I remember a day when claims by tobacco company lawyers that people would start seriously suing McDonalds for “forcing” them to get fat were dismissed as “hyperbole” and “panic-mongering”. Well, it turns out that the tobacco company lawyers were 100% correct. So, is it really the government’s duty to force people to not be fat? Is it really the government’s place to regulate every single tiny little aspect of our lives?
There are some lunatics out there who are proposing a “fat tax” on food. What next? At what point will we be required by the government to exercise in front of video cameras?
At what point does “for the good of public health” become tyranny? After all, once we’ve taken out the fatty foods, the tobacco, banned alcohol (again), eliminated sugar, made grilling illegal, what is left? Why, mental health, of course! The DEA becomes the “Drug Empowerment Agency”, making sure that everybody takes their psychomeds on schedule.
You laugh? You also laughed at the idea that people would start suing McDonalds for selling greasy food.
Why the total silence? Where is the horde of liberals to come out of the woodwork to scream that the tobacco company lawyers were all 100% wrong when they predicted the current state of affairs? Where are the folks who are hopping mad and trying to rationalize these lawsuits as “necessary” to “protect” people from "gigantic corporations?
Its way to easy to sue in the United States… I think that is the major conclusion.
Maybe forbid McDonalds from advertising to kids ? Just like cigarretes !
Well just for informations sake… obesity is on the rise everywhere in the world. Its just worse in the US. Newsweek had a cover on this topic 2 - 3 weeks ago.
Sure, McDonalds lawsuits are idiotic but idiotic lawsuits are nothing new. As far as I’m aware, every suit brought against McDonalds for selling greasy food has been laughed out of court. When someone wins, that’s when we have to worry.
What I would like to see are fast food places offering more healthful options to their menus. I mean, I’m an idiot- I still eat at fast food places. Why? Because I’m a lazy ass bachelor. I really should go to the grocery store and pick up some healthier food that I could prepare myself but just going to a drive through window is SO MUCH EASIER. I am aware that McDonald’s tried to do this some time ago, but they screwed the pooch by making it crappy. However, I am convinced that if a Fast food chain can offer a tasty and healthful (its possible) menu, they will get people by the HORDES.
In MOST cases, its your own damn fault you’re a fat cow. There are people who have legitimate health or physical concerns, but overall too many Americans are lazy fatasses too concerned with ingesting tubs of crisco while watching Friends than to get their ass on a treadmill.
Flame me all you want, but I used to be 20lbs overweight. Now, I’m about 10 or less. I’m lifting weights 3x a week and running for 3x days a week or more. I admit I still have to control my diet- and I’m working on that. You’re never going to get into shape if you don’t do something about it.
I’m sorry I’m being so caustic, but I am so tired of seeing all these fat people everywhere. If you want to cuss me out, I probably deserve it. But I’ll still have my opinion
Every ‘fat’ lawsuit has been insane. Some egregiously fat kid orders a double quarter pounder meal at least once a day for every day of his life and McDonald’s is to blame because his parents aren’t responsible enough to take control and maybe feed him something A LITTLE BIT healthier? Nonsense.
Tobacco and Fast Food have two things that set them apart considerably: Fast Food never pretended to be healthy and Fast food isn’t addictive. People buy fast food out of convenience.
Do you want the government to force these “options” in the same way that the government is being asked to force the “option” of no smoking in all establishments?
The first I’ll grant you, but the “health benefits” claims of tobacco were pretty much dropped before 1800. The second, well, there have already been “scientific” publications claiming that fatty foods are as addictive as nicotine.
I think it’s partly idiotic, but I also think the lawyers have a kind of point.
People don’t have appropriate information. People are continuously surprised to hear exactly how much of their recommended daily fat intake comes from a Big Mac. (Or a Mister Noodle, or an Oreo cookie, whatever.) Of course, the buyer must beware. But McD’s is encouraging us to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner there. Encouraging us to always get more fries, a bigger soft drink.
It’s not profitable to tell us how bad it is for us, so they don’t.
Not something to be legally liable for, I agree. But I am alarmed at all the misinformation-by-implication (or by omission) that goes on that isn’t illegal.
A kid wolfing down quarter-pounders everyday doesn’t affect my health one bit. His parents are the ones responsible.
Government need not be concerned.
A guy puffing cigars in my air at a restaurant affects my health big time. His right to kill himself ends when it affects me (an unwilling participant).
Government steps in.
Congratulations! You have proven yourself to be utterly incapable of recognizing junk science and scientific fraud. Claims of the incredible damage of second-hand tobacco smoke are based on a fraudulent “study” released by the EPA. That study did the following:
Announced its “results” before it was finished.
Excluded data that did not confirm its pre-determined “results”.
Changed the standards of analysis to a level too low for real science when the accepted standard did not confirm its pre-determined “results”.
The World Health Organization conducted a larger study that did not engage in fraudulent practices. They discovered that there was no significant risk factor associated with long-term exposure outside the home. Inside the home, they discovered that the children of smokers had a LOWER risk factor for respiratory ailments (including cancers) than did children of non-smokers.
If you’re a rational human being, you’ll go through all the information. If you’re just another propagandized cultist, you’ll dismiss it without giving it a thorough reading.
There’s not much to debate IMO. These days it’s hardly a secret that McDonald’s isn’t very healty.
Fatty foods being addictive? Possible but I doubt it. I admit, I love my quarter pounder with cheese (no pickel thank you!) but I’m not sitting around eating 3 per day. Anyone eating that much junk (good tasting junk of course) never learned the golden rule of life…moderation.
It doesn’t really bother me much until many “fat” people start demanding expensive medical treatments that cost me (in Canada) big $ to help cover. I draw the line there.
BTW dogface, I’m not a health nazi in any sense but the second hand smoke ban, I’m all for it.
The only reason? Because I HATE the freaking stench of it. I don’t care if it doesn’t hurt me, I care that it stinks and is very gross. If you wanna smoke, do it away from me.
It’s probably in line (in resturants anyhow) about how shoes and shirts must be worn. I don’t care about the hygene, I care about not having to stare at some naked gross people when I’m having dinner (naked hot chicks are a completely different matter though my GF might not like it )
McD’s is the first step on this new path. It’s just a matter of time until the “Body by Drakes” crowd starts filing class action suits against Frito-Lay, Hostess, Coca-Cola, et al.
With the assistance of psychologists, the trial lawyers keep finding new revenue streams. It seems like every year a new found addiction springs up:
Internet Addiction - I’m gonna mark my 2005 calendar as a reminder of the upcoming suits against Microsoft, AOL, Cisco, HP & Dell.
Marijuana Addiction - Maybe the lawyers can bring action against the South American countries who grow weed in abundance.
Sex Addiction - It’s not at all impossible that Victoria’s Secret & Vivid Video will be named as co-defendants.
Alcohol Addiction - It’s already begun in Scotland. Distillers & Breweries beware.
Janes Addiction - Look out Perry Farrell - Me and my slip and fall attorney are coming after you personally for hearing loss.
It’s our own fault that we are, as a nation, becoming increasingly obese.
But that national obesity is costing the country money and resources because of the health problems experienced by the millions of obese people.
So, no matter whose fault it is, if the government can see ways to help correct the problem in a way that’s fair and legal, it will save the country money and help its citizens live longer. So no matter whose fault it is, if the government thinks it has a good, fair solution, then it’s worth trying it.
It must be so wonderful being you - always in the know - up on
every EPA study - you must have a lot of free time.
Why the HELL should I have ever doubted the EPA study on second hand smoke? I know I feel like shit every time I’m in a smoke filled room. It would never occur to me to further investigate the EPA report.
You are probably a hard-core smoker or one of those fanatics that thinks the government is out to get you and/or control you.
If their report is bullshit - so be it - I still think second-hand smokes sucks and it not your RIGHT to inflict it on me, even if it’s harmless. The default state of a human being is to NOT smoke!
So go eat a few dozen Big Macs, preferably in one sitting.
Just recently read that the lawyer bring the first big tobaccor class action lawsuit went through 800 prospective jurors till he found a jury that he felt was sympathetic to his case! The judge was asleep or also sympathetic.
I have no love for the tobacco companies as I have seen some of the tests where they subjected rats held in restraints and forced to breathe cigararette smoke for extended periods of time. These test results were never publicized.
What you eat, drink, smoke, etc. is up to you but don’t ask someone else to pay for the consequences as they are your responsibility.
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