[WTF] Mayor of San Francisco speaks out against anti-Happy Meal law.

[kobold]

Know what's another option? Parents being fucking parents and making sure their kids don't eat shit. Worked pretty well for both of my parents (who both worked and were NOT even close to well off).

Comments

[raspywolf]

I really don't see what the big deal is. It doesn't ban anything. All the law says is that when selling a meal that includes a toy, the meal has to meet certain nutritional requirements. It's not an anti-happy meal law, it's an anti-marketing shit to kids law. I don't even like the snot-nosed little fuckers and normally I think people shield their kids entirely too much but even I can get behind a law designed to help prevent the corporate exploitation of children. Oh no! We're forcing corporations to hold to certain ethical standards, excuse me while I cry for big business.

[raspywolf]

That's really a straw man argument because I never suggested that parents shouldn't tell their children no, nor did I imply it. Of course they should, but will all parents do this? Of course they won't. Should the children of those parents who don't say no suffer because no one is watching out for them? As mgafm already pointed out above, we don't allow cigarette companies to advertise or sell to kids.

[zandperl]

In many cases yes, buying Happy Meals and the like is bad parenting, for example for overweight children, or for children who do not have variety in their diets. However, the basic requirement in food is calories, so for a family on the verge of starvation, Happy Meals are a good choice both for the children's energy needs and economically (because they provide a lot of calories per dollar). For cases like that, it would be better to provide more low cost food choices for the parents than to remove what may currently be the best option for them.

[arya]

Whether or not there's a toy in the bag isn't going to change whether or not the parent is too poor and/or lazy to feed their kid a decent meal.

[salem_wikkat]

Responsibility? For one's own children? Meh-heh-heh-heh. Surely, you jest.