Texas politician proposes 100 percent game tax

[Cmtz]

[UPDATE] Republican primary candidate wants to eliminate property taxes by heavily taxing games the government deems "violent."

Though incumbent Governor Rick Perry is almost assured to win the Republican nomination for this year's gubernatorial election in Texas, he does face three long-shot challengers. One of them, Corpus Christi rancher Star Locke, has proposed eliminating property taxes in the Lone Star State with revenue from taxing three things he finds undesirable. Specifically, Locke is proposing a $10,000 per-abortion tax on medical clinics that perform abortions and a 50 percent tax on all soda that "contains added glucose, fructose, sucrose to the beverage for sale to humans."

[UPDATE] However, gamers will be especially alarmed by the third part of Locke's property-tax-relief proposal--a 100 percent tax on "violent video games." According to the candidate's official Web site, the candidate would impose "The Family Security & Protection Act" when elected. Section 4 of the act calls to "levy a 100 percent of price sales cost tax for the sale on ... any video game containing any form of human violence."

"I take the position that the Founding Fathers took: that the power to tax is the power to destroy," Locke told the Amarillo Globe News. "So our concept is that we need to tax things we don't want and you want to not tax things that you want to encourage."

However, in the unlikely event he is sent to the governor's mansion, Locke would create a 10-member board that would label games as violent. According to the Globe, the tax itself would be levied against the publishers of said games--and quickly. "Once it's reviewed, the tax would be levied swiftly," he said.

[UPDATE] Locke's other platform promises call for the repeal of all alcoholic beverage laws and a 50 percent "grease tax" on "all food prepared by deep-frying or cooking in any form of oil or grease for human consumption."

[Mr.FoodMonster]

This guy makes me LOL

[Bronty-2]

Yeah... real likely to get elected. Whacko.

[Half Japanese]

Wow. Sounds like somebody wears granola underpants.

[stressboy]

and people make fun of California politics......

And a tax on greasy food? Is there any other kind in the South? LOL

[Emuaust]

wasnt this reported on gamespot nearly a month ago?

[Cmtz]

wasnt this reported on gamespot nearly a month ago?

Yes, Why?

[googlefest1]

man thats all baloney - hes just saying that to get people to vote for him - those things wouldn't get passed

[Push Upstairs]

I'm pretty sure he'll get far with that abortion tax all by itself. :roll:


I like how he says something along the lines of "tax the things you don't like"...how about taxing political candidates? You wanna run your mouth to try and win votes? You have to pay a hefty fee.

[Yago]

That makes a lot of sense... x_x

Tax the video games which in turn will lead to gamers purchasing games online, where they don't have to pay a tax. Thus, hurting the states economy. People will stop buying games from local game stores, in turn, game stores won't need employees and might as well close for good. Good call, moron.

Why do politicians say such stupid things to try and get votes? I mean, are they so stupid that they don't realise they are making themsleves look like complete idiots? Wait, they already look like idiots, but they are now just proving my point with such rubbish. Hey, did you know Al Gore invented the Internet? Gee, wonder why HE was not elected president... Politicians are the dumbest smart people on the face of the planet, no question.

[googlefest1]

the thing is- to many people he'll look like a crusader not an idiot

[Ulticron]

I've read about this dipshit. Let's hope america isn't so far gone that he gets elected.

I must say that's very thoughtful of him to eliminate propery tax for himself and his rich buddies. Taxing the rich is such a horrible idea, I mean come on it's hard work watching your underpaid help slave for you so you can become rich.

[johno590]

Wow, what a moron. Yeah lets just tax everything because we really don't know how else to get votes...

I can see him with his staff "Hey I got it, we'll tax greasy foods too, just for fun! YEEEHAW *BANG *BANG*"

[SirDrexl]

I'm trying to figure out what he means by the repeal of all alcoholic beverage laws. If he wants to make it illegal to drink, he'll never get elected. If he wants to repeal all the laws that restrict alcohol, does that include the whole "age 21" requirement?

[FlufflePuff]

What is wrong with Texas?

[Yamazaki]

I'll vote for Chuck Norris!

He is the one and only that can represent Texas!

[badinsults]

Sounds like this guy stole the taxation plan from the Green Party.

[Crazycarl]

well to tax people on "wants" instead of "needs" is a great idea, since its extras that people should have to pay for. This guy on the other hand took this theory and went a whole different way with it. "Yea I think I'ma ganna tax things that i don't like by a 100%....yea thats ganna cure our tax problems"......some people just want to be known for something...dont they?

[Ed Oscuro]

I agree with Carl. What an attention whore, this guy.

Not gonna get elected...but we'll see how much money is behind him first x_x

[Nature Boy]

Ah, how I do love reading crackpots. I can't help but notice he's ticked off violence and overeating, but left the sex industry alone. Maybe he's too much of a consumer in that industry? :D

[squidblatt]

I just want to point out that Al Gore never said he "invented the internet." And he was absolutely justified in taking some credit for its creation since probably no other legislator had as much impact on making it what it is.

Anyway, this Texas candidate is no worse than any other crackpot you can find running for major elections. Do a little digging and you can find some bonafide maniacs asking for your vote. Chances are none of us would have even heard of him if he didn't mention videogames. This discussion is probably as good as most of the publicity he's received.

[Garry Silljo]

If the tax is that high everyone will just cross the state line to make their purchases. Here in Pennsylvania we have no tax on clothing, and we have a lot of business from people in West Virginia driving to shop here to save money. Many of them already drive here to work so it's just more incentive to stay here and shop.

On the whole the idea of taxing wants instead of needs IS good. He just put the bar too ridiculously high for it to work. Here in PA if they proposed a 1% tax increase on games to eliminate property tax, even as a gamer I'd be in favor of it. People need houses more than games, and many low income families would benefit from a lower or lack of property tax. Also 1% is low enough to not notice too much and the state would most likely make more money because you can't cheat on a sales tax taken at the register like so many people cheat on or ignore their property tax.

However it would be better to not just alienate games and put a 1% raise on all luxuries.

[James]

We don't have to worry about him getting in, Democratic countries don't generally elect politicians with pointless fascist policies that completely contradict any sort of resonable capitalist principals. There's no way imposing such stupid taxes would profit the government enough to completely eliminate all forms of property taxes. These sorts of politicians go to far with their possibilities and will end up getting less votes in the long run.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Everything you heard about Texas being crazy, is pretty much true, thanks to Mr. Rick "A Dick" Perry :)

[Ed Oscuro]

I just want to point out that Al Gore never said he "invented the internet." And he was absolutely justified in taking some credit for its creation since probably no other legislator had as much impact on making it what it is.
High five!

I do think he emphasised it a bit much, though...he's learned his lesson from that one!

Hmm, isn't there a parallel between this and Perry?

I took the initiative in (I think it was 'helping') to create the internet...versus...I took the initiative in killing the video game and booze industries? @_@

[The Manimal]

Wow. Sounds like somebody wears granola underpants.


LOL :D

this made me laugh.



this guy is a nutjob, definitely.

[Tron 2.0]

Texas it's whole another country LOL LOL

[Fuyukaze]

the thing is- to many people he'll look like a crusader not an idiot

The thing is, I live in Texas and he still looks like an idiot. I also vote Republican and would call him an idiot. I have 4 problems with what he says.

1.You can not eliminate property tax. It is too much a boost to the state income. If you do, state government will grind to a halt. Ok, I support him on this I guess. I would like too see Austin at a standstill.

2.Placing any kind of tax, be it $1.00, or $10,000.00 on each abortion wont last as there will be minority groups, civil liberty groups, and any other group with a hand in that cookie jar out in droves to tie up the state's courts. We have a hard enough time keeping murder's, rapists, child molesters, and illegal alien smuglers off the streets. It wont work.

3.Have you ever tried to take a peice of fried chicken from someone from the south? Have you? Try it! Just once, I want you to try. Let me know in advance so I know where to send the flowers for the funeral. Same for sodas.

4.Putting an extra tax on game sales deemded violent is pointless because the internet alone would make it an inefective law. Also, how does one define what is violent content and what isnt? Game ratings? Or, would it qualify if it listed "violent" content? Games marked M and up would qualify, but what about those under it? Those marked with mischif violence, fantasy violence, or such?

This man is an idiot, he will never be elected, and he is only trying to make himself out to be a great choice. He is failing badly at that.