Multiplayer: Gaming takes on the Election

November 3rd, 2008

With the US presidential elections kicking off tomorrow, November 2nd, it is important for all gamers to not just look at the issues that concern them but the issues as a whole. But for those that have no idea what the candidates stand for as far as net neutrality as well as their views on censorship and gaming, I am here to break down the issues that will hit gamers the hardest with the changing of the guard.

To start within the Republican party, we have to look at the future and past policies that McCain has in regards to net neutrality. Within McCain’s policies on technology can be found many things that may hinder the furthering issue of securing full net neutrality. McCain has focused his platform on being against government regulation, which would allow ISP’s to choose and filter content without any oversight from the federal government. While it seems like a better deal to not have the government involved in the free speech arena of the internet, McCain’s policies suggest that the federal government takes no responsibility in protecting your first amendment rights.

In direct opposition to an earlier statement in his technology plan, which called for a protection of Consumer Freedoms, “[McCain] believes that an open marketplace with a variety of consumer choices is the best deterrent against unfair practices.” While this seems all good it is basically throwing away any semblance of a net neutrality policy by stating that he believes that the only role government should play is to make sure a person’s ability to choose a provider is not hindered.

Onto the Democratic Candidate, Barack Obama states on his website that he “strongly supports the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet.” While both candidates feel the need to expand the broadband availability to all Americans, McCain has overseen the drop of Broadband penetration drop from 5th worldwide to 22nd over the period from 2000 to 2007. While this fact could be considered erroneous when talking about the candidates positions in this election, it is still an important fact to consider.

In regards to Video Games, both Candidates believe that it is ultimately a parent’s job to govern the content that their children are exposed to, Obama has gone on the record stating that although the industry has self policing policies that the federal government could also provide support in providing the necessary information into the hands of parents so they can make more informed decisions about the content that their children are viewing.

While it is important in looking at censorship as an issue when talking about video games, both of the Candidates remain pretty firm in their protection of a citizens first amendment rights. However with the possibility of a vice president having to take over the office it seems that their might be an issue concerning Governor Palin’s record of censorship of certain reading materials.

Whatever political alignment you identify with, it is important to read all of the facts before making your final decision at the poles tomorrow. Just because you may radically disagree with something I have stated and it makes you sway a certain way, I urge you to not vote on one issue like so many Americans have choosen to do in past elections.

-Eric Wall

Sources:

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/

http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/cbcd3a48-4b0e-4864-8be1-d04561c132ea.htm

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e33_1223164152

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZII0GjcJMus

http://kotaku.com/gaming/politics/presidential-candidates-talk-video-game-censorship-331853.php