First, giving money to programs doesn't instantly give them attendance. If you charge 1% of video game sales and use the cash to start some kind of outdoors program, what makes you think anyone will join? And if the tax is an incentive to not buy games, that's even worse!

Here's the thing; if we ban video games because kids aren't active, then we should ban everything, even school, so that kids can exercise around the clock. Homework, yes, homework, isn't exercise. Reading, desk jobs, writing, conversations, driving; they all "contribute" to obesity by not being physically demanding. The reality is, video games don't make people fat. They're just one of many activities that don't reduce it.

Second, the academics claim. Again, anything that's not studying doesn't increase grades, but the activity doesn't make them worse either. But there are kids who are in so many athletic activities (sports) that they don't have time to study. Other kids have the time, but just do whatever they feel like instead of studying. These two groups of kids get exercise; they aren't fat; they still get bad grades. Time spent outdoors does not automatically count as knowledge or better school performance.

Third, the ADD thing. I don't think attention deficit disorder is caused by video games.

Also, a 1% tax on televisions is ridiculous. Although it is a fair amount of money when you consider the price of televisions, it doesn't make sense to tax televisions when almost everyone in the country has one.

I looked at the parent in the video report. If he's at home playing video games while the rest of them are outside, whats the real problem?

I think he should lay down the law and make him go outside.

@ Charlie Brown
"Big Mac's don't make people fat! Video games make people fat! Don't dare try to use logic on us!"

You can join Youth sports teams in the U.S. too

They would have been better of to put a 1% tax on dvds,cds and games, doing this would have at least got them i the door to be turned down later.

Yes, how horrible, games are keeping kids(mostly age 30 and above) inside of the house, they should go outside and enjoy the outdoors...

DO YOU HEAR ME, AFTER WORK YOU MUST GO OUTSIDE, THE STATE SAYS SO!!!!!


Even if games could be linked to obesity by some study(probably sponsored by Coke or Bigmaks).

Then why put the tax on all games? Surely the games taxed shouldn't include games that are for adults like M rated games???
Also fridges and beds keep kids in the house lets put a tax on those...
Computers and the internetz must be causing some home staying as well...

Hmm, maybe we should just start destroying these horrible influences, lets just start burning books that keep people inside, oh the hell with it, lets just burn all the houses down, I am certain kids would then start going outside...

@ ZippyDSMlee

We are already taxed enough. We get taxed on every little thing.

Regardless of whether or not going outside is a good thing, or if obesity is a problem, it all boils down to PERSONAL CHOICE. If I want to sit on my ass, drinking beer, watching TV all day in a mustard stained wife beater tanktop, that should be your own personal decision. For the government to tax your specific form of entertainment reeks of unconstitutionality.

Tax incentives to NOT buy something is not the way the tax system is supposed to be used. What if the government thought that riding bikes was hazardous to your health because drunk drivers can't see them well enough, so they try to tax all cycling equipment by 1% and use the money on drunk driving education? It's the exact same thing. A tax on a benign activity disguised as a way to improve a problem that unfortunately isn't related to the taxed items.

Sierra Club = Domestic Terrorism

http://www.activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/oid/194

games dont make people fat. comsuming bigmacs while playing is what realy happens. the best way to counter this is

EAT LESS! IF YOUR SITTING AROUND PLAYING GAMES ALL DAY YOU DONT NEED 6000 CALORIES A MEAL!

your eating habits should reflect how much phisical work you do

\for example, Amish people eat what most other people consider fatty foods. but they do large amounts of physical labor, so they burn that all off. so eat sensibly and/or burn it off.

[...] Who votes against?! Really, I’m sure if this passes Belgium is the next to follow. Our politicians always love new tax ideas! *grmbls* ;) [...]

We shouldn’t use the main cause of obesity to fight against obesity.
thats just lame.

ok, i'm in a debate competition and my team is saying NO to taxng video games to FUND obesity programs. I'm not sure if this is RIGHT but i really THINK that the GOVERNMENT shouldn't tax cause MOST of the money for the government COMES frome video games, its really popular so when the price INcreases then the PRICE WOULDN"T BE POPULER then what is the government going to do????

if any1 has any advice for the topic plz help. thnx