Technology Liberation Front spokesman Adam Thierer has criticized the wannabe censors who have wasted American tax dollars in their fight against videogames. This follows the revelation that Minnesota will pay the games industry $65,000 for trying to pass an unconstitutional law. Thierer suggests other things that could have been done with the amount of money wasted in trying to push these silly pet causes:
... these cases make it clear that there is a significant opportunity cost associated with censorship efforts. That $2 million in recovered legal fees [by the game industry from nine different states] could have been plowed into educational efforts to help explain to parents how to use the excellent voluntary ratings systems or console-based parental control tools that are at their disposal. Moreover, that $2 million ... does not account for the resources that state and local officials put into these regulatory efforts. So, we are talking about a much greater deadweight loss for society and taxpayers.
Just think, what if government officials had spent that money on some PSAs during a major sporting event? Or perhaps more brochures and in-store displays to make the public better aware of the ratings and parental control tools at their disposal. Or even a direct mail campaign to homes with children making parents aware of these ratings and tools?
When you think about all that money sunk into a lost cause, you can really put the fight against games into perspective. America is in recession, people struggle just to provide for their families, and a few nutjobs are spending public money over a few videogames. Tell me, is the restriction of some videogames really more important than getting your country's economy back on track? For some people, it seems to be the case. Some of America's most outspoken anti-game critics could really have put their powers into doing some social good. Whatever they may think, throwing tantrums over a few games is not of benefit to society. There are more important things to worry about right now.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
7:12 AM on 07.02.2008
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I wonder if Jack Thompson puts himself with his own money in the line.... I dont think so.
Mugabae, fuel crisis, global warming. We'd never be able to argue either side if we waited for more important things to subside.
Well of course, but my point is that people with that much dedication to fighting a totally worthless cause that they will NEVER win could be doing something of value. Wasting taxpayer's money in a time of recession is not only worthless, but actively harmful to the society they want to protect.
It is very easy to convince sheeple parents that games need this legislation. The scary thing is that I see one of these laws eventually passing, and surviving the appeal, despite being unconstitutional
Slippery slope that will damn near be vertical. Yet money will be wasted. Sad that people complain about rising property, personal, and vice (cigarettes), but not this.
Now rock and roll on the other hand. Someone needs to tackle that for the good of our children.
We only hear about the objection to the game instead of being able to tell for ourselves whether or not this or that game is going to be ok for our kids to play. We are hand fed it by FOX news. (I'm speaking figuratively)
if it costs a few million for them to learn from their mistakes and not try the same thing again then its taxpayer money worth spent.
In a side note $2mil COULD be used to buy a lot of drugs,booze and hookers.
I personally wouldn't worry about that. It may be easy to convince some people that these bills are necessary but convincing enough people to get that bill passed into law would be tough. Especially as time goes on and these old codgers with their old fashioned ways retire and new blood comes in.
This quote, or a permutation thereof, pretty much sums up my thoughts on the democratic process in America.
The vast majority of people seem to base their votes off of fairly extraneous issues in the grand scheme of things.
Instead of voting for the most intellegent, capable, well rounded candidate, people vote for the one who shares their views on gay marriage or stem cell research or abortion.
Their called "hot button" topics for a reason, but electing a moron who's staunchly against gay marriage over an intelligent person who's open to the idea is just plain stupid.
You vote for the candidate who's best capable of RUNNING THE COUNTRY. Not the one who supports insignificant, bullshit agendas. End of story.