Tis the season for politicians to renew calls for rejiggering an entertainment ratings system - various presidential candidates have even called for a heavy-handed ratings system. But a new report from the Competitve Enterprise Institute explains why politically imposed rating schemes –whether for video games, radio, film, television, and comic books – prove a poor substitute for the free market.

The United States , alone among major industrial nations, relies almost entirely on the market for the distribution and rating of entertainment media, and the market-based ratings system works.

Even if the First Amendment allowed it, the study argues that parents simply don'’t need politicians to dream up a heavy handed ratings system.

Rather than push for Congressional involvement in rating video games, parents should try to involve themselves more closely with the games their children play.

Labels: Sen. Glenn Coffee