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Laws like this are ones that need to get passed:
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View this Thread in Original format
| Jayx1 |
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. |
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| DigiNut |
| 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. |
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| Tordan |
"Ronald McDonald made me do it" LMAO!!!
It's about damn time they came up with this bill. |
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| RobbyG. |
| You should see the movie "Super Size Me"...It will get you off junk food forever...ESPECIALLY Mcdonalds:( |
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| Jayx1 |
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 |
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| St_Andrew |
| they should pass laws like this about everything pretty much :rolleyes: |
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| EvilTree |
| I have so little faith in humanity these days. |
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| swilly |
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 |
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| karim |
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 |
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| EvilTree |
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? |
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| karim |
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 |
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| EvilTree |
| 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. |
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