Suing McDonald's

This story is nearly two weeks old, but it deserves commenting on.

According to the Chicago Tribune, McDonald's is being sued by Monet Parham of Sacramento, California for giving toys in children's meals. According to Parham's lawyers, "Children 8 years old (sic) and younger do not have the cognitive skills and developmental maturity to understand the persuasive intent of marketing and advertising."

In response to that, I don't think many adults understand the "persuasive intent of marketing and advertising." You need look no further than the cult of Oprah.

However, there's more. Parham said she is bringing the case because of constant requests for Happy Meals and if she refuses, the usual "pouting ensues and a little bit of disagreement. This doesn't stop with one request. It's truly a litany of requests."

Excuse me?! Kids ask for things all the time and most of them will whine if they don't get their way. It's the job of the parent to teach them that they can't have everything they want and if they pout and argue, that's too bad. They'll try it again, but if you remain steadfast, they'll give up. It's only when you give in to their whining that the requests will ever become a litany of requests.

If I was a judge, I wouldn't even hear this case and would throw it out. It has no place other than to make a mockery of our system and tie the courts up. Ms. Parham's problem is that she's tired of being a parent and just can't say no. However, instead of admitting as much, she's suing McDonald's.

Toys Make Kids Fat

Last week I came across an article that described a lawsuit the "Center for Science in the Public Interest" was threatening to file against McDonalds. Basically, according to the organization McDonald's was responsible for making thousands of children obese because of Happy Meal toys. Toys make kids fat. That was a new one to me. Food and no exercise makes kids fat.

I realize that this lawsuit is just a big publicity campaign for the "Center for Science in the Public Interest". Still, you know if they are threatening a lawsuit but never follow-through, someone somewhere will.

Also, where did these people come up with their name? "Center for Science in the Public Interest"? There is no science involved in their lawsuit and suing McDonald's because you believe toys make kids fat is definitely not in the public interest. If anything, they should be thanking McDonald's because that little toy actually encourages a child's imagination and gets them to play and kids using their imaginations and playing are much better than kids sitting around watching tv 12 hours a day.