McDonald’s Faces Happy Meals’ Lawsuit
(http://www.latimes.com/news/health/sns-health-mcdonalds-happy-meal-lawsuits,0,1457303.story)
I saw this story today and felt it needed some commentary. But the first line I saw was this:
“Weeks after a Silicon Valley county in California became the first in the nation to ban toys from McDonald’s Happy Meals and other food promotions aimed at children, a public health watchdog group called on the fast food giant to remove the playthings from all its meal packages.”
Wait.. what? Hold tight, it gets better.
“Citing toys aimed at promoting the latest “Shrek” movie, the Center for Science in the Public Interest said that the plastic promotions lure children into McDonald’s restaurants where they are then likely to order food that is too high in calories, fat and salt.”
“”McDonald’s is the stranger in the playground handing out candy to children,” Stephen Gardner, litigation director for the advocacy group said in a statement. “McDonald’s use of toys undercuts parental authority and exploits young children’s developmental immaturity.”"
Alright, I’ll be the asshole to say it:
The Happy Meal was introduced to America in the 1979 and unless you’re completely devoid of the ability to count, that’s over 30 years the wonderful box of food and a toy has been a part of American society. While there’s no argument that McDonalds’ food is a tad on the unhealthy side when we compare it to a meal mommy might make at home, we all know that the occasional fast food meal isn’t going to make you fat or give you heart problems. What the above statement says is that they either think parents can’t handle their own kids or they shouldn’t have to control their kids.
Frankly, I think that’s offensive as a parent that this organization thinks that little of parents and our ability to ‘parent’.
There is a trend of brainless, over-coddling parents that give into every whim their child presents and there’s also a movement of ‘watchdoging’ to protect us from ourselves (Yea, I’m talking to you assholes in California), which validate this farce of a lawsuit and are exactly what is wrong with the country today. The point of watchdog groups is to keep an eye/ear out for the businesses or trends that are seeking to take advantage of people, NOT those businesses or trends that have been commonplace for 3 decades.
Let’s think about this… the people making these statements in the Center for Science in the Public Interest are likely in their 30s and 40s, which means they’re Gen-X’rs like me. So they were kids themselves when the Happy Meal was introduced and probably had more than their fair share of the wonder-filled meals. Isn’t it a tad hypocritical to now be on the warpath of McDonalds for something you indulged in on YOUR youth? From the outsider, the answer is a resounding yes.
Another thing to consider is that people usually target a product or service as ‘bad’ for society if it’s new and poses a new threat to society, but, and I hate to bring this up again, the Happy Meal is over 30 years old, so this isn’t exactly a new threat. In fact, the food and offerings have become healthier over the years(1), so this seems to be less of a health concern and more of the annoying social standard of being ‘all up in’ people’s business all the time.
“Liberal” America is often quick to harp on the conservative lot in this country for what they deem as ‘backward’, so now is it time to harp on their annoying social movement for imposing their ideas of normalcy unto those that do not wish to hear it. This idea that everyone is a winner, everyone is the same, and the protection of Americans from ourselves is a micromanaging trend in the Gen-X community, which is caused by the lack of attention we received in our youth. While they mean well, this interjection by others into our lives is intrusive and frankly makes for lazier parents and Americans. Everyone is NOT a winner; there are winners and losers in life. Everyone is NOT the same; we are all different. And we do not need to be saved from ourselves.
We are all free to make our own decisions and that INCLUDES the bad ones or the ones that injure us. While many in the PC, ‘touchy-feely’ movement afraid to see anyone get hurt, it is this trial and error that forces us to learn from our mistakes and the answer is not simply removing the wrong answer from the equation. If you wish to micromanage your own children, then do so, but I should not be subjected to your insecurities as a parent. If you can’t say ‘no’ to your child, that’s your issue to fight with; I’m happy to report that I’m a GOOD parent and don’t have one of the middle-class, Caucasian hellions you often see running and screaming in the grocery store (asserting yourself as a parent and the ‘alpha’ of the family is a good start).
I, for one, am tired of this bullshit movement and tired of groups like this forcing their ideologies into my life. We live in a free market, Capitalist society and we make decisions through the voice of our purchases; if you don’t like the Happy Meal, then don’t buy it and if you don’t know how to say ‘no’ to your kid, LEARN HOW TO. You are the parent and that means you need to take some responsibility for your life and teach your children healthy habits. But suing a company for offering what the public wants and has wanted for over 30 years is frivolous and exactly what’s wrong with America today.
Sources:
1. McDonald’s Happy Meals(R) Change With Time, Over 25 Years of Commitment to Children.
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