Spring Break
No Separation Between Games And State
Good Game
Fernando Dutra
Issue date: 3/7/08 Section: Focus
Comments regarding the connection between video games and politics are normally met with blank, unknowing stares, given the dissimilarity between the two. However, video games do play a small, but notable, role in politics. It wasn't too long ago that New Mexico's "No Child Gets Left Inside" video game tax bill was introduced, which would have implemented a 1 percent excise tax on game, console and television purchases as a way to promote outdoor activities. An Alabama trial defendant argued something along the lines of "video games influenced me" as a defense to murder. Laws of Play's Anthony Prestia interviewed Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia on video game legislation, discovering that Scalia holds the belief that since minors are held to prohibitions that adults aren't, laws restricting the purchase of M-rated titles without a parent could be constitutional. As of now, though, these laws are being rejected by district courts throughout the nation.
While not at the forefront of political discourse, video games have played a role in the current presidential campaign. Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney had advertisements concerned with ridding our nation of an "ocean of filth." In a campaign advertisement in Iowa in July 2007, Romney stated, "It's time to clean up the water in which our kids are swimming. I've proposed that we enforce our obscenity laws again and that we get serious against those retailers that sell adult video games that are filled with violence, that we go after those retailers."
Presidential candidate Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) has been noticeably silent about his stance on video games or possible legislation to regulate them, though an endorsement from Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), who has historically been vocal about reforming the Entertainment Software Ratings Board and co-sponsored the Family Entertainment Protection Act (with Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.)) may have stronger consequences in the future for McCain's stance.
While not at the forefront of political discourse, video games have played a role in the current presidential campaign. Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney had advertisements concerned with ridding our nation of an "ocean of filth." In a campaign advertisement in Iowa in July 2007, Romney stated, "It's time to clean up the water in which our kids are swimming. I've proposed that we enforce our obscenity laws again and that we get serious against those retailers that sell adult video games that are filled with violence, that we go after those retailers."
Presidential candidate Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) has been noticeably silent about his stance on video games or possible legislation to regulate them, though an endorsement from Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), who has historically been vocal about reforming the Entertainment Software Ratings Board and co-sponsored the Family Entertainment Protection Act (with Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.)) may have stronger consequences in the future for McCain's stance.
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