New Mexico legislators consider video game tax for outdoor programs

by Griffin McElroy { Jan 26th 2008 at 8:30PM }

The mainstream media and other non-consumers of video games have been portraying gamers as pasty, bleary-eyed shut-ins since the 8-bit days -- aside from some bruised feelings, that stereotype never really did us any harm. However, a recent proposal of the powerful environmental organization The Sierra Club to the New Mexico state legislature may put a dent in the pockets of consumers and retailers living in the Land of Enchantment.

The proposal calls for a 1 percent sales tax on televisions and video games; the proceeds of which would go to "outdoor education programs". According to an article in the Huffington Post, these programs would counteract the negative effects of video games -- "lower academic scores, obesity, and increased attention-deficit disorder." Supporters of the "No Child Left Inside" movement tried to pass a similar bill last year, but were unsuccessful.

Unsurprisingly, gaming advocacy groups have spoken out against the bill's obvious shortcomings, such as its assumption that video games are the sole contributor to childhood obesity, lower grades and ADD. We couldn't agree more. The only weight we've gained from being gaming enthusiasts is from our skin growing thicker due to constant attacks on our lifestyle.

Tags: add, grade, new-mexico, newmexico, obesity, outdooreducation, outdoors, sierraclub, tax

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Squirrel3D @ Jan 26th 2008 8:48PM

Can I slap these morons with a fly swatter? It's people like this that refuses to understand video games because they're always picking something out of it, and then running with it like it's the biggest problem to repersent an entire whole.

thethirdmoose @ Jan 27th 2008 2:48AM

Look. You can't say that video games don't cause obesity, because they do. Sure, they aren't the sole cause, but every minute you spend sitting on your ass is a minute you could be studying/getting exercise. So is this a reasonable tax? Yes, it is, but there should also be similar taxes on fast food and cable TV.

Ted @ Jan 27th 2008 8:36AM

I sort of agree with thethirdmoose... However, I do not think a tax will change behavior on this issue. Just because a video game costs you more doesn't mean that you're going to play less. If I don't feel like doing anything on a sunday (like right now), the fact that I can't afford a new game won't stop me from playing games. If you really wanted to change peoples' behaviour into spending less time watching tv/playing games you'd have to charge people a tax per hour that they play. However, that would be impossible to implement, not to mention a huge breech of privacy and civil liberties.

Squirrel3D @ Jan 27th 2008 11:46AM

So in other words, you won't blame the people for getting off their asses and being active and taking responsiblty. Instead you'll just blame videogames, fast food restuarants, and cable for why some people get fat?

Also, have you heard of something called a Nintendo Wii? Let's see...motion controls, and an upcoming title called Wii fit.

Oh, and there's also something called RESPONSIBLITY. Being fat is the fault of those overweight idiots who refuses to take responsiblity for their own health. So before some of you try to blame videogames and whatever, give 15 minutes to think about what I said...then you'll realise where the blame should really go to.

thethirdmoose @ Jan 27th 2008 3:08PM

It's not so much a preventive tax as a "let's use this money to help the people that are getting fat" tax. And Squirrel - obesity has a lot to do with people's surroundings.

Shockgamer @ Jan 27th 2008 6:56PM

Well hell moose, every minute that people spend entertaining themselves could be used for studying, excercise and things that make life boring.

spenc3r @ Jan 26th 2008 8:51PM

1% of a game sale is around .0353 cents. (kidding)
Yes, there are lots of game sales, but I still don't see where this could go...

CONFUSEDgam3r @ Jan 26th 2008 9:15PM

Governor Richardson just wants our money for his stupid "Rail Runner." [google it, if you know nothing about it]

joedirt131 @ Jan 26th 2008 10:09PM

lol, no one rides the Rail Runner really. It's dead empty most of the time. The only time you hear about it is when it hits a car.

I can't ever see this tax being passed. It's stupid, our state's attempts to get kids more active will just involve an ad campaign on TV or something. Oh well, it's 1%, it doesn't really matter.

Rususeruru @ Jan 26th 2008 8:52PM

That's right tax gamers for something they don't necessarily use! Let's tax corn-dogs to subsidize health food programs while we're at it!

Donald @ Jan 26th 2008 8:54PM

Waitwaitwait, slow down...

... there's a NEW Mexico?

LaughingTarget @ Jan 26th 2008 9:10PM

Someone got sick of the old Mexico and traded it in at GameStop. They obviously got screwed and could have gotten it cheaper on EBay.

DangerMouse @ Jan 26th 2008 11:40PM

YOU CAN SAVE 3 DOLLARS IF YOU BUY A USED COPY!!!!!

Anni @ Jan 27th 2008 3:46PM

COTY

Piman314 @ Jan 26th 2008 8:59PM

The problem isn't the tax which would be minimal to say the least but it is the fact that they are trying to pass it with an argument that is blatantly untrue. My grades have never suffered for one, and my ADD comes from my high IQ and crazy amounts of free time.

playwhutyalike @ Jan 26th 2008 9:06PM

I think it's a great idea, funding programs for kids who want to do things outdoors. Blaming video games for all of children's problems, come on now, not this again.

Hey, some kids do both, you know, should there be a program for them or are they included in the one mentioned.

LaughingTarget @ Jan 26th 2008 9:09PM

I always thought weight gain was the direct result of consuming more calories than your body utilizes in a given timeframe. Me and my science, it is no good against the all might Sierra Club.

***NOTE - The Sierra Club is not to be confused with Sierra, the video game company that used to make really cool games like Quest for Glory but now doesn't do anything worthwhile***

Markusdragon @ Jan 26th 2008 9:22PM

Aren't they going to be publishing Brutal Legend? I'd call that worthwhile.

Er, Sierra Games that is, not Sierra club. I've never heard of the Sierra club, being an obese gamer and all.

LaughingTarget @ Jan 26th 2008 9:42PM

You do have a point, I hope they make up for Timeshift.

Korova @ Jan 27th 2008 10:43AM

Excellent point! Why dont they tax fatty food or something

But if they go for video games te=hey also have to tax cars and chairs and couches and movie theaters and any place or activity that involves sitting rather than standing.

And for beds and mattresses ... a 2% tax! That'll show those fatties. And tax Bill Richardson 3% - cause he is the fattest presidential candidate - so fat he cant run the whole way and always drops out first.

Sam406 @ Jan 26th 2008 9:13PM

My mother has a Phd in Psychology and she has told me time and time again that the "attention-deficit disorder" is acctualy a big fat lie.

According to her, all her young patients who suffered this all played video games, and video games do affect it but not the way you might think:

Me: So playing Video Games gives you attention-deficit disorder?
Mom: On the contrary, if you have the attention to keep up with games like, say, Guitar Hero, then you have all the attention you need to do well in school, what they acctualy lack, and blame on the attention-deficit disorder is INTEREST, they don't care enough to pay attention in class but.

Sam406 @ Jan 26th 2008 9:15PM

"but they have more than enough to play past mightnight"

(I forgot to pu the last sentence, sorry)

Sam406 @ Jan 26th 2008 9:21PM

Speaking of which, Mom would probably slap me across the face for writing like I can't spell.

BigD145 @ Jan 26th 2008 11:15PM

Yes, it is a big fat lie. Most of the 'disorders' and 'syndromes' for the past 20 years are all fake. Pharmaceutical companies come up with the drugs to treat these things before they even get names. The only problem, there's nothing to treat except some bad habits. "Can I please get my nail biting miracle pill now? What? I'll be peeing blood and having seizures for the rest of my life with this pill?"

HighFiveJesus @ Jan 27th 2008 3:21AM

Its over prescribed, but not a big fat lie. Just often misdiagnosed. Its obviously real and the medication has real effects.

aristokrat @ Jan 27th 2008 3:18PM

Meth has real effects too, like making it possible to work your ass off for 8 hours straight, but that doesn't mean it should be a legitimate prescription drug. But speed, that's just fine...

CONFUSEDgam3r @ Jan 26th 2008 9:13PM

I live in New Mexico and have complained about this to my Congressman, like he'll listen. He doesn't even get paid!

"lower grades"
I have the highest grades in 4 of my 6 classes.
"obesity"
I was chubby before games, but with them I'm no were near obese. I'm 20 lbs over weight. Not 200 lbs, like that little, poor girl who was not taken care of by her parents. It's the parents fault their children are over weight.
"outdoor education"
How will they educate us? Through T.V. Ads!?
"ADD"
How can you get ADD from playing a game?

Evading Fate @ Jan 26th 2008 10:19PM

I also live in New Mexico. I don't understand why they are pointing their fingers at video games. It seems like the popular thing to do these days. I pay enough as it is for video games and i just hope that this doesn't pass.

Ted @ Jan 27th 2008 8:42AM

You complained to your state congresman and not your federal one right?

CONFUSEDgam3r @ Jan 27th 2008 12:07PM

Right. LOL. My state congressman doesn't get paid, my Congresswoman [Heather Wilson] gets paid more than I do.

WiiFTW @ Jan 27th 2008 3:17PM

I dun live in NM, but this bill is stupid regardless. Let me give examples of myself:

Play tons of videogames (TF2 FTW)

Have all A's (and have had them since elementary school)

Am almost underweight (because I'm vegetarian)

ADD: I don't need to study for much anything because I pay a attention in class. Yea, videogames, my anti-ritalin.

Not to mention there are games like DDR which are good cardio exercise and Wii to a lesser extent.

I strongly dislike ignorant people *cough* Cooper Lawrence *cough*

Batzarro @ Jan 26th 2008 9:32PM

"Land of Enchantment"? What a ripoff of the "Island of Enchantment"! We won't stand for...(Yawn) whatever.

Jokes aside, It can't help. Unless you enforce exercise with EXTREME PREJUDICE or convince them parents to take the kids out. Taxing a lo loco is what bored white collars do when they are bored.

moominsean @ Jan 26th 2008 9:52PM

that doesn't look like new mexico...looks like superstition mountains east of phoenix, az.

dan stabbingworth @ Jan 27th 2008 3:30AM

I thought the same thing. Pretty sure that's the Lost Dutchman State Park.

David Hildreth @ Jan 28th 2008 1:20AM

heh, I saw that too. who'd have thought it's not just all the same desert.

grim-one @ Jan 26th 2008 9:56PM

So are they also proposing to apply the same 1% tax to things like Coca-Cola, McDonalds, books, television, etc?

I think a lot of those things could contribute to obesity, lack of outdoor activities, ADD and lower academic scores.

ThornedVenom @ Jan 26th 2008 10:35PM

1% of a bigger easy-to-slice pie is usually better than the older pie.

Poisoned Al @ Jan 26th 2008 10:11PM

Wait, WHT?

Steve @ Jan 26th 2008 10:11PM

Unlike bills that have a chance to pass, this bill was introduced by a single legislator and not cosponsored by anyone. It's more a publicity statement than a law that will affect New Mexicans in any way. You can tell from the fact that they sent out a press release before actually introducing it in the house.

hvnlysoldr @ Jan 26th 2008 10:22PM

But but I'd tan to death in that much sun.

ThornedVenom @ Jan 26th 2008 10:36PM

Let gaming cleanse your soul through Mountain Dew.

ThornedVenom @ Jan 26th 2008 10:37PM

I totally blame rock and roll for this.

..Or shall say the Rick n Roll?

BananaBoat @ Jan 26th 2008 10:45PM

If you tax video games and TV, that opens the floodgates for everything else. Obviously noone remembers what happened when tea/sugar were taxed in the early days of the US.

Even though I don't live in NM, I'm not looking forward to a future where there is an additional tax for video games, Blu-Ray movies, Blu-Ray players, Video game consoles, etc. Sales tax is enough, shit.

T3H WICKERMAN (TMNT DF) (BWF) @ Jan 26th 2008 10:54PM

I like that their list of sponsors includes car companies and beer companies.

Kcen @ Jan 26th 2008 11:21PM

What strikes me funny about this is it will cost New mexico money.

I know If I lived in new mexico all I would do is stop buying video games in stores and start buying them online.

Alot of places give free shipping and then no sales tax at all...

I used to live in new york it and took them forever to realize they were loosing tons of money due to people buying clothes in new jersey.

ogvor @ Jan 26th 2008 11:26PM

ADHD is a condition most often caused by genetics, with 3/4 of those with the disorder having inherited it (this is proven by simple twin studies). 1/5 of the disorder is caused by damage to the brain from either physical truama or toxins during early childhood. That leaves around 5% that could be caused by video games, and I have never heard of that happening.

That kind of bad science is the same kind Tom Cruise uses to make psychariatrists and Ritalin the bad guy (the drug is incredibly helpful to those with the disorder, but it can be abused by those without it).