Tea party nut here. Probably gets a boner whenever ann coulter is on.
He'll be back. The guvb'nor that is.

Regardless of how things went in the political channels, there's a lot of ignorance when it comes to the ESRB. Meaning, its existence, how it works. One time I went into a game store, and a mother and father were looking at Lego Harry Potter. She thought the "Years 1-4" was the recommended age group. Maybe if the ESRB got talked about more, then crap like video games in politics will vanish. Meh, maybe that's just wishful thinking, but, you never know.

I really don't know what more the ESRB can do. They have large posters up in every major game retailer explaining the entire ratings system, they put info ads on TV, online, in magazines, on the radio... I've even seen one before the trailers in the movie theater. They are trying to tell everyone about it, but no one even pays any attention to it (at least it seems that way with the majority of parents and politicians) .

Maybe if parents gave a shit?

Then maybe humans actually talking to each other? Has that been tried? "Sir, did you know..." or, "This game is rated...." while people are being assisted within the stores. Again, wishful thinking, but it would solve some issues.

Well, yes, that always plays into it. Most don't care, but the fact that the mother was going off about the "age range" showed that she cared, but didn't know. If one way of getting how the ESRB works into the minds of parents who care doesn't work, use a different method. Preferably, without government help.

You haven't read a damn thing I've said, have you? No, it's just easier to insult me with "party" labels (I don't vote "party", I vote the "long way", by each individual issue) and with sophomoric imagery.


Alright, let me break it down for everyone. I mentioned the monarchy and everything else solely for the sarcastic value as it relates to how StingingVelvet said that almost everyone on a UK-based board was in favor of gov't control of media. It was supposed to just be a funny/wiseass quip.

Actually, a lot of stores already do that. Believe it or not, GameStop is one of the stores that is really good about doing that... or at least they were, it's been years since I actually went into one for anything. I have been in several stores where an associate has told a parent "Did you know that game is rated M for graphic violence, blood, etc." when they try to buy those games for obviously underage kids. The usual response from the parent is "I know" and they buy it for the child anyway.

Then ESRB is essentially moot. (sigh) It's a shame parents don't care.

I'm not sure if you saw/read my post on the last page.

While most of the changes made by the federal gov't won't take effect for a few years, there are already changes being made, or have already been made in my state by the state gov't. SC is a poor state, there's no euphemising that. For example recent cuts made to the most "generous" of the state Medicaid programs (it's called "Absolute Total Care") stipulate that dental services will only be paid for on an emergency basis, and even then only if the patient is receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer, or is the recipient of an organ transplant (Organ transplants require the patient's immune system to be suppressed, which means that bacteria fighting enzymes in the saliva are either not present or are in a significantly weaker state). This change comes from their previous policy of paying for a full dental checkup once every six months, and full bitewing xrays every twelve months, with a small co-pay (it was either fixed at $3.50 or %5 of the bill).

Yes that was a truly bad aspect of the bill and directly a result of that 2014 compromise. It may have allowed the Democrats and Obama to finally get the bill through, but it really damaged usefulness the bill. The federal programs that are supposed to shore up health care don't materialize until 2014 (and may get axed before they do) meanwhile the states then use the eventual arrival (in 2014) of a federal program as an excuse to make cuts in health services (right now) as a way of balancing state budgets during an economic crisis. Though even without the passing of the health care law, many states probably would've made those cuts anyway.

Congress did the same thing with credit card reform and the insurance health premium aspects of health care reform. They pass credit card reform to stipulate no sudden and secret jacking up of credit card rates and the like but put in a grace period of I think 6 months (or a year?) after the bill passes where credit card companies could take full advantage and of course they did so even more than before. Insurance rate premiums went exactly the same way.

An interesting take on this decision.

http://www.thefreemanonline.org/headline/a-hidden-gun-rights-victory/