100% Tax On Games?

[Wingznut]

1up.com

Apparently this guy running for governor of Texas wants to impose a 100% tax on videogames deemed to be violent.

Update: Actually, it seems the article quoted in the story is incorrect; Locke calls for a 100% tax. As stated on his website:
"[a] This COMMISSION shall levy a 100% of price sales cost tax for the sale on all item listed below: 1 . any video game containing any form of human violence."

1UP regrets the error. The news story we posted earlier follows below.

Imagine you're in Texas and really excited to pick up Grand Theft Auto. Doesn't matter which one. You've saved up your lunch money for months, but something is wrong - the price is much higher thanks to a new tax law. 50% higher, in fact! This is the future Star Locke, gubernatorial candidate in the state of Texas, envisions.

Locke, according to The Amarillo Globe News, wants "to do away with property taxes statewide" while taxing "violent games" and a myriad of other things (i.e. abortions and soft drinks) a whopping 50%. He sees these taxes as "the power to destroy. So our concept is that we need to tax things we don't want and you want to not tax things you want to encourage."

He stated that games would be deemed "violent" by a 10-member committee, and taxes would "be levied swiftly" against game publishers. While none of this is final, gamers of voting age in Texas who'd like to keep their games from being even more expensive have a chance to make their opinion heard during the state's elections in March.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Just start spreading rumours that he's going to tax guns ... you know, since they're violent ... and whammo, no more governor.

- M4H

 

[FoBoT]

politicians suck up too much , so they suck

 

[SynthDude2001]

:thumbsdown: for that, I'll certainly be voting if the issue actually comes to an election...

 

[Phoenix86]

He isn't going to get elected, have you even read his platform?

I'm guessing no.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Just start spreading rumours that he's going to tax guns ... you know, since they're violent ... and whammo, no more governor.

- M4H

Not a bad idea.

And, living in texas, I will do that.

 

[nakedfrog]

Looking at the rest of policies, I don't think he's got a chance.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Looking at the rest of policies, I don't think he's got a chance.

Yep, but hey if we put a "shocking" article out there, people will view it.

It's a non-story that's being used to drum up interest/traffic/hits. It's working too.

 

[JS80]

I guess he's never heard of the intarweb. It allows you to buy games from out of state vendors, which would mean the state of Texas would get zero revenue off this and lose sales of those video games to out of staters.

 

[JulesMaximus]

What a nutjob.

 

[Viper0329]

Originally posted by: TitanDiddly

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Just start spreading rumours that he's going to tax guns ... you know, since they're violent ... and whammo, no more governor.

- M4H

Not a bad idea.

And, living in texas, I will do that.

Just start a massively forwarded e-mail. Everyone seems to believe those things these days!

 

[tokamak]

doesn't matter, Perry is going to run away with the election anyway.

besides, governor in Texas is a pretty weak position. He'd have a REALLY hard time getting something like this passed.

 

[Oil]

Originally posted by: tokamak
doesn't matter, Perry is going to run away with the election anyway.

besides, governor in Texas is a pretty weak position. He'd have a REALLY hard time getting something like this passed.

Yeah because of something that happened (forgot what) when Texas was a Republic, the governor has less power than the lieutenant governor

O BTW, Kinky Friedman for governor

 

[dirtboy]

Let's say everyone in Texas followed suit, then where your tax revenue now!!! haha what a fool.

 

[tokamak]

Originally posted by: OSx86

Originally posted by: tokamak
doesn't matter, Perry is going to run away with the election anyway.

besides, governor in Texas is a pretty weak position. He'd have a REALLY hard time getting something like this passed.

Yeah because of something that happened (forgot what) when Texas was a Republic, the governor has less power than the lieutenant governor

O BTW, Kinky Friedman for governor

The Texas constitution was written in response to central governments that were way too strong (Mexican and Reconstruction). Therefore, the Texas government is weak and flabby. You're right - the Lt. Governor is probably more powerful than the Governor.

Kinky would be OK. Actually, anyone but Perry would be OK - he's a doofus, regardless of what your politics are. But it's a forgone conclusion, he's got all the $$$ and the "Republican" next to his name, and that's what gets it done in Texas these days. I'm probably getting a little too P&Nish.