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-- Laws like this are ones that need to get passed:
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Laws like this are ones that need to get passed:
This law comes into effect tomorrow. Its sad but we have come to a point in society where we have to pass laws to state the obvious.
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House bans fast-food lawsuits WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill Wednesday to ban lawsuits by obese customers who say they became overweight by eating at fast-food restaurants. The bill, which passed 276 to 139, is one part of a broader Republican push to reform the nation's civil liability laws by banning what many consider to be "frivolous" lawsuits. "Trial lawyers have targeted the fast-food industry as the next big tobacco by bringing these insane lawsuits," said the bill's author, Rep. Ric Keller, R-Florida, referring to cigarette smokers' litigation against tobacco companies. "We've got to get back to those old-fashioned principles of personal responsibility, of common sense, and get away from this new culture where everybody plays the victim and blames other people for their problems." Many Democrats opposed the bill, as they did a similar liability waiver the House passed for gun manufacturers last year. "The courts are handling the cases as they should -- if they're frivolous, they're thrown out," said Rep. Bobby Scott, a Virginia Democrat who opposes the legislation. "That's what everyone else has to go through, and I'm not sure why there's any special case to be made for this industry to have their cases tried in the United States Congress rather than the court." The National Restaurant Association said the bill is its top priority this year. While only one such lawsuit has been filed -- a case involving New York children against McDonald's that was dismissed -- the industry said it is facing higher insurance costs because of the potential liability. "It's a significant issue simply by the impact it could have on the entire industry if one of these suits were to be successful," said association spokesman Brendan Flanagan. Some Democrats said they are concerned the bill will make a major sector of the economy exempt from negligence. "There's no justification for that," a Democratic Judiciary Committee aide said. "These are not poor struggling businesses who can't defend themselves against unfounded legal claims." Approval of the bill comes at the same time McDonald's and other restaurants are facing pressure to stop offering bargain "super-size" meals. Last week, McDonald's announced it would eliminate the super-size choice, citing the need to simplify its menu. "It's hard to believe that trial lawyers want to make the claim that 'Ronald McDonald made me do it,' " House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said about the issue. "The point of this debate [is] all about personal responsibility. If you eat too much, you will gain weight." Companion legislation is pending in the Senate, but a leadership aide couldn't say when or if it will be taken up. |
I'd like to know who came up with the bill so I can personally congratulate them. It's too bad we'll probably never see this attitude toward politics in Canada.
"Ronald McDonald made me do it" LMAO!!!
It's about damn time they came up with this bill.
You should see the movie "Super Size Me"...It will get you off junk food forever...ESPECIALLY Mcdonalds
Except that if i ate too much of anything EVERYDAY it would be bad.
The ocassional junk food meal isnt that bad. Its people who eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner. But hey thats their choice
they should pass laws like this about everything pretty much 
I have so little faith in humanity these days.
I think in conjunction with this law they should also pass alaw where fastfood MNCs must cease to use manipulative marketing towards children.
Naturally everyone is reponsible for themsleves but... its hard for parents to compete with companies with billion dollar marketing campaigns as well.
soo...
swilly
Swilly's right. The lawsuits against the fast food chains do have some merit. Not enough to win a case, but enough to deliver a message. Advertising exec's hire psychologists and conduct human behaviour surveys to figure out the best way to convince the public to consume their product. Having a psych degree is very valuable in the field of advertising these days.
If you were mentally duped into buying anything, and realized you got ripped off, you'd be pretty pissed. Here, McDonalds and the like are mentally dupeing millions of people a day, and is ripping them off with commercials showing people living incredibly happy lives, fit people at that, even though the figures in the ad's are eating the fattiest foods around.
They can't put a gun to our heads and tell us to eat Micky D's, that's illegal, but coaxing mentally is a powerful tool, and sometimes just as effective, not to mention 100% legal, and even promoted with laws like the one above.
Karim
And so what?
So the consumers don't think about what they are doing, or too lazy to do so and the capitalism takes advantage of that.
Who's fault is it really then?
It's tapping into human weakness willfully in order to push a hazardous product. And there's no denying that McDonalds food is simply not good for you. The same debate was discussed around smoking.
Now I don't think it should be outlawed, but a question of morality comes into play. How far is too far?
Karim
I have no sympathy for people who do not think for themselves. A little thinking would dispel the mystery of whatever corporations push to the consumers.
You are absolutely right, people should think for themselves, but sadly children are often easily manipulated, and like swilly said, parents have a hard time competing with advertising. No amount of proper parenting can be immune to the multi billion dollar marketing machine that these corporations push on us.
Did you know that the average 6 year old in the USA, recognizes Joe Camel of Camel Cigarettes just as much as they recognize Mickey Mouse? (Source, found in the quiz)
It seems like being tuned in, is being tuned out mentally these days, and having decisions made for you by corporate brainwashing.
Karim
| quote: |
| "We've got to get back to those old-fashioned principles of personal responsibility, of common sense, and get away from this new culture where everybody plays the victim and blames other people for their problems." |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by RobbyG. You should see the movie "Super Size Me"...It will get you off junk food forever...ESPECIALLY Mcdonalds |
Give me a break. Now its advertising's fault?
As an adult i can make my own choices. I dont care what TV tells me is cool, i can make my own decisions. JUst because tv says reality shows are cool doesnt mean i watch them. When i see an ad for depends i dont just go out and buy them because i saw them on tv. I would buy them if i needed or wanted them.
Oh and as for kids. There is one simple solution to marketing to children. PARENTAL GUIDANCE. You know, not giving into little johnny's every little whim? I know it's old fashioned but it seems to work well.
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| Originally posted by karim parents have a hard time competing with advertising. |
Mcdonalds was always treated as a special treat for us. Very rare that we went there even though my brother and i always wanted to.
Lets ban fast-food!
I ate 3 hamburgers last night and an extra large fry, then I had a hot fudge sundae and 3 apple pies... also, a diet coke. Then I got a stomache ache... B4NZ0|2 7h47 $hI7!!!1
You guys are all pointing out your own personal abilities to control your own decisions independant of advertising. Note that there are very different people out there, some, if no most, very easily manipulated. You can think for yourself, great, but your one example does NOT reflect on the population. Advertising is big business cause it WORKS.
Also, as for parental guidance, many parents try to teach their children the value of money by providing them with an allowance and a little bit of freedom to go out in the neighbourhood. I had it, and virtually every kid I knew had it. We used to find it odd when a kid wasn't allowed to come out with us for an afternoon bike ride. Personally, I used to save my money to buy nintendo games, but I know alot of kids that used to ride their bike down to the local McDonalds to burn their pocket cash. A sad way to learn about commerce.
The bottom line is, without the type of advertising that McDonalds uses, there would prolly be a huge difference in the amount of people getting obese off of their food. Advertising is not to blame 100%, but it does make the situation worse, and the methods they use go a little too far.
Karim
ok so if they buy mcdonalds with that bit of money than thats their treat. The way to control this is a) keep an eye on your children and b) dont give them a big allowance.
Bottom line, retailers offer a service and advertisers present it to the public. If you are too weak to use your own judgement than thats your own damned fault, not the retailers'. Its called TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS. It's also called PARENTING.
The world's ills are not ALWAYS someone else's fault.
PS: what methods does mcdonalds use that go a little too far? Are you saying that "ronald mcdonald made you do it"?
Lets take the latest McDonalds ad for example. A parody on political activism by showing a guy with a huge sign hanging off of him. To deliver a message, to make the world aware that he loves his sandwhich. The guy appears to be an average guy, but this sandwhich drove him nuts because it's "that good". Oh, and the best part is, he's not alone! Toying on the human desire for acceptance. It's full of subliminal messages like all ads these days, and it's got that uplifting soundtrack giving a sense of achievement, when no achievements are to be made. And then finally, the Buda Bap Baa baaa, I'm loving it, so catchy its a brainworm. Pretty dumb and trivial I know, but for many people, that puts them over the edge to go buy it.
Another form of advertising that really caught my attention was Little Ceasers pizza. No longer do they put their money into TV ads, but they employ people to stand out on the streets with a sign that says "hot and ready! Medium Pepperoni Pizza $5". A living billboard. People drive by noticing this because they genuinely have pity for the board holder, but in the process, they remember what the sign says. In turn, the consumer thinks about pizza, and then it triggers the craving and desire for pizza where the consumer prolly would've driven by and ate at home.
Now of course to act on the McDonalds or Little Ceasars marketing tactics and go out to buy their food IS infact a consumers decision, but food addiction is all too common, and these ads play on human desires for their products. The effort that these companies make to get the word out pollutes our public space with logos and billboards and makes our entire lives one big commercial. People should be able to make their own decisions, I just feel advertising shouldn't be the driving factor to make decisions for the weak minded. A genuine desire for a product unaided by psychological advertising tactics should be what gets people to buy them.
I find people who buy into advertising too much to be handicapped, and when I point a finger at advertising, it's looking out for the mentally weak. Of course, the handicapped should be rehabilitated into knowing better, but sadly, that's only half the battle.
Karim
hahahahahahahahha
all i can do is laugh at the above comments.
People holding signs drive people into little ceaser's because they feel sorry for them? HAHAHAHAHAHHAH
Oh man.... dude you have too much time on your hands.
Let me let you in on a little secret. I stand outside of our quiznos all the time holding up a sign that says MMMM TOASTY. Is it to make people feel sorry for me? NOPE. Its to get around the archaic sign bylaws that people like you have placed on people like me. Its to get the store noticed by people who might be hungry and may want to stop in for some food. People who otherwise probably wouldnt even see our store. Oh and if they feel sorry for me they shouldnt because im making money (good money at that).
Oh yeah and as for the commercials. A bunch of guys walking with placards is subliminal advertising? LOL If thats subliminal than people aren't very wide awake.
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| Originally posted by Jayx1 Mcdonalds was always treated as a special treat for us. Very rare that we went there even though my brother and i always wanted to. |
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| Originally posted by Spam Unless you have some common sense and maybe... you know... excersize and uh... NOT eat it 3 times a day |
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