Nanny State : The Assault on Ronald McDonald

[muman613]

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=faces

McDonald's Under Pressure to Fire Ronald
Published May 18, 2011 | The Wall Street Journal

More 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.

[ProJewGreekChristian]

Muman613 I disagree with your defense of Ronald McDonald. Let me address my disagreement from three different angles:

1)   McDonalds has been funding inner-city dreck involving Louis Farrakhan and other Jew-hating Nazi scum. I’ve seen in many Zootube videos of so-called debates and “forums” where these black Nazi Animals sit together to discuss Zionist conspiracy theories and the Cracker’s injustices, that in  the background can be seen “Sponsored by McDonalds” and manipulative slogans assuaging the Nazi hate their sponsoring that say things like “building one community at a time” and suchlike. Therefore, the least that should happen to them is they go out of business, Θεού θέλοντος (God willing).
2)   They contribute to America’s cultural imperialism in Europe, which I find repulsive
3)   The garbage churned out of these sewers truly is unhealthy and horrible for people to eat. Perhaps if they could only be located in very violent neighborhoods where crackers and Jews don’t frequent, then I would be a-okay with their pervasiveness; but otherwise, no.


I do see the angle you are coming from, however—concern over government intrusion, government thinking they know best (when they obviously don’t).

[muman613]

Muman613 I disagree with your defense of Ronald McDonald. Let me address my disagreement from three different angles:

1)   McDonalds has been funding inner-city dreck involving Louis Farrakhan and other Jew-hating Nazi scum. I’ve seen in many Zootube videos of so-called debates and “forums” where these black Nazi Animals sit together to discuss Zionist conspiracy theories and the Cracker’s injustices, that in  the background can be seen “Sponsored by McDonalds” and manipulative slogans assuaging the Nazi hate their sponsoring that say things like “building one community at a time” and suchlike. Therefore, the least that should happen to them is they go out of business, Θεού θέλοντος (G-d willing).
2)   They contribute to America’s cultural imperialism in Europe, which I find repulsive
3)   The garbage churned out of these sewers truly is unhealthy and horrible for people to eat. Perhaps if they could only be located in very violent neighborhoods where crackers and Jews don’t frequent, then I would be a-okay with their pervasiveness; but otherwise, no.


I do see the angle you are coming from, however—concern over government intrusion, government thinking they know best (when they obviously don’t).

I am not defending McDonalds but my problem is with the message which this sends to business. I guess I am the product of a bygone era in that I am very much pro-capitalism. When I was young they used to teach us that communism was evil and capitalism is the only system which spurs innovation and competition.

While in some cases there are monopolies and I support some laws which prevent the creation of monopolies in certain markets. I have always been worried about Microsoft becoming a monopoly in the computer operating system business, and in some ways I think they are. But today I am free to use Linux operating systems and I enjoy that we still have choices when it comes to operating systems.

[ProJewGreekChristian]

Yeah... I despise communism, but I don’t see the path towards communism as a slippery slope as it once was seen when it was a serious threat… Maybe, though, while these laws would be good insomuch that they hurt McDonalds (which despite the sentimental memories I as well have connected therewith) it would grant Uncle Schmuch license, provide precedent, to envelope “her” (lol) tyrannical reach over other decent industries.

Microsoft, though, is satanic if you ask me… but apple is very slimey and rips people off too…

AT THE SAME TIME, what will the projected revenue be used for? Will the money they accumulate over taxing industries like Mickydees go to fund black drug addicts and baby mamas in da project housing? or will it help provide health care for ailing youngsters? Knowing Obongo (as Italian Zionist so fondly used to put it) I assume the former… it’s not a cut-and-dry decision I suppose…

[Yaakov Mendel]

I also disagree with your defense of McDonalds. This is a company that has done extensive damage to the health of the people around the globe. The food they sell is toxic and I find it immoral that they cynically use massive marketing means to poison our children, even if, ultimately, it the responsibility of the parents to boycott such junk food suppliers.

[HiWarp]

I also disagree with your defense of McDonalds. This is a company that has done extensive damage to the health of the people around the globe. The food they sell is toxic and I find it immoral that they cynically use massive marketing means to poison our children, even if, ultimately, it the responsibility of the parents to boycott such junk food suppliers.

What? How can a company do extensive damage to one's health? Is it not the choice of the person ingesting the food any more? Is the company forcefully feeding people crap? Sure, McDonalds has "meals" that are loaded with calories, saturated fat, sodium, etc. but so do all restaurants. Is there really that much difference between an Angus bacon & cheese burger and  large fries from McDonald's and a bacon cheeseburger deluxe served with fries and onion rings from your local diner? Both establishments offer healthier choices but it is up to the customer to choose them. No company forces individuals to eat unhealthy food and be fat. If your contention is that companies shouldn't be allowed to sell unhealthy food, you best be careful. Giving government the authority to dictate what you can and cannot do for your own good is a dangerous, slippery slope.

[Yaakov Mendel]

What? How can a company do extensive damage to one's health? Is it not the choice of the person ingesting the food any more? Is the company forcefully feeding people crap? Sure, McDonalds has "meals" that are loaded with calories, saturated fat, sodium, etc. but so do all restaurants. Is there really that much difference between an Angus bacon & cheese burger and  large fries from McDonald's and a bacon cheeseburger deluxe served with fries and onion rings from your local diner? Both establishments offer healthier choices but it is up to the customer to choose them. No company forces individuals to eat unhealthy food and be fat. If your contention is that companies shouldn't be allowed to sell unhealthy food, you best be careful. Giving government the authority to dictate what you can and cannot do for your own good is a dangerous, slippery slope.

Well, I don't eat bacon cheeseburger deluxe with fries and onion rings at the local diner either...
How can a company do extensive damage to your health ? By selling you unhealthy food. I agree that, ultimately, it is the consumer's responsibility to avoid such restaurants. But when a big corporation like McDonalds uses its huge financial resources to open restaurants everywhere and brainwash kids through massive advertisement campaigns, it is hard for local small businesses to compete, so they close down and there isn't free choice any more.
Letting big businesses control the market is also a dangerous, slippery rope.

[HiWarp]

Well, I don't eat bacon cheeseburger deluxe with fries and onion rings at the local diner either...
How can a company do extensive damage to your health ? By selling you unhealthy food. I agree that, ultimately, it is the consumer's responsibility to avoid such restaurants. But when a big corporation like McDonalds uses its huge financial resources to open restaurants everywhere and brainwash kids through massive advertisement campaigns, it is hard for local small businesses to compete, so they close down and there isn't free choice any more.
Letting big businesses control the market is also a dangerous, slippery rope.

In all the places I've been to in the U.S. I have found no shortage of restaurants, whether they are chains like McDonalds or single small businesses. I have also found no shortage of restaurants that serve healthy food or restaurants that have healthy choices on their menus. No company "sells" you unhealthy food. It is up to you to buy it and eat it. Unfortunately, the government is a different story. They not only have the ability to force you to do something by threat of financial penalty or even incarceration, they actually do it. So my contention is that the more we allow government to do things for us in the name of safety or security or good health or anything else, in other words, the more personal responsibility we shed, the more personal freedom we lose.

As for advertising, brainwashing, and big business controlling the market, I prefer it to public education indoctrination and inculcation of kids and government regulated and controlled markets by bureaucrats, reason being as I stated before, with the former you can choose to educate yourself and ignore the nonsense but with the latter you may one day be forced to do something that you don't want to but have no choice in the matter.

[nessuno]

It starts with McDonald's and ends where?
I think that is the question.

[HiWarp]

It starts with McDonald's and ends where?
I think that is the question.

Precisely! I could give a rat's tuchus about McDonalds. It is the overreaching power of the government and the continued promotion of a nanny state that I have a problem with.

[Yaakov Mendel]

In all the places I've been to in the U.S. I have found no shortage of restaurants, whether they are chains like McDonalds or single small businesses. I have also found no shortage of restaurants that serve healthy food or restaurants that have healthy choices on their menus. No company "sells" you unhealthy food. It is up to you to buy it and eat it. Unfortunately, the government is a different story. They not only have the ability to force you to do something by threat of financial penalty or even incarceration, they actually do it. So my contention is that the more we allow government to do things for us in the name of safety or security or good health or anything else, in other words, the more personal responsibility we shed, the more personal freedom we lose.

As for advertising, brainwashing, and big business controlling the market, I prefer it to public education indoctrination and inculcation of kids and government regulated and controlled markets by bureaucrats, reason being as I stated before, with the former you can choose to educate yourself and ignore the nonsense but with the latter you may one day be forced to do something that you don't want to but have no choice in the matter.

I agree to a large extent with what you say about maximizing the perimeter of personal responsibility. But I also care about public health. Obesity is a serious problem in America. So is the rise in the number of cardio-vascular diseases and diet-related cancers. That is why I don't like McDonalds. Not to mention that their industrial food has no taste and is unsavory. And it annoys me that my 7-year daughter regularly asks me to go to Mc Donalds - although I systematically say no, just because of their massive marketing and advertisement campaigns that especially target children.

I keep to Kosher food most of the time anyway. The last time I went to McDonalds must have been more than ten years ago. I was stranded in the suburbs of Prague, it was 10:30 p.m., I was starving and I didn't know the surroundings...

[briann]

While I disslike Mcfonalds, I think this is certainly a step towards statism.