NATIONAL NEWS The Deep-Fried Twinkie That Broke The Camel's Back
Here is an article from Yahoo!News today. The article is about a new medical study that concludes that TV advertising is promoting "unhealthy food choices" and are contributing to childhood obesity. The conclusion made by the study is that, if the advertising and "junk" food industry doesn't clean up their act, Congress should step in and force companies to advertise healthier choices. I have two major problems with this study:
1) Aren't we talking about the same advertising that also causes anorexia and bulimia because you and I will never be that thin or attractive? Can't we just make a blanket statement that advertising has ceased to be about informing the general public about new products and has, instead, become a harbinger of physical and mental disorders? Is it advertising's job to NOT leave thousands of otherwise healthy self-esteems decimated in it's wake? I don't think so. For as long as people have had better stuff than other people, we've all (Americans) felt the need to flaunt it. Or, perhaps the better question which is more ridiculous than even my over-the-top rhetoric... what would a company like Hostess be able to advertise? I mean, just think of a company which makes exclusively foods which one would consider "junk." If forced to advertise healthy alternatives, what would companies like those advertise? They would be forced, wouldn't they?, to come up with healthy alternatives... even if they are a successful "junk food" business. If Americans are supporting a company that makes exclusively junk food, is the real problem here the advertising of that company?
2) I may not know the MOST about politics in the universe... but wasn't the GOP supposed to be about giving power to state and local governments? But, in the past 8 years, we've seen an influx of new powers giving to the federal government from everything from transportation (wisely) to Major League Baseball or the BCS (ridiculously). Do we REALLY need the ineptitute of congress to say "Hey, every once in a while, eat a carrot."? I suppose it could be argued that, yes, that is the role of the government... to maintain the health and well-being of its citizens. But shouldn't that be the role of the parents? And, I already know what you're thinking "Parents all ready have a lot to deal with", etc... but my stance has been the same for years: It is just impossible to raise a child in a two-parent (or one-parent, for that matter) environment if both parents work. A child needs constant care and supervision. This is, obviously, almost impossible under our current social system. And latchkey/after-school programs are not the answer. One teacher for 20-30 kids does not work. My solution? Old people. You're G--amn right. For almost a decade we've heard the Baby Boomers pre-emptively bitch about "what am I going to do when I retire?"... well I have your solution right here. What could possibly be a better cure-all for the two most annoying demographics (the extremely young and extremely old) than to put them together somewhere (somewhere out of sight). Hell, we could shuttle those little bundles of... joy... to retirement homes after school, and let them spend some real quality time with their elders. They'll learn respect, history, and come away with a much greater appreciation for their health. This way the elderly aren't being ignored and today's youth aren't being bombarded with advertising (except for the advertising that comes on during Matlock).