I posted about this many months ago but it is in the news once again. The liberal, progressive, open-minded, socialist, communist left wing nuts have been mounting an assault on Ronald McDonald or McDonalds fame. The poor clown has been busted to the curb by these left-wing maniacs. Because these 'progressives' believe they know better than parents what is best for them, they want to control the market by putting pressure on businesses to change to a 'more healthy' menu and marketing methods.
I don't think that the clown is doing a great disservice. I know what McDonalds is, and even as a kid we did not have McDonalds a lot. When I was young, in the 70s and 80s, McDonalds commercials were pretty memorable with the Clown Ronald McDonald, the Ham Burglar, and Grimace... Here are their pictures:
This article which I found on FOX which was originally posted on the Wall Street Journal discusses this sad news. I don't think that companies should be forced to comply with this kind of pressure. Every person has the right to make the decision about what to eat, or not to eat. I believe that McDonalds is not evil, and that its food provides families the ability to treat kids to a cheap and tasty meal. I also believe McDonalds has complied with previous 'healty' mandates such as providing nutritional information for all the items on the menu, and also providing more salads and non-burger menu items.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/05/18/mcdonalds-pressure-ronald/?test=facesMcDonald's Under Pressure to Fire Ronald
Published May 18, 2011 | The Wall Street JournalMore than 550 health professionals and organizations have signed a letter to McDonald's Corp. asking the maker of Happy Meals to stop marketing junk food to kids and retire Ronald McDonald.
The letter, slated to run in the form of full-page ads in six metropolitan newspapers around the country on Wednesday, acknowledges that "the contributors to today's (health) epidemic are manifold and a broad societal response is required. But marketing can no longer be ignored as a significant part of this massive problem."
"We are committed to responsible advertising and take our communications to children very seriously," McDonald's said in a statement. "We understand the importance of children's health and nutrition, and are committed to being part of the dialogue and solution. We serve high quality food, and our Happy Meals offer choice and variety in portions just for kids. Parents tell us they appreciate our Happy Meal choices."
The campaign is organized by the nonprofit watchdog group Corporate Accountability International, which has also targeted tobacco companies and beverage makers like Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc. for the environmental impact of plastic bottles.
The letter from the health providers urges McDonald's to cease marketing food high in salt, fat, sugar and calories to kids, from the use of Ronald McDonald to Happy Meal toys.