December 22, 2007
Mitt Romney's plan to regulate violent video game sales is confusing some conservatives.On Race 4 2008, a Republican-oriented political site, readers are actively debating whether Romney is on to something with his "ocean of filth" (see video below) concept or is simply advocating a nanny state.
The lively discussion on Race 4 2008 was sparked by a post on Hot Air, which quotes Romney's video game position as stated to Common Sense Media earlier this month:
I want to restore values so children are protected from a societal cesspool of filth, pornography, violence, sex, and perversion. I’ve proposed that we enforce our obscenity laws again and that we get serious against those retailers that sell adult video games that are filled with violence and that we go after those retailers.
(see GamePolitics coverage of the Common Sense Media report here).
Comments
Why do we always have the morons running for President who don't realize the ESRB DOES work? It clearly works if the parents actually read the ratings and don't blame the industry for their own stupidity of NOT reading them.
While I don't support government regulation of any of that, its hardly a video game issue.
Fuck that.
Yup, he's not just an idiotic alarmist playing on parent's fears, he just hates games in general, or takes it as fact that they are just for kids.
Note, friends, that Romney and other GOP canidates do not even acknowledge the ESRB. He abstracts the game debate onto an ENTIRELY different plane that encourages direct goverment censorship over the CONTENT of games, so games can reflect his own personal religious norms and values. Romney is the very avatar of Christian hate and will work hard to violate the American people of their personal liberty and moral autonomy.
""The [National Government] regards Christianity as the foundation of our national morality, and the family as the basis of national life" (Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf).
As Ron Paul quoted several days ago, "“...when facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
Let's just hope the Evangelical right's prospective Fuhrer does not win the GOP primary election. It would be quite a sad day for all Americans.
I think the to children is implied.
@Austin
Obscenity laws do not include prohibition. What would lead you to think that?
Anyways, yeah, Romney is in favor of a nanny state here. Should we really be shocked on this one?
Nothing to fear here. The gov't simply wants some of the billions generated by the gaming industry and to get it they must legislate it. To legislate it they must stump on it. To stump on it they must have some sort of platform for it.
They choose 'protect the children' because as we all know... the gov't knows how to take care of our money and children better than we do.
I mean this is simple to see, just look at how wonderful of a job the gov't has done dealing with everything for the last 231 years.
I don't like Ron Paul one bit. But even he has enough sense to identify a grave threat to America.
Nanny state? You mean the Socialized Christian Republic of America, =P?
Because, it was something that was passed by religious nutjobs
Besides whatever happened to freedom of expression, and Video Games are an expression of some type. I feel that our forefathers that fought for our freedom and founded our country are rolling in their graves right now.
It's not just about Video Games. He wants to cut down on 'obscene content' in Movies TV and music too.
Parents are already about as lazy as they can be.
No, video games are totally the issue that needs to be tackled. *eyeroll*
I do not look forward to the day I get criminalized for my religion.
Now all I need is some Photoshop skills to give him one of those silly buckle hats, and others will come to see the truth, too....
More shame to my state.
I'm just sick of this nanny state Govt. has to save everyone mentality.
Sickening.
And Mario would carry and M16 and Bowser would spout blood for a minute after decapitation
think before you answer, because theres the sensible answer, and theres the one that makes you a damn dirty hypocrite.
While I do tend to agree that a lot of entertainment has gone the route of shock value and heightened sexual and violent content, you can't fight that with regulation, legislation or litigation. Culture, and thereby society has to be affected at the level of the individual, through letter writing and peaceful protest. The expression of free speach to add a counter-voice, or alternative media for what being offered by the mainstream.
I think this is what he's after >_>.
i know this probably wont mean a damn thing to you, but just to point out isnt romney a mormon and not a christian?
(i know your probably saying its just the different side of the same coin)
(for the record i am roman catholic)
religious theocracies may not work but that doesnt mean religion should be ended
No matter how many times you repeat the lie, it will still be a lie. Even if you've already fooled yourself.
Not to mention that just because a religion is bullshit to your doesn't mean it's bull shit to others.
Guess which party the alcohol industry supports.
Lemme just go down the list of common icky topics that Romeny and his ilk need to be corrected on. Sex is not obscene. Sex is private, yes, but that does not make it wrong. Reproduction and sexual organs are not filthy. No one word is inherently more obscene than another word, despite it's current connotative use. Violence should be stopped before it's started, not just toned down. Likewise, violence has existed in all forms of media since their individual creations. The number of school-shootings and heinous acts of random violence have been a drop in the bucket compared to how many people have actually observed, listened, or played any violence media.
Censorship is not the answer. If anything, trying to shield children and protect them for all of the boogeymen out there int he world is likely to stunt their development and harm them as members of society.
I don't really care if no one is listening, I just needed to get that off my fingertips.
Seriously though dude, I think you're trying a little too hard here. Yes, strict religious principles may be a factor in Romney's (archaic) philosophy, but being the less-than-desirable person (I decided to restrain myself there) he is, his motivations or inspirations are a moot point.
I know plenty of religious people (to clarify, I'm a very secular person), not necessarily Christians, that are decent open-minded people. My best friend for instance. Very devout, but also very scrutinizing of old, out of date rules or ones that ones that a person simply can't help but violate by virtue of human nature itself. Put simply, he knows how to put it in perspective.
Therefore, condemning the entire concept of religion itself for the bad eggs that it has produced, or claimed to have been produced by it, is a bit "John Bruce-ian", if you catch my drift.
Also worthy of note, there have been many, many secular people in history that have done some very dastardly/stupid things, obviously.
So watch yourself or I'll go Buddha on your ass.*
*read: politely ask you not to do it again
and while its alot like a part of christianity there are differences
(i know mormons are christians i was just dividing things into the proper sects, if that was unclear i apologize)
i meant no harm or disrespect to anyone of course
(although if jt falls and hurts himself i will laugh =p)
Anyway, this video just shows he's only worried about our kids' culture. It shows me that he's not going to fix the problems if elected, just claim he was great because of his attempts at legislation, which is a waste of money.
It is pointless to bring up the religion thing, Mitt Romney is like every other idiot, not religious fanatic.
If Mitt Romney wins, then I guess I can we can say goodbye to not just M rated and probably T rated games also, but PG 13, and R Rated, Unrated Movies, heck we all will be living in a bubble, TV will probably show nothing but Teletubies 24/7. And teens that are 17 and up and adults will have to suffer too, because they won't be able to their favorite shows or games, or read anything. I bet he will also ban Harry Potter and any books with the word Magic in it.
I always have a saying Moral is actually Immoral.
Since children might get the idea that these actions are good, we should get rid of them. Never mind this was 2,000 years ago, long before we had any of these "moral destroyers" and these kinds of actions happened anyway, it is all of this entertainments fault for "destroying" todays youth.
I have more nightmares from watching teletubbies than anything else I have ever seen in my life.
I am a "Mormon". We prefer Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or if that is too much of a mouthful, Latter-day Saints.
Second we are Christians. We believe that Jesus is the Savior of mankind and the Son of God.
Third. We do not feel that sex is filthy. Sex is an important aspect of human life, but it is something that needs to be respected. We believe that pornography marginalizes sex and temps people to disrespect the sexual process. Sex should only be between a man and a woman who have been lawfully married.
Fourth, violence is an aspect of human nature that is as old as mankind itself. It cannot be avoided. But we do feel that it is not something that should be glorified. There is violence all around us, but we do feel that people should be able to protect themselves, their families, and their property. If it comes to violence, then that is what needs done. We do not feel that violence should be used first but only as a last resort.
Not every member of our church feels the same as Romney about cleaning up media. As a church we feel that it is the family's responsibility to control the media influences that enter the home. Not the Church. Not the government. The family.
So before you guys continue to blame Romney's faith or any other faith, you need to hear this.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
Nice speech.
Anyway, this guy seems like someone who'd like to take Québec back in the 50s if he lived there.
Then pray that Pandralisk never decides to run for president. For someone who talks a lot about christian hate, he seems to have a shitload of hate in him himself. Basically, he's a hypocrite.
In other words, a liberal.
@ Pandralisk
Ron Paul is the most intelligent candidate (when it concerns government). Of course, being a liberal, you'll dislike anyone who doesn't want the government to control everything.
So a conservative that's a hypocrite is a liberal? The logic boggles the mind.
When did "liberal" take on such a negative connotation?
l?b'?r-?l
adj.
1b. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.
The horror...the horror...
I hope I'm reading it wrong, but AdioBam seems to take the Sean Hannity view on liberals; as someone who doesn't hold every republican value, to the letter, to heart and doesn't worship our current president as the second coming of Jesus.
i consider myself republican and i HATE what it's become. it's the complete opposite of what republicans are supposed to stand for.