Yesterday, Vice President Joe Biden stated publicly again that he wants violent video games to be taxed and sees “no legal reason” why we should not move forward with a new tax. The story was telling in two respects. First, there is no evidence that such games produce the type of attacks seen at the Boston bombing and school shootings. Yet, this was the first thing that various politicians grabbed to show a response to the killings — besides of course reducing our civil liberties further. Second, Biden again seems intent on fulfilling the stereotype of a liberal politician where the answer to every problem is a tax. There is no discussion of how such a tax would accomplish any economic or public policy objective beyond moving money from people Biden disfavors to people he favors.
Experts are divided on the impact of violent video games with some finding no real longterm impacts and others finding a contributing factor in violence or delinquency. Putting aside this debate, there is no discussion of why a tax would serve any purpose beyond driving up costs and of course producing more revenue for the government.
As many on this blog know, I am fairly hostile to the tax-first approach to public policy and the use of high taxes to address worsening economic situations in countries like France. This is an example of how reflexive the call for taxes is from politicians like Biden. Biden announced that he would like to tax the game and give the money “help victims and their families.” It is an all-too-common approach to tax politics. Find an unpopular industry, tax it, and then give the money to a more popular group. It appears the later group this term is a generally defined group of “victims” — not of video games but crime. It is not clear how such money will be awarded to victims or whether it would go to government offices that support victims.
When he was later asked if he could point to any study showing the effect of violent games on behavior or the effect of the tax on game playing, Biden simply said that the government would study the problem.
While I disagree equally with the no tax mentality of people on the other side of the political debate, I am constantly amazed by how taxes seem the first reaction of politicians like Biden. In this case, the tax seems to come first and the rationale will be supplied later. We simply tax them all and let God sort them out.
Source: Forbes
Joe,
You were the only reason I voted for Obama … keep up the good work!
Christine Noble – and that is why I never voted for Gore. No way in hell would I want Tipper to be first lady so she can pull a new PMRC.
Jonathan Hughes – that game would have to be taxed. Too much violence in the crucifixion parts.
Or maybe it’ll be like The Passion and kids can get it anyway because it’s super important to see.
Games need to portray the complex character of Jesus for all to see.
I am less concerned by the tax first mentality than the reflexive demonization of anything outside one’s personal experiences. Latte liberals are too haute culture to ever dirty their fingers on video games, so video games must be bad. It is also a great reminder that liberals in power are as ready to sacrifice personal freedoms that are not among their sacred cows as conservatives. Remember, it was Al Gore’s wife that led the charge on so-called offensive music.
What if its a hockey game and the goalie gets hit with the puck? That will be a hundred thousand dollars.
What if its a video game of Bill Clinton and Monika Lewdwinski and involves the cigar? What tax would be imposed on that? Lets ask Biden. Please send him an email. Would there be a violence tax as well as a tobacco tax?
Lets compare the violence tax to the tobacco tax. The tobacco kills people for sure. The violence on video incites people to kill. The Edward R. Murrow guy smoking on TV during the national news broadcast incited people to smoke and thus commit suicide. There is a song named Suicide is Painless but that is not true with smokers and lung cancer. FDR jolly smoking photo ops incided other people to smoke and commit the same suicide which FDR did. The cigarette holder and the jutting chin did not ward off the heart disease.
We should praise Biden for opening this discussion. Round One of Saturday Night Live this weekend should be Clinton, Monika and the big fat cigar. Bill could be smelling it afterward. You know how those guys always smell their cigars. This would give it a new angle. No pun intended. When are we gonna talk about the Cardinal Nation State on the West Bank on this blog?
This article shows a little of JT’s right leaning libertarian side.
I am sure that JT is fundamentally libertarian, but generally he leans left, on the civil liberties side.
This tax is something that a leftist would like, as well as statists.
But of course fundamentally it is a sin tax . . . you shouldn’t be liking to play games with bad content, so you will pay extra for it.
Biden never saw a tax he didn’t like. Just like his buddy Obama.
SWM, I respect your support for Joe. I’ll just leave it @ that.
Violent movies and video games make people immune to violence.
nick, Biden was just floating an idea. He has no plan in place.
what a lame brain, Can you imagine this guy as president if something should happen to Obama, God forbid.
Gene H.
“You know what causes violence, Joe? Living in an unjust society where the government caters to war criminals and corporations – giving white collar criminals tax money as bonuses for their sociopathic behavior while sending kids to jail for smoking a joint and not bothering anyone but the pizza delivery guy. Why don’t you do something about that first? Schmuck”
Rock on! You nailed it!
SWM, I think many, if not most, of Joe’s critics would agree Joe is a good guy. That’s not the issue, that he is a buffoon is the issue.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/14/joe-biden-letter_n_3271533.html Joe received more publicity for his sweet handwritten note to a seven year old boy in Wisconsin yesterday. Gun control advocates love him………
With all these scandals, Joe has to piss on his leg as he always does. Watch the great HBO show, Veep, and tell me Selina is not Joe.
The courts have already determined that video games are “free speech”. So he wans to tax some people’s free speech and not others? Good luck with that, Joe…
He should probably remember what happened with NYC’s soda tax… The judge that voided it said that it was too arbitrary because some places were taxed and others were not. This would be no different.
Interesting! Instead of creating a national sales taxes on manufactured weapons & ammunition, alcoholic beverages,tobacco products, or imported products, the Obama Administration believes the Marvel vs Street Fighter video game is the problem? Way to go Joe!
I agree Gene….
Prof, this is crazy…. And gives the wing nuts ammo to attack the democrats for the policy’s set up by Reagan ….. But they are called the tax and spend liberals….. No one has classified this game as a sin…. Yet…. But no one has a problem with sin taxes…..
“For nearly thirty years we’ve been having this discussion, asking the question: do violent movies, music or video games make people violent? Well according to Brad Bushman and Craig Anderson of Iowa State University, yes. Based on the results of their research they concluded in 2001 that video games and violent media can make people aggressive and violent. Based upon their data and their conclusions, however, it’s safe to say that photos of snakes, crispy bacon, or a particularly rigorous game of chess can also make people aggressive and violent.” – Gamesutra
Keep your hands off my pictures of chess playing snakes eating bacon, Joe.
You know what causes violence, Joe? Living in an unjust society where the government caters to war criminals and corporations – giving white collar criminals tax money as bonuses for their sociopathic behavior while sending kids to jail for smoking a joint and not bothering anyone but the pizza delivery guy. Why don’t you do something about that first? Schmuck.