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2008-01-26 Home Front: Culture Wars

New Mexico wants to tax TV's and video games!

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Posted by 3dc 2008-01-26 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 You sure this isn't from The Onion?

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2008-01-26 00:29|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/] 2008-01-26 00:29|| Front Page Top

#2 I suspect it's real.

Begin rant: Frankly, I'd like to see all video games, game boys, ipods, and other sources of mental white noise self-destruct in ten seconds.

I recommend the book, "Last Child In the Woods". by Richard Louv. It discusses the effects of children caused by lack of exercise, free play, and lack of exposure to nature except for the Discovery Channel.

I grew up in Chicago, with a concrete backyard; but I played street hockey and running bases in the alley, swam at the pool, enjoyed the playground a block away, learned how to ride the El to the beach by the time I was 12, and learned how to weed other people's gardens for fun and profit. My dad took me to the forest preserve and taught me how to identify birds and wildflowers; and he showed me the proper way to catch a snake when I was three.

I consider myself blessed that our kids have lived less than a block from parks, forest preserves, empty lots, and mud pits for their childhood. I cannot, alas, get the two autistic younger kids outside much; so they have pet rabbits, I make them mow the lawn and help me in the garden, and I take them up to a friend's barn and have them pitch manure and groom horses.

Having them help in the garden has paid some dividends. The youngest has decided he likes to make pickles, so he gets his own bush cukes this summer.

End rant.

Posted by mom">mom 2008-01-26 00:58|| http://idontknowbut.blogspot.com]">[http://idontknowbut.blogspot.com] 2008-01-26 00:58|| Front Page Top

#3 You're a good mom and your kids are lucky.

Posted by Punky Omeagum5537 2008-01-26 04:11|| 2008-01-26 04:11|| Front Page Top

#4 Practicality is a chiefest of all virtues.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2008-01-26 08:06|| 2008-01-26 08:06|| Front Page Top

#5 Well, mom, you're a good parent. You're doing what you need to do. It's not the video games' fault that other parents aren't doing the same.

This is just more nanny-state meddling, no different than taxing foods because they're presumed to be unhealthy or banning trans-fats.

Posted by Rob Crawford">Rob Crawford 2008-01-26 08:28|| 2008-01-26 08:28|| Front Page Top

#6 It's one state legislator and, of course, the MSM cheerfully carry her water. This is the mentality of the nanny tyrants. First we'll point it out, then we'll 'educate' you, then we'll make you criminals/tax evaders if you don't do what we want you to do.

Fortunately, it appears Congress has extended the internet tax abatement for now. Just move the purchase from your local Gamestop, mom and pop shop, to Amazon.

I wonder if the clownet knows how many households have videogames and are registered to vote. Betcha she thinks, in her small minded and bigoted world, games for only for kiddies.

Posted by Procopius2k 2008-01-26 08:59|| 2008-01-26 08:59|| Front Page Top

#7 Let's just tax board games too. And books. Can't exercise while reading on a couch ya know. Let's also mandate exercise as well! You gotta get those kids in shape. If you don't do the mandated 15 hours a week your kid becomes a ward of the state.

See? All better in our Utopian society!

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-01-26 09:49|| 2008-01-26 09:49|| Front Page Top

#8 What's next obligatory exercise sessions at school and the work place? Kinda reminds you of the glorious days of communism in China and the USSR doesn't it?

Posted by GK 2008-01-26 10:30|| 2008-01-26 10:30|| Front Page Top

#9 I salute you mom! Reminds me of this old Zager & Evans tune.

In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find

In the year 3535
Ain't gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lies
Everything you think, do, or say
Is in the pill you took today

In the year 4545
Ain't gonna need your teeth, won't need your eyes
You won't find a thing to do
Nobody's gonna look at you

In the year 5555
Your arms are hanging limp at your sides
Your legs not nothing to do
Some machine is doing that for you

In the year 6565
Ain't gonna need no husband, won't need no wife
You'll pick your son, pick your daughter too
From the bottom of a long black tube

In the year 7510
If God's a-comin' he ought to make it by then
Maybe he'll look around himself and say
Guess it's time for the Judgement day

In the year 8510
God's gonna shake his mighty head
He'll either say I'm pleased where man has been
Or tear it down and start again

In the year 9595
I'm kinda wondering if man's gonna be alive
He's taken everything this old earth can give
And he ain't put back nothing

Now it's been 10,000 years
Man has cried a billion tears
For what he never knew
Now man's reign is through
But through the eternal night
The twinkling of starlight
So very far away
Maybe it's only yesterday

In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find

In the year 3535
Ain't gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lies
Everything you think, do or say
Is in the pill you took today ....(fading

Posted by Besoeker 2008-01-26 11:13|| 2008-01-26 11:13|| Front Page Top

#10 Just want to point out that
1/ Fast computer games make you more intelligent.
2/ MMORPGs are massively social , and teach real world skills such as managing teams, running businesses etc.
3/ Training on compouter games has helped the army reduce training times on a lot of systems as people are already ok with the virtual metaphores.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2008-01-26 12:35|| 2008-01-26 12:35|| Front Page Top

#11 Also in article:

Earlier this week, a high school in the US state of Georgia launched another unique initiative to boost the math and science grades of students.

Creekside High School near Atlanta offered students money to attend remedial classes in the two subjects for 15 weeks and a monetary bonus for maintaining a "B" grade average afterwards.

Discussion here: going on the assumption that this is a benefit, how would one go about taxing TV and Video Games? There would have to be a monitor on the TV, untamperable, which constantly reports what is being displayed on the screen. Orwelle implements this, then decides what is 'educational' and tax exempt, then all out taxes? Insulting and dangerous suggestion, great call ~~neo-communist~~ d party.

Posted by swksvolFF 2008-01-26 15:24|| 2008-01-26 15:24|| Front Page Top

#12 i'm 29 , work and also play PC games. I'm not fat and in pretty good shape. S why should i have too pay a tax too play because someone fatass kids won't get off their asses and go outside and do something.

Posted by sinse 2008-01-26 17:02|| 2008-01-26 17:02|| Front Page Top

#13 Who cares, war tonight at update. NADC is going down along with the Viredian Entente and maybe them damn Nazis at Norden Verein.

Posted by Thomas Woof 2008-01-26 18:55|| http://www.cybernations.net]">[http://www.cybernations.net] 2008-01-26 18:55|| Front Page Top

#14 Whooooopsie, wrong window.

Posted by Thomas Woof 2008-01-26 18:57|| http://www.cybernations.net]">[http://www.cybernations.net] 2008-01-26 18:57|| Front Page Top

#15 I'm 60, I play Quake 1,2, and 3, doom, hexen, Wolfenstein (All 3,)Unreal, Baldurs Gate (3 versions) as well as Railroad Tycoon, Tycoon 2, Microsoft rail simulator, Sim City, and whatever else is new, (Got Icewind Dale, at a very good price, unopened, on standby waiting for boredom to set in.)

Posted by Redneck Jim 2008-01-26 19:22|| 2008-01-26 19:22|| Front Page Top

#16 While on the subject, yes I grew up "Country", to be exact, on a real working farm, learned to milk cows, slop hogs and ride horses (When they got tired of us kids they'd brush us off on a convenient low limb and go back to the barn) all before I was ten (I even made butter once with a hand churn, but it was simply to learn how, not a needed chore. ) fed and tended to a small flock of chickens(30), Gathered eggs, and drew water from a well by hand (No pump, electricity hadn't come our way just then)Grandpa had hunting dogs, but he took care of them, we also had a couple of peacocks (HUGE Purple eggs), a small guineau hen flock (10)(All brown eggs), and one huge cat.(Lucifer, same as the cat in peter pan)
I had an absolute Ball doing all this, and by growing up "Dirty" I've been relatively disease-free all these years. and a tremendous store of good memories.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2008-01-26 19:40|| 2008-01-26 19:40|| Front Page Top

#17 yep - I just got on the XBox360 this week. Son's a wiz. Playing Bioshock tonight. Also, I'll challenge anyone on Unreal Tourney '04. I have UT3 but my computer crashes - good reason to upgrade.
So, MOM, just like my own Mother, I'm glad you don't control my life. Your mileage may vary, but I will resist you or others like you, making lifestyle choices for me, whether through taxes, prohibitions, or monitoring. Worry about your own life. Leave mine alone

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2008-01-26 20:11|| 2008-01-26 20:11|| Front Page Top

#18 Where'd ya grow up, Redneck Jim? I grew up near Pratville.

Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues 2008-01-26 20:17|| 2008-01-26 20:17|| Front Page Top

#19 Robinsin Springs Deacon, we're sorta neighbors, t'other side of Prattville from you. (Figured that out a month or so ago)on the (Now)Deatsville Highway, box number has changed about eight times, First box 63 Deatsville, now it's in the 1900's but I don't live there anymore, still own 10 acres, may move back one year, unknown?

Posted by Redneck Jim 2008-01-26 22:47|| 2008-01-26 22:47|| Front Page Top

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