Comments on: New Mexico's video game nanny tax

PFF's Adam Thierer says the state's decision is a troubling harbinger for makers and users of electronic game technologies.

[Jim Harmon]

Once again the gov't steps in

This is yet another example of the "it takes a village" crap. The gov't is saying "We know better than you how to raise your child." Frankly, unless a crime is being committed it's none of their darn business!!

[sal-magnone]

Perfect

Look at all the problems this fixes-

1. Some politico needed an issue
2. The Parks dept needed funding
3. Parents needed to feel like someone was doing something useful
4. And some far lefties got their tax fix for '08

Done Deal BABY!

[chuck_whealton]

Re: Once again, the gov't steps in

Well, I'm certainly no friend to video games.

However, this just seems like a seriously lame excuse for a tax.

Charles R. Whealton
Charles Whealton @ pleasedontspam.com

[realwirelessman]

So I guess this covers educational games too?

As usual, big brother will use a blunt tool to fix a problem that isn't what we voted them into office to pay attention to doing.....

So, the tax we will let them place on games will cover range of games including those that cover educational topics like music, typing, math, writing, vocab, etc.....

I wonder if the idiots proposing this have some idea of the damage they're creating with this new frankinstien law?

IDIOTS to my right, IDIOTS to my left, IDIOTS in front of me and IDIOTS behind me.

The world has too many idiots.

[lynxss]

At least they are trying something and its been working

At least NM is trying to do something to help its future. This is a poor state where 1/4 dont have health care. Under Gov Richardson we've made leaps and bounds in terms of progress with children and health care reform but there's still plenty left for improvement.

He's already banned soda vending machines from schools, replaced those with juice and water. Banned the candy bars and junk food machines from school cafeterias as well and mandated PE, no more getting out of it. They've been trying different methods for PE to make it fun so kids want to do it, and teaching excercises to keep fit that they can do at home like a personal trainer. Both my parents are midschool teachers in NM and both have said that the improvements in the last few years have dramatically helped the kids there, they have more energy at the end of the day, and consequently learn better and grades are up. Huge huge impact.

I dont particularly agree with this tax but I dont see it as any different from the cigarette tax or gas tax, its not a tax on content of the games. If it helps the kids and doesnt get swiped to pay for other programs like social security does so often then I'm willing to pay it. There is a massive epidemic of childhood diabetes here, especially among the big native american population. This is the first generation of kids projected to not outlive thier parents. Maybe its not so bad in your state, and your kids cafeterias were not run by cocacola and frito-lay to require as drastic of actions as we've taken here.

[Dr_Zinj]

I suggest you go back are read the article again

The objection to this tax is that it violates the first amendment of the constitution.

Another one is that it taxes all buyers, not just children, who are the proported targets of the tax.

What you're really advocating is on a direct course to prohibition aimed at video games, not alcohol this time.

It is not, and should not be, the responsibility of the government, to dictate how parents raise their children other than the basic protections of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness of the children. Sure, I'd love to be able to raise my two sons with the resources Hillary and Bill used for Chelsea; but it's not financially feasible to do that for every child in America, much less my two kids. And Chelsea got WAY more than the minimum required.

This tax fails to address the reason(s) why children play video games over outdoor activities. There are more than enough organizations that promote outdoor activities now: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls, YMCA camps, etc. The resources are available. The choice to use them requires parental involvement, not taxes aimed at children's games.

Dollars to doughnuts by the time New Mexico gets their hands on the extra tax money, it will be diverted (partially or completely) to use for things other than outdoor education programs.

Finally, New Mexico isn't any worse off for outdoor activities than any other state in the union. Part of the problem is that there isn't enough public lands for people to find and use. What good is a lake when every square inch of property around it is bought up, built on, or posted? Massive waiting lines to get into Yosemite or Yellowstone, rationing to go hiking the Appalachian Trail, radical leave no trace (pack your urine and feces out with you) requirements for hiking the pacific crest?

[cr_at_work]

What about readers, et al.?

Some kids like to stay indoors to read or practice on musical instruments. Maybe they should tax books and sheet music to get them out in the fresh air, too.

And don't forget the Monopoly board.

Or their school supplies. (Damn kid wanted to get his homework done - imagine that!)

[lynxss]

sadly smart kids doesnt equal healthy kids

One of my childhood best friends, an Apache, was incredibly gifted as an artist and book smart as a kid but still overweight and now has typical native american diabetes and already had a heart attack before age 30.

Myself, on the otherhand, was saluditorian in high school, now have 3 degrees, but I live on pain killers and other meds from chronic medical problems due to mercury poisoning when I was 8 from local tap water in New Mexico. All because I did a few sports and drank a lot of water rather than softdrinks. Its taken over 20 years of work to get my bloodwork to somewhat reasonable levels, adults who were affected by this got well in a few years. Small mishaps in childhood health really impact you for the rest of your life :(

Smart kids doesnt necessarily mean healthy kids, unfortunately.

[paulej]

Are they nuts? I think so...

Everybody should have a balanced life. I will immediately confess that I read too much news.com. But, to put a tax on video games to encourage kids to go outside? They must be out of their minds.

1) It will not work, as people will pay 1% more. (What is this money really for?)
2) Kids should not be outside all day every day, either (sun burns or worse... especially in New Mexico)
3) Which is worse? Kids playing video games, or kids joining local street gangs? Hmmm...
4) It is not the government's place to tell parents how kids should spend their time
5) If the government really wants kids to have play time, give them time during the school day to go outside and play... what does it hurt to add an extra 30 minutes? (Rotate the teachers watching the kids, teachers do paperwork... cost can be maintained at current levels.)
6) Logic like this would lead to taxing computers or anything that gets a kids attention that somebody feels "too much of" is not a good thing.

I hope this gets killed before it goes too far.

[tech_junky48]

We have illegals streaming over our border into....

We have troops heading to Iraq from....

We have places we could drill for oil in....

New Mexico

And you attack the video game industry, a multi billion-dollar industry that provides jobs for thousands, if not a million, Americans

Why did we vote for you?

[tech_junky48]

We have illegals streaming over our border into....

We have troops heading to Iraq from....

We have places we could drill for oil in....

New Mexico

And you attack the video game industry, a multi billion-dollar industry that provides jobs for thousands, if not a million, Americans

Why did we vote for you?

[tech_junky48]

sorry, it didn't appear so I figured there was a submission problem.

[Knothead1992]

I am a 16 year old male living in Oklahoma. I am an athletic and straight A student I will be completly honest. I play video games more than I should but what goes on in my house is not the governments business unless a crime is commited. This tax is actually a bill in Congress for the entire country. They are trying to get money from the gaming community to fill up the financial hole they made by giving to many people money and trying to raise money for the health care. Like i said before, I spend plenty of time outside as i do inside. Just because I play games doesn't mean I am not healty or smart. Games actually are useful in many ways. WWII games are actually very educational used in the right way. This tax is bogus is what I'm trying to say.