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Mitt Romney lays blame for society's violence on violent TV, video games
Do you think that violence on TV and video games should be regulated by the government? Is it possible to get private citizens groups to try to stop violence, or should the government do it? Or is there no need to reduce violence on TV and video games?
Just maybe our militaristic society that worships "the troops" and wages war to control other nations resources and spends 10 times more on the military welfare state than on education is the problem. Maybe the problem is a society that teaches everyone is on their own and that me is good and we is bad is the problem.
Video games and media are a scape goat, just like "terrorist". The people responsible for violence in America are the voters who continue to allow the military welfare state to get larger and larger.
First off, I like the idea of having everyone on their own. Me IS good, and We IS bad. I know that I don't want to have to depend on all of the mouth breathers I see everyday.
But back to topic. The government should not get involved. If someone plays violent video games or watches violent TV and then goes out and is violent, then it is the fault of the parents. I don't see why we should let the government start doing our parenting for us. This idea that government can fix our problems, especially when they fuck up everything they touch, is making our country more and more pathetic. It is almost time to leave.
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Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish. I am not a tool for their use. I am not a servant of their needs. I am not a bandage for their wounds. I am not a sacrifice on their altars. ... I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them. I ask no one to live for me, nor do I live for others. I covet no mans soul, nor is my soul theirs to covet.
Hmmm... Japan has many more violent video games than the United States. I see a million differences between Japan and the U.S. of course but I think a key one would be lack of availability of handguns. *shrug* But the U.S. doesn't like to hear stuff like that. So... we'll just keep talking about the same problems over and over and over and over and over again... throwing blame here and there without actually fixing anything. Sounds good to me!
Hmmm... Japan has many more violent video games than the United States. I see a million differences between Japan and the U.S. of course but I think a key one would be lack of availability of handguns. *shrug* But the U.S. doesn't like to hear stuff like that. So... we'll just keep talking about the same problems over and over and over and over and over again... throwing blame here and there without actually fixing anything. Sounds good to me!
I would bet that the increased cohesion of Japanese society is the main reason, not any externality like guns, video games or films.
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A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
— Robert Heinlein, Time Enough for Love
I would bet that the increased cohesion of Japanese society is the main reason, not any externality like guns, video games or films.
Of course that adds to it. However, it's important to take a look at other countries and how they handle the problems that we have. Obviously what we are doing is not working. Time to try something different.
But, as I said.. this SAME EXACT ISSUE was discussed ten years ago when I was barely a teenager. Nothing changed. Absolutely nothing. And now we are hearing about it again. We'll hear about it again in another couple of years. But no one will change anything. It's just a boring cycle that goes nowhere because people aren't willing to see that sometimes you have to make sacrifices to make things better.
There are many countries, not just Japan, where people play as many violent video games, but have much lower rates of violence.
One thing I think should always be remembered is that the most violent video games are normally restricted in the same way as films (or at least they are in most countries... are they in America?). Children shouldn't be playing these games, but they can't buy them themselves: if they are playing extremely violent games then it's the parent's fault. What more can the government do?
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... I am surprised at your insolence in writing to me at all. You know, as I know, that I bought this constituency... may God's curse light upon you and may it make your women as open and as free to the excise officers as your wives and daughters have always been to me while I have represented your scoundrel corporation.
I have the honour to be... your obliged humble servant, Anthony Henley
- MPs reply to constituent, mid 1700s
Nothing. There isn't a violence problem due to video games or violent movies. There is a violence problem due to: race issues, class issues, handgun issues, poverty issues, etc. What needs to happen is the American people start to accept the fact that there are problems that need to be fixed in order to fix other problems... and then... at least some progress can be made.
Blaming violence on video games when it is clear by looking at other countries that it is NOT the problem.. is doing nothing but dodging the real problems.
Just maybe our militaristic society that worships "the troops" and wages war to control other nations resources and spends 10 times more on the military welfare state than on education is the problem. Maybe the problem is a society that teaches everyone is on their own and that me is good and we is bad is the problem.
The United States as a whole (i..e all 50 states and the federal government) in 2004-2005 school year spent $536 billion on k-12, and another $373 billion on secondary (i.e. colleges and universities) for a total of $909 billion. In the same time period, defense spending was $754 billion.
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A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
— Robert Heinlein, Time Enough for Love
The United States as a whole (i..e all 50 states and the federal government) in 2004-2005 school year spent $536 billion on k-12, and another $373 billion on secondary (i.e. colleges and universities) for a total of $909 billion. In the same time period, defense spending was $754 billion.
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