma-latest-state-pin-problems-video-games-proposes-055207071.html

God wtf is wrong with people?

5 replies

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Highlight:

Oklahoma the latest state to pin problems on video games, proposes sin tax (Original Post) Drale Feb 2012 OP

If you can't beat it, suck it dry? Cooley Hurd Feb 2012 #1

How about a sin tax for registering as a Republican? HopeHoops Feb 2012 #2

Why just violent video games, why not all of them? MadHound Feb 2012 #3

If they tax them, ban them, and do the same for twinkies,etc - I am all for it The Straight Story Feb 2012 #4

Isn't Fourkiller an unlockable achievement on that one game... Capitalocracy Feb 2012 #5

Cooley Hurd

(26,877 posts)

1. If you can't beat it, suck it dry?

Reply to Drale (Original post)

Sat Feb 4, 2012, 02:13 PM

Feb 2012

On edit: Boy, is my subject line ripe for a double entendre or what???

HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)

2. How about a sin tax for registering as a Republican?

Reply to Drale (Original post)

Sat Feb 4, 2012, 02:21 PM

Feb 2012

That would at least make sense.

MadHound

(34,179 posts)

3. Why just violent video games, why not all of them?

Reply to Drale (Original post)

Sat Feb 4, 2012, 02:26 PM

Feb 2012

After all, they contribute to obesity, attention loss, the inability to focus for even moderate periods of time, and cause permanent alterations in how the brain is structured and functions. They adversely effect how students learn and behave in school.

Tax them all.

The Straight Story

(48,121 posts)

4. If they tax them, ban them, and do the same for twinkies,etc - I am all for it

Reply to Drale (Original post)

Sat Feb 4, 2012, 02:31 PM

Feb 2012

I have learned on here that people should not have choice and cannot control where they go out to drink. Folks are forced to go into a bar that allows smoking because of their weak minds, and since their minds are so weak I guess that others' are as well and these games tempt/corrupt them (which has a second hand affect) and food that is not 100% healthy lures children and adults into obesity that we have to pay for with hire medical costs, so we have to work more, which means more driving and pollution - second hand obesity.

Choices (or wanting them) = being a libertarian I have learned. Common sense laws like 'no smoking in places people have to go, like hospitals and grocery stores' aren't enough to save those we know to be weak minded and just have to go to that one bar and make every one else bow to their personal desires.

No one cared then, I won't care now when the same idiots keep on pushing their fervent religious ideals/philosophy on others and slowly make everything 'bad' and needs controlled because we are all idiots in their eyes.

And when they ban abortion, condoms, birth control pills and someone says 'it is my body, my choice' I will remind them that such a thing is not a liberal principle and adults need to have less choices so we can force them to make the ones we think they should make.

I'm sorry, what were we talking about again?

Capitalocracy

(4,307 posts)

5. Isn't Fourkiller an unlockable achievement on that one game...

Reply to Drale (Original post)

Sat Feb 4, 2012, 02:38 PM

Feb 2012

But seriously, you know what this is really about? Hidden taxation. They want to keep saying they're lowering taxes, but when they start running out of money, they start doing things like putting quotas for parking tickets, or, in this case, taxing video games, in order to make up the difference. And if this guy can score a vote or two from Concerned Adults, all the better, right?

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