Posted in Current Events

I read this article by John Stossel today.  It describes a lawsuit brought against McDonalds by 2 teenage girls who claim the food they ate there made them fat.  Stossel's point is that we need to be responsible for our choices and stop ttying to pin teh responsibility elsewhere, thus protecting our right to choose, as well as giving us more options.

I agree with Stossel's view.  It seems our country has become one of passing the buck to others.  However, one thing he didn't address, was the responsiblity of advertisers.  Obvioulsy, the name of the game is to promote your product in the best possible way to earn profit.  However, advertising is often deceptive and misleading.  I have to admit I find the fast food ads stomach turning, but I do find other ads for food very enticing.  I do still have the choice and it is my responsibility to choose what I am going to put in my mouth.  But, shouldn't advertisers have stricter guidelines?  Is it reasonable to expect our young generation to choose to eat the salads at McDonalds vs the burgers, when all their friends are eating the same?  Peer pressure has long been taunted as a catalyst for poor decision making of the teen generation.  Kids feel pressure to drink, because somewhere they were told it was cool.  Camel cigarettes got rid of the cool camel, because it promoted the wrong idea, especially to youngsters.  There are laws and guidelines regarding these items?  Should this not also be the case for the marketing of other items.

As the holiday season nears, new toys are stuffing the shelves.  Advertisements for these toys aren't geared toward parents, the purchasers.  They are geared towards kids, the ulitmate consumer.  Some time ago advertisers realized how much impact kids have on discretionary money wihtin a family.  These ads are VERY misleading.  Kids can't discern that these ads are hyped up to make them feel inferior without the product being advertised.  Yet, there is no sense of responsibility there because we are responsible for our own spending.  I certainly don't want anyone telling what to purchase.  However, I do think that advertisers should be held firmly accountable for how items are advertised.  If the item is advertised in an unreasonable way, there should be consequences.  Of course the remote control truck may be able to do all that it shows on the ad, but how many kids have the resources and talents of the advertising staff to make the toy do as seen on tv? 

It really bugs me that kids are the main focus of most advertising.  So let's keep responsibility where it belongs, on ourselves.  But let's also hold those accoutnable who present information in an unrealistic format by putting guidelines out there that aren't trampled upon with no consequence. 

These are my thoughts.