Environmental Groups Lobby for Sin Tax on TV’s and Video Games to Fight Childhood Obesity with Outdoor Education
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 01.25.08
In a creative twist that’s caught my attention, groups like the Sierra Club are lobbying for a sin tax to be levied on all new televisions and video games sold in New Mexico to encourage kids to get up off their duff and head outside to play.
But how does taxing a video game legitimately discourage kids from playing it?
Well, the truth is that it doesn’t. But what it will do quite nicely is provide up to $4 million per year to improve outdoor education, making it easier for kids in that state to access a park system which is currently being underutilized. Which means that they may well be enticed to leave the virtual world behind for a moment and head out into the fresh air to take a glimpse at the real one. Potentially burning off a few extra calories in the process. And if that’s not enough then consider the fact that it will also help train teachers to better use the park system for educational field trips with their students as well.
Of course the surest way to rile many Americans all up into a lather is by proposing a new tax on anything regardless of how much good it will do. And the fact that it’s all going down in New Mexico, one of the poorest states in the nation doesn’t make the medicine any easier for its opponents to swallow either.
But with kids today spending less and less time outdoors and getting even less physical exercise than ever before the reality is that the growing youth obesity epidemic in America isn’t going away any time soon. And neither is their (and our) growing detachment from nature. After all, doesn’t corn grow in a can?
So what do the denizens of Treehuggerville think? Will the approach of taxing the problem to create a solution work wonders in New Mexico, or is it doomed to failure because the cartoon above is just all too representative of the real problem facing kids in America today?
via:: Junkfood Science
I wouldn't want to go outside if I lived in new mexico either.
Good tactic, but poor strategy. Tantamount to pointing own gun at foot, pulling trigger, and ruining the organization's reputation, not only locally but nationally. This hands redmeat to Rush and kind.
The green movement needs to again learn (as they did in the 1970's and '80's) to think strategically about consequences of their advocacy moves.
From my perspective, it's not the kids that are the problem. A lot of parents have been lead by the sensationalist media to believe that every playground is surrounded by pedophiles hoping to kidnap their children or drug dealers or gangs.
The kids, I'm sure, would like to go somewhere away from their parents, but their parents are too afraid of something happening to them.
why not just apply the tax to all movie tickets sold instead - it would make more money than on individual games.
I wonder if Americans really hate taxes that will do them good, or if it's just politicians saying that...
This is absolutely absurd. We need to be encouraging the parents to get their kids out. I am so sick of the 'if we want something overtax it to get it' attitude. Look at cigarettes - people are still smoking by the billions and the thought was to heavily tax cigarettes to get them to quit - didn't work there, won't work here.
IMHO
I think that they are off target on this. I feel that it would be better to spend the time, effort, and money they will put in to pushing for this tax in to supporting outdoor activities like baseball games and bike tours. I live in NM and know that this is beautiful country. The problem is that hear as all over America people not just children have became to enjoy the easy life. Why go out when there is a perfectly good boob tube to watch. You will never tax that out nor will you legislate or educate it out of people. People will have to see the joy of the outdoors for themselves before they will leave the couch that or the TV will have to break.
They are talking about adding a 1% tax on a $50 game = $0.50, or $3 on a $300 counsel. Not going to convince a sigle parent not to buy it.
Rather then trying to convice kids to go play in a park, what about giving kids a place to hang out? Say an under-18 dance club. A lot better then hanging out at the mall, which is what kids do already, as being outside in the summer in NM is not all that fun.
a "sin" tax? ugh, as if video games don't get enough bad press already.
Net effect of a 'sin tax' on video games and child obesity = zero.
Source of additional income for governmental bodies by finding an excuse to tax one of the largest entertainment industries in the USA? Yup.
So will there be an exemption for Wii games since they require you to actually get off your butt somethings?
They should just fnd a way to tax porn. It'll cure the nation debt in a couple hours.
-Lego
Recipe for awesomeness:
-TV
-stationary bike (or a trainer stand for a reg. bike)
-mind-numblingly addictive/sweet ass game
ask any nerd, some video games are meant to be played in 2 hour increments. If you can find all these ingredients not only will you be in multitasking heaven, but those pounds will melt off you while you crank out your frags.
... ok I was thinking of joining the sierra club (totally want to go on hikes with them and all) but if this is where my money is going hell no. I go on hikes, do little green things here and there, go to the gym, and I'm planning on going for a bike later (maybe try the fabled LA to LB trail my friend told me about) but at the same time I like hanging out and playing videogames with my friends. I'm pretty athletic overall, so... I'm part of a very small minority that disprove their plan. It'll have next to no impact on kids what so ever, they'll just whine for more money or the real impact will be felt on the parents.
Here's an idea, maybe parents should actually start parenting instead of parking their butt in front of a tv and parking their kids in front of a video game. Strange thought I know.
Are there any type of these "sin taxes" that have actually worked for some sort of greater good?
Everything I have researched about it seems very negative.
It would be a better idea to tax the corporations that foist and market the products so relentlessly to children and their parents, making society in general dumber and fatter in the process. Why so many organizations love to ignore the simple fact that these products do come from some huge company factory somewhere, is a mystery to me. Of course, suggesting that instead of a weak "blame the victim" strategy would require some real guts on behalf of the Sierra Club. If you want to levy a "sin tax" then by all means - tax the sinners.