Just to demonstrate that it is not just the British that are quite mad and that Americans too seem to have abdicated all responsibility for common sense, I attach the following snippet, gleaned from an E-newsletter.
A mother of two in Sacramento, California has filed a class action lawsuit against McDonalds because they use toys to unfairly market their Happy Meals to under 8's. It is stated that "Children eight years old and younger do not have the cognitive skills and the developmental maturity to understand the persuasive intent of marketing and advertising."
Quite so - but unless things are significantly different on the other side of the pond, how often is a child of eight or less going to be going into McDonald's on their own and ordering a Happy Meal? It doesn't happen here. If a child that young is in Mcdonald's they will be with an adult or older sibling who will understand the point of marketing and advertising and should have the necessary willpower to say "No" if they don't consider the Happy Meal to be appropriate.
Clearly American women either have no willpower at all or are negligent in allowing their young children to go roaming unaccompanied. To blame McDonalds for this scenario is quite ridiculous. It would be like someone here taking legal action against a car manufacturer for advertising the fact that their car goes from 0 - 90 in 10 seconds, knowing full well that you are not allowed to drive more than 70 mph. The individual is expected to excercise a bit of common sense and responsibility.
Unfortunately - being America - there is a reasonable prospect that she will win her case. I look forward to the result with bated breath. If I hear the result I will report back in this blog. If she wins, that will probably be my last entry before I go off and slit my wrists!
