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PA Republicans propose "sin tax" on video games.

George-ananda

Advaita Vedanta, Theosophy, Spiritualism
Premium Member
We might as well get money from those sinning heathens, Father Heathen! Pay up!
 

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member

Well, I guess the state must need more revenue, and they had to think of something they could tax without stepping on too many toes (politically speaking) and which could make them look like crusaders at the same time.

The video game industry is balking about it, for obvious reasons.

But then, could they impose a tax on R-rated movies or music with questionable lyrics?
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
But then, could they impose a tax on R-rated movies or music with questionable lyrics?
They shouldn't. It's not censorship in the traditional means, but it can create a means to "censor via taxation." Don't like something you find morally objectionable? Tax it out of existence.
If passed, it definitely needs to be carefully monitored so that doesn't happen.
 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
I don't play video games, sounds good to me. The fact that it is a ridiculous and unjust tax won't bother me at all once I wear my logic repelling MAGA hat.
 

PruePhillip

Well-Known Member
This is perhaps totally off-topic but one theoretical physicist
suggesting taxing all electronic devices as a way of funding
advanced research into electronics.
We tax alcohol, some places tax prostitution, why not tax
violence too? It might help support law enforcement in the
same way we could help physics research.
 

The money would go into a fund called the "Digital Protection for School Safety Account" that aims to enhance security measures at schools in the wake of the school shootings in Parkland, Florida and Newtown, Connecticut.

Of course! Tax video games to pay for protection from guns!

Next they could implement a tax on linen suits to reduce domestic violence, or a tax on Lego to improve road safety.
 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
The money would go into a fund called the "Digital Protection for School Safety Account" that aims to enhance security measures at schools in the wake of the school shootings in Parkland, Florida and Newtown, Connecticut.

Of course! Tax video games to pay for protection from guns!

Next they could implement a tax on linen suits to reduce domestic violence, or a tax on Lego to improve road safety.
Lego should be heavily taxed, and we need Lego control laws as well. Just try stepping on one barefoot in the dark and you will understand.
 

Jumi

Well-Known Member
This is perhaps totally off-topic but one theoretical physicist
suggesting taxing all electronic devices as a way of funding
advanced research into electronics.
Sounds like "socialism", don't it?

We tax alcohol, some places tax prostitution, why not tax
violence too? It might help support law enforcement in the
same way we could help physics research.
Computer games are not all violent. In fact I sometimes play games now and the ones I like feature none to negligible amounts of violence. Are you going to tax things like the Bible too "with violence tax"?
 

PruePhillip

Well-Known Member
Sounds like "socialism", don't it?

Don't know. It's more a case of user-pays.

Again off-topic, but here in Australia we fund roads with a 40 cent fuel tax.
Same thing. With electronic cars we might fund roads with a GPS style
road surcharge.
But a violence tax is problematic because the link between violence on
screen/games/books etc and real violence cannot be ascertained.
 

Jumi

Well-Known Member
Again off-topic, but here in Australia we fund roads with a 40 cent fuel tax.
Same thing. With electronic cars we might fund roads with a GPS style
road surcharge.
Quite different from this proposed law, yes.

But a violence tax is problematic because the link between violence on
screen/games/books etc and real violence cannot be ascertained.
Well they found no evidence so far (and they tried hard!) that violent games cause people to be violent. I don't think reading books in general causes one to be violent either, even if the books feature violence. I think history books and many holy books would get some huge taxes if they went by a kill count. What would it fund? Probably something completely different, right?
 

PruePhillip

Well-Known Member
Quite different from this proposed law, yes.


Well they found no evidence so far (and they tried hard!) that violent games cause people to be violent. I don't think reading books in general causes one to be violent either, even if the books feature violence. I think history books and many holy books would get some huge taxes if they went by a kill count. What would it fund? Probably something completely different, right?

Good reply, I like it.
 

fantome profane

Anti-Woke = Anti-Justice
Premium Member
I propose a tax on non-violent video games, and put that money into research and development of more exciting video games.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Isn't all taxation sinful though?
Taxes can have one or 2 purposes....
1) Generate revenue.
2) Discourage an activity.

#1 is always there.
#2 is there for things like booze, smokes, video games, ammunition.

Moreover, #1 is sometimes used by one group's taxing authority to tax
an outside group, eg, hotel tax. This strikes me as unabashed fleecing.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
Politicians have learned that "sin" taxes are easier to pass into law because they set those who will not be effected against those that will, and in a way that leads them to imagine themselves superior. They use our egos to divide us against each other. Some religions do this also. Traditionally, these taxes were on things like alcohol and cigarettes; things that even those effected tended to see as "bad", or costly to society. But some politicians will try anything.
 

Erebus

Well-Known Member
Explaining the bill last year, Quinn said violent video games might be an element in the rise of school shootings in America. "One factor that may be contributing to the rise in, and intensity of, school violence is the material kids see, and act out, in video games," he said.

There must be something in common among all school shootings, something that facilitates mass murder...

Of course! Videogames! A tax on those would render unstable students completely harmless.
 
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