Santa Clara County bans Happy Meals

[fezzyfestoon]

The whole idea is beyond ridiculous. It is the parent's responsibility. Nobody has a right to interfere with a parent raising their child as long as the child isn't being abused -- especially the government.

It is the parent's responsibility to decide what is best for their child -- not the child's. Parents need to act like parents. Sometimes, that means putting one's foot down. The argument that a child wouldn't choose a meal of vegetables over a happy meal is absolutely ridiculous. The child doesn't always understand the big picture. That's why the parent needs to be responsible and say no sometimes.

So where have you been since cigarettes and alcohol are illegal for children?  Shouldn't that also be up to the parents then?

Give me a break. On what level is that anywhere near the same?

An occasional happy meal isn't going to hurt a child. The same can't be said for alcohol. By that logic, a parent should be allowed to feed a child that they know has a peanut allergy a peanut butter sandwich.

It's also illegal to have sex with a child. Do you think that should change? It's also illegal for a child to drive. Do you think parents should be allowed to let their four-year-olds drive?

Are you serious?  The leading killer of Americans is heart disease.  The leading cause of heart disease is obesity.  The leading cause of obesity is a horrible diet.  McDonalds in any form is a horrible diet.

You're only proving my point that leaving all parenting decisions up to parents is illogical.  I'm not the one saying kids should be allowed to do whatever their parents let them, you are.

So why don't you just ban McDonalds then?  You know, for the children.  It's always "for the children"!

Despite the food police's lame attempts to brainwash people into thinking otherwise, McDonalds - or any other food - in moderation isn't a horrible diet.   

I don't think I've ever said "for the children".  Shall we focus on the conversation at hand?  You're talking to me remember.

Despite the brainwashing provided to the extreme by our consumer driven world, McDonalds is not ok in any sense.  Nor do many people eat it - or any food at this point - in moderation.

[cinyc]

I don't think I've ever said "for the children".  Shall we focus on the conversation at hand?  You're talking to me remember.

Despite the brainwashing provided to the extreme by our consumer driven world, McDonalds is not ok in any sense.  Nor do many people eat it - or any food at this point - in moderation.

Nonsense.  There are millions of Americans who eat McDonalds in moderation.  There are millions of Americans who only go to McDonalds every once in a while.  There are millions of Americans who go to McDonalds and eat their more healthy options.  And there are items on McDonalds' menu that are better for you than the supposedly healthy salads you can get at superYuppie organic prepared wholefoodmart.

We can't have our freedoms taken away from us because X is the leading cause of death in the US.  People should be able to choose what they want to eat, not be dictated by busybodies who think they know best.   Parents should be able to choose if their children should have a happy meal every once in a while. 

Caution: Living is hazardous to your health.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

So next time I have lunch in Santa Clara County I will be sad? That's too bad.

[fezzyfestoon]

Like I said...I'm not in favor of this.  But being opposed to it suddenly is disingenuous.  This is hardly the first offensive on harmful habits.

And you're right, there are millions who eat at McDonalds in moderation.  The problem is that there are many millions more that eat it habitually.  It's not their fault, it's addictive.  Unfortunately you were wrong in saying that things on the McDonalds menu are healthier than...health food.  In fact, before you go looking up the factual statements I have made in this post (hint hint - go do that) I would check the health stats on an organic, "health-food" salad that is actually healthy and not just another McDonalds-lite marketing ploy.

Don't bother patronizing me, I live one of the most arrogantly hazardous lifestyles I can think of.

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

While I do know that there's a good portion of parents are idiotic when it comes to feeding their children, this is not the right way to go about it.

The best course of action is education, to everybody.  That way people can phase it out by their own choice, knowing what is good for them and what is not.

Oh, and for the record, over the years the commercials have gotten more and more tempting for kids (as one who grew up in the last decade).

[cinyc]

Like I said...I'm not in favor of this.  But being opposed to it suddenly is disingenuous.  This is hardly the first offensive on harmful habits.

And you're right, there are millions who eat at McDonalds in moderation.  The problem is that there are many millions more that eat it habitually.  It's not their fault, it's addictive.  Unfortunately you were wrong in saying that things on the McDonalds menu are healthier than...health food.  In fact, before you go looking up the factual statements I have made in this post (hint hint - go do that) I would check the health stats on an organic, "health-food" salad that is actually healthy and not just another McDonalds-lite marketing ploy.

Don't bother patronizing me, I live one of the most arrogantly hazardous lifestyles I can think of.

EVERY offensive on legal but "harmful habits" is disgusting.  The food police should get the hell out of our lives and stop banning things like trans-fats based on the junk science of the day that doesn't agree with the junk science of yesterday.

Everything on McDonalds' menu is worse for you than similar things on superYuppie organic mart's menu?  Really?  Umm... No...

For example:

Caesar Salad from McDonalds with Newmans' Own Caesar Dressing & Croutons, for an equal comparison:
Calories: 340
Calories from Fat: 220
Fat: 25.5g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Transfat: 0g

Caesar Salad from superYuppie Panera Bread:
Calories: 390    (MORE)
Calories from Fat: 250  (MORE)     
Total Fat: 27g (MORE)
Saturated Fat:   8g  (MORE)     
Transfat: 0.5g (MORE)

Which is healthier, if you care about calories and fat?  Hint: Not superYuppie Panera.

McDonalds is NOT health food - and doesn't advertise itself as such.  SuperYuppie Organic marts DO - yet some of their salads are worse for you than McDonalds' cheesburgers.

And the idea that people are addicted to McDonalds is just crap.  Ronald McDonald is not a hypnotist.  Nobody is forced to go to McDonalds at gunpoint.  People have free will and can decide to go into a McDonalds or not.  And eat all their French Fries. Or not.  Or order a salad.  Or not.  

[fezzyfestoon]

Ok well, while you're making up a story to fit your side, I'll just let you know that Panera is neither organic nor healthy.  Panera's one of those McDonald-lite places I was talking about.

And remember...the leading killer of Americans is heart disease.  The leading cause of heart disease is obesity.  The leading cause of obesity is a horrible diet.  McDonalds in any form is a horrible diet.

[live free or die]

Ok well, while you're making up a story to fit your side, I'll just let you know that Panera is neither organic nor healthy.  Panera's one of those McDonald-lite places I was talking about.

cinyc's point is that their target audience doesn't have any idea that Panera or similar places are so unhealthy. No one walks into a McDonald's expecting healthy meals. You're not better than anyone else, Brett, and you have no reason to act like you are.

[fezzyfestoon]

Ok well, while you're making up a story to fit your side, I'll just let you know that Panera is neither organic nor healthy.  Panera's one of those McDonald-lite places I was talking about.

cinyc's point is that their target audience doesn't have any idea that Panera or similar places are so unhealthy. No one walks into a McDonald's expecting healthy meals. You're not better than anyone else, Brett, and you have no reason to act like you are.

Projecting much?  Don't worry about it, I don't think in terms of "better" and "worse".

And that wasn't his point, but who's paying any attention anyway right?

Aw, I like when people refer to me by my name, it reminds me of elementary school.  Plus, I've got such a cool name don't I?  That's what happens when you're born into a family that matters, like a Rockefeller or something.

[cinyc]

Ok well, while you're making up a story to fit your side, I'll just let you know that Panera is neither organic nor healthy.  Panera's one of those McDonald-lite places I was talking about.

And remember...the leading killer of Americans is heart disease.  The leading cause of heart disease is obesity.  The leading cause of obesity is a horrible diet.  McDonalds in any form is a horrible diet.

The leading cause of death is OLD AGE - but that's not included in the charts.  We are all eventually going to die of SOMETHING.  Heart disease is a convenient category to put those without any real cause into.  The FACT is that the prevalence of heart disease is FALLING FASTER THAN THE OVERALL DEATH RATE.  The FACT is Americans are living longer now than ever before.  Despite Happy Meals.  Despite McDonalds.  Despite McDonalds lite.  Despite the war on food that you seem gleeful for.

You seem to have an irrational hatred for McDonalds.  There is NOTHING wrong with eating McDonalds - or anything else IN MODERATION.   Eating only eggs is bad for you, too.  Eating only carrots is bad for you.  Eating only organic vegetables is bad for you.   Everything in moderation is usually just fine.  The busybody food police are simply wrong.
 
And remember this:  There is NOTHING inherently healthy about "organic" food.  It is just a way of farming and (really) MARKETING TACTIC.  It is NOT necessarily any safer or more nutritious than non-organic food.

[fezzyfestoon]

I'm fully aware that most "organic" products pose no benefit to humans, no need to yell.  I don't wage war, I make love.  Like a hippie.  I love food and I love people that eat too much of it.  You should try positivity.  It's a lot better than causing heart disease for yourself with all the stress of yelling and making points about people you aren't talking to.

[??????????]

I'm just glad I can live in a day and age where I can die of a "rich persons" disease like cancer or heart attack as opposed to 120 years ago when any one of us could die right now due to the trots..lol..

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Why do libs want the government to be mommy and daddy?

[fezzyfestoon]

I'm just glad I can live in a day and age where I can die of a "rich persons" disease like cancer or heart attack as opposed to 120 years ago when any one of us could die right now due to the trots..lol..

Bahaha that's GROSS

[Tetro Kornbluth]

This arguments invoked in this thread are inane.

Who says that 'freedom' (whatever that is) = leads to good things. Are we really shallow? (Liberals and Libertarians say yes and Then OMG 19841111!)

[Free Palestine]

Government's role is to protect the rights of the governed, not legislate to make them more healthy.  Nobody is being forced at gunpoint to go to McDonald's, and government taking the role of parents will only make the problem worse.  Big government is leading us in the direction of a future where everyone is stupid and lazy, relying on government to decide right and wrong for them and provide their basic needs.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Suffice to say this is an obvious logical extension of having Universal healthcare. To say otherwise is just to throw out rights to people like confetti without thinking of the consequences of doing so. If you haven't noticed the United States treasury is one giant bottomless pot of gold.

Which is not to say that I consider UHC a bad thing. And anything that leads to the banning of advertising to children is a good thing. Actually I believe the last one is the 'libertarian' option. (OH NOES!!! DON'T BANZ ANYTHINGZ!!11 EVAR THINK OF TEH FREEDOMS!!1111).

[Free Palestine]

Suffice to say this is an obvious logical extension of having Universal healthcare. To say otherwise is just to throw out rights to people like confetti without thinking of the consequences of doing so. If you haven't noticed the United States treasury is one giant bottomless pot of gold.

Which is not to say that I consider UHC a bad thing. And anything that leads to the banning of advertising to children is a good thing. Actually I believe the last one is the 'libertarian' option. (OH NOES!!! DON'T BANZ ANYTHINGZ!!11 EVAR THINK OF TEH FREEDOMS!!1111).

I think I misphrased.  Government's role is to protect the rights of citizens from being infringed upon by others.