Illinois to Pay for Unconstitutional Gaming Law 219
adam_sd writes "Those of us in the Video Game Voters Network were emailed a press release today stating that the state of Illinois will have to pay a half-million dollars in attorney's fees to the Entertainment Software Association, Video Software Dealers Association and Illinois Retail Merchants Association. ESA president Douglas Lowenstein is quoted in the press release saying "Judge Kennelly's rulings send two irrefutable messages — not only are efforts to ban the sale of violent video games clearly unconstitutional, they are a waste of taxpayer dollars." The law was declared unconstitutional in December of last year."
Logic? (Score:4, Interesting)
Judge Matthew S. Kennelly for President!
Three Strikes (Score:5, Interesting)
This seems similar to "three strikes" proposals I've seen, wherein if three bills a Senator or Congressman voted for are declared unconstitutional, he is ineligible to hold office again.
The idea being to discourage a "throw whatever at the wall and see what sticks" approach, and actually encourage them to recognize limits on their own power.
Re:Illinois won't be paying (Score:5, Interesting)
On to the next problem; Which is having anyone worthwhile to vote into office to begin with...
Re:Three Strikes (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Online Gambling (gaming) ban; good or bad? (Score:4, Interesting)
98% these days. On the other hand the Lincoln Town car, one of the few remaining quintessentially "American" cars, although "produced" in Michigan has so few American made parts that it is legally an import.
On the other hand many violins legally labeled as Made in U.S.A. actually had all of their parts manufactured and assembled in China (additional labor in reconstruction, finishing and fitting them out makes them legally "American").
KFG
Re:Online Gambling (gaming) ban; good or bad? (Score:2, Interesting)
I think you've failed to understand how stupid that particular piece of legislation is.
It bans Australians from using an online gambling site IN AUSTRALIA ONLY (money staying in the country)
It does not ban the following:
- Australians using an online gambling site overseas (money going out of the country)
- Foreigners from using Australian online gambling sites (money coming into the country)
Yet another gem from the desk of the World's Biggest Luddite.
Re:Three Strikes (Score:5, Interesting)
You think politicians don't do anything useful now? Imagine the levels of inactivity you are going to force them into if you tell them that if they mess up too many times, their career is over.
And that would be a very good thing. As Jefferson said, "that government governs best which governs least". Our problem today is not that there are too few laws. In fact, if you ask a practicing attorney how many laws apply to a person residing in the state where that attorney practices, he/she won't be able to tell you, even to the nearest 100. And the legal system presumes that everyone knows all the laws.
Re:Violence is OK then (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Think of the children! (Score:5, Interesting)
The reason?
Risk expense. The addict in this country has to pay for risk expense of the entire chain of dealers and suppliers. These are people who wouldn't have jobs if there were no control of substances (why pay a trafficing chain when you can pay a trucker?).
With legalized drugs, the risk expense becomes nil; a drug addict doesn't have to sell his momma's jewelry to pay for his next hit. He could probably get away with selling a pint of blood for his next 6-10 hits.
Not to mention the reduction in drug-related crime (what major corporation have YOU seen have a major gunfight with the police on US soil?) and in actual addiction (you don't have pushers on the streets; they have no incentive to push).
You'll still have addicts (as you still have nicotiene addicts and alcoholics), but the issue will be considerably less dramatic than it is today.
Re:Three Strikes (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Three Strikes (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Think of the children! (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Three Strikes (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Three Strikes (Score:4, Interesting)
I prefer Lao Tzu's phrasing...
"One should govern a large state just as one would cook a small fish; lightly. Very lightly."