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Greece Warned Over Games Ban
Thanks to GameSpot for their article discussing the European Commission's formal warning to Greece over the country's attempt to ban all videogames last year. The article summarizes: "The law stirred up anger and disbelief after it resulted in several arrests and the closure of Internet cafes. Although Greece later clarified that the law only prohibits gambling-related games, the EC was 'unsatisfied' with the response and has sent a formal notice requesting more information." According to a lawyer familiar with the case, "The way the Greek law was drafted was an absolute mess. It was drafted so widely that using a PlayStation at home would amount to a breach of the law - which is ridiculous." Would have got away with it too, if it wasn't for that meddling European Commission.
In the U.S., citizens may say the same thing about state-level laws: the federal government should have no say. While the E.U. isn't quite like the U.S. federal government in respect to member countries, the idea is the same. As a -community- of nations, neighboring states get to have a say in the internal affairs of other nations, a bit like my neighbors can tell me to turn down the music when it bothers them: something like video games sales would actually hurt the industries of other E.U. nations. (as I recall, France for example is very proud of a long line of Myst-type games involving their CG studios.) Again, it's also like the U.N. telling nations (members or not) to do -stuff- at the request of other nations. An invasion is always a long way away, but the idea is to remind countries, states, and any other level of government, that they do not act in a vacuum. Although leaving such groups to go "do your own thing" is almost always an option, compromise is preferred. Everyone knows it, and everyone plays by those rules (except the U.S.) Most likely, E.U. countries won't make unreasonable demands of each other, and such demands would undoubtedly eventually come back to haunt them. You elect representatives to listen to you, yes. But you also elect them to keep the world in mind, and keep the peace between nations (whether political, economic, or military.) It's not out of their jurisdiction to compromise on your behalf, even if they originally acted upon citizen request.
... is entirely run by people like us. any link in the chain can be broken, any voice can eventually be heard. to maintain this myth that they have "no real voice" only helps the system as it is stay in place. don't we want to fight that system?)
You don't have to like it, and you're welcome to complain: a country is perfectly justified in speaking out against the community around it, standing its ground, and making a few enemies. Do I turn down the music? Not always.
(btw: in any nation, every person has a voice, whether they realize it or not. the leaders, the military, the police, the structure designed to keep the population quiet