In the wake of GTA IV's release and all the media hype that has surrounded it, it was all but inevitable that somehwere, in some hall of legislation, some elected-offical-turned-crusader would start blaming video games for the deteriorating state of our society. Everyone knows that politicians gravitate toward culture war controversy like flies to rotting flesh, especially during election years. 

The first volley in this year's War on Games was fired by a pair of US Representatives, Jim Matheson (D-UT) and Lee Terry (R-NE). The two have introduced a bill they are calling the "Video Games Enforcement Act", designed to make sure that kids are only able to access age-appropriate games. It mandates ID checks for game purchases, and provides for fines of up to $5,000 for retailers that allow underage children to access adult-oriented material.

Rep. Terry had this to say about the bill:

[The bill seeks to ensure that kids] can only access age appropriate content without parental permission… The images and themes in some video games are shocking and troublesome. In some games high scores are often earned by players who commit ‘virtual’ murder, assault and rape.

Many young children are walking into stores and are able to buy or rent these games without their parents even knowing about it. Many retailers have tried to develop voluntary policies to make sure mature games do not end up in the hands of young kids, but we need to do more to protect our children.

First of all, how the hell do "experts" keep getting away with claiming that video games feature "rape" as a playable option? Not since Custer's Revenge in 1982 has a popular American game even had that as an option.

Now, you may be saying to yourself, what's the big deal with a law that will keep kids from accessing adult material? And the fact is, there is no reason such a law shouldn't exist. But I have a real problem with the timing of this particular bill. Firstly, this is an election year. Secondly, GTA IV's recent release has gotten every former Marilyn Manson-hater back on their moral high horse. Thirdly, Rep. Matheson has already proposed this bill, under the same name, and had it rejected.

So instead of Congress spending its time taking care of the things that voters have actually asked them to fix- health care, the continuing wars, deteriorating infrastructure, worsening education, the econonmy, etc.- they instead continue to pursue personal pet projects so that when they go home to Mr. & Mrs. Constituent they can pound their chest and talk about all the good they've done for the children of the world.

And people wonder why no one votes... 

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