Prince Charles urges banning McDonald's food:

[brien]

I think YOU are missing the point here. It is not an issue of banning a legal good, it's an issue of making a good ILLEGAL! It's not like laws for things are created before the THING, we have to come to a realization, society as a whole, that something is dangerous. In this case, McDonalds food is dangerous, and should be banned. If they want to offer a NEW food, good for them, I support them 100%, but the crap they have on the market is not even food.

Its not just McDonalds either, but since they are the largest company they would be, and already have been, a good place to start on the path of change.

You fail to remember history son. This was tried with alcohol. Come over closer, and listen; it doesn't work. You nanny staters are incredible. You are willing to make food illegal, and the purveyor of that food an illegal entity, all because you want to protect people from themselves. Who the hell are you anyway, the great protectorate? You know better than someone else what is best for them? What about all of the people who enjoy a Big Mac on ocassion? You are willling to deny them because you think you have to protect them from themselves. Talk about a condescending elitist attitude. I yi yi:rolleyes:

And once again, I will ask you: How much tax dollars are wasted on obese people directly related to Mc Donalds. You make outrageous statements like they are the gospel truth and expect us to believe them? Where is your evidence ?

[Eclipse]

How much tax dollars are wasted on obese people directly related to Mc Donalds.

Healthcare. Perhaps not in the US but elsewhere. Even there it puts a strain on it. Unhealthy diets are linked to heart problems, cancers, blood pressure, digestive disorders, obesity etc etc the list is long.

Not only that but the industry including and supporting fast food restaurants is detrimental to the environment. A pure treat. Those who utilize fast foods as more then an occasional snack can develop psychological and physical problems above and beyond the normal.

Alternatives can be reached without deleting the choice. Governmental or social pressure can achieve this goal. Once alternatives are found, laws, whether social or governmental, allow for a quick and effective transmission.

I agree with one's ability to choose. I also agree, however, with the need for the collective to define its social and resulting governmental boundaries from time to time. This is achieved through education and sometimes laws. This is currently being achieved with the environmental issue.

[Nikkums]

You fail to remember history son. This was tried with alcohol. Come over closer, and listen; it doesn't work.

Do you remember history? What happened when they tried that with alcohol again?? RIGHT people made their own. I would be PERFECTLY ok with everyone making their own hamburgers in their basements. I would prefer they did it in a kitchen,or even in the backyard on a BBQ (they are quite taste, and even *gasp* good for you like that) but hey, whatever floats your boat.

You nanny staters are incredible. You are willing to make food illegal, and the purveyor of that food an illegal entity, all because you want to protect people from themselves.

Yes, McDonalds food, because of what's in it. I am not saying we can't eat ground beef, cheese or bread anymore, but it's not like any of those things are really in a big mac anyway. And NO, not McDonalds themselves, their food. Like I said, if they can offer REAL food, i would support them 100%. It's unfortunate that the only way the will offer real food though is to force them to stop serving their junk.

Who the hell are you anyway, the great protectorate? You know better than someone else what is best for them?

The company, McDonalds, says it's not good for you. Why hasn't anyone listened?

What about all of the people who enjoy a Big Mac on ocassion? You are willling to deny them because you think you have to protect them from themselves. Talk about a condescending elitist attitude. I yi yi:rolleyes:

I am sure that most people, like myself, who enjoy a big mac on occassion won't arm themselves to protect their right to have one. If you have enough sense about you to only eat mcdonalds in moderation, you have enough sense in you to realize there are other ways to treat yourself that don't involve mcdonalds.

And once again, I will ask you: How much tax dollars are wasted on obese people directly related to Mc Donalds. You make outrageous statements like they are the gospel truth and expect us to believe them? Where is your evidence ?

Eclipse has done an excellent job (IMHO) of stating the problems a McDiet has on tax payers.

[The Bacon Guy]

I am tired of wasting tax dollars on morbid obesity when it is as simple as banning McDonalds.

Isn't banning is a rather simple minded solution? Why not tax unhealthy food in order to cover the costs to public health, as is the case with tobacco? You solve the problem of wasted tax dollars, and you don't infringe quite so severely upon the free market and a consumer's right to choose. The fact that you are going for an outright ban leads me to believe that this isn't wholly about protecting your own money; it's about enforcing an arbitrary morality upon others.

Also, if you support public healthcare, you really have no grounds to be complaining. If you advocate a co-dependent society, you shouldn't be surprised when you end up paying for other people's bad decisions.

Its not just McDonalds either, but since they are the largest company they would be, and already have been, a good place to start on the path of change.

So when MacDonalds is banned, people's craving for unhealthy food will just evaporate, will it? Banning MacDonalds won't solve any of your problems: people will just go somewhere else.

[Chaossaber314]

Barely afford better quality food? Since when is mcdonalds cheap? 5-7 bucks for a single meal is insane compared to buying fresh produce, grains etc and cooking at home. its only cheap for lazy fatties who are too lazy to cook themselves.

What are you ordering? I've never paid more than 6 dollars for a meal there and that's provided I've gotten an actual meal and not ordered from the dollar menu where you can really clean up. I can get two hamburgers and a large fry for 3 something. It's inordinately cheap compared to buying groceries because you don't have to buy in bulk in order to get a single meal.

[Boetie]

Does anyone remember when this country jumped on Joe the Camel cigarette campaign because they said it was aimed at children.

Why is that we jump on Joe but say nothing about Ronald whom targets children too.

Let's face it we all know that the idea behind fun Ron is to get the little brats to kick and scream for a McMystery food.

We all know that a certain percentage of parents will cave in and stuff a McShutup into the little shit pot's mouth.

There was a rumor a long time ago that the burgers were made out of kangaroo meat.

[Eclipse]

Isn't banning is a rather simple minded solution? Why not tax unhealthy food in order to cover the costs to public health, as is the case with tobacco? You solve the problem of wasted tax dollars, and you don't infringe quite so severely upon the free market and a consumer's right to choose. The fact that you are going for an outright ban leads me to believe that this isn't wholly about protecting your own money; it's about enforcing an arbitrary morality upon others.

Mhmm. Good idea. Taxing could be an efficient method for gov'ts who have healthcare systems. The problem goes beyond simple health though. It goes to affect everyone by means of environmental effects. If alternatives can be found to aid problems associated with obesity, heart disease, cancer etc and help us achieve a healthier environment to boot, it would mean applying serious pressures to McDs and the people who shop there. To come to a valuable solution is to do so. The problem lies with people's freedoms. Then again, banning a car because it is unsafe and emits too many toxins simply changes the product available not the consumer's freedom to choose.

Also, if you support public healthcare, you really have no grounds to be complaining. If you advocate a co-dependent society, you shouldn't be surprised when you end up paying for other people's bad decisions.

Not necessarily. There are various reasons to support healthcare and they do not have to include, what one may deem, harmful actions against ones self. If the collective supports healthcare then making it as efficient as possible is usually the ideal. Taxing would help without infringing too much on the people's freedom to choose but problems still persist. What about my right to a healthy environment? It affects me, my family, my property and millions of others'.

[Pockets]

If people could make their decisions, good or bad, and take responsibility for them, FINE. But obviously, they can't, or we wouldn't even have laws to begin with. Or commandments for that matter.

Well it sounds like you may be the food police. lol
I have never had a problem with my weight. I've always stayed active but I dont have a love affair with food. I remember the one time in my life I over ate. My sister is 5-0' and weighs 345 pounds. She is addicted to food. Practically reverent. This is off topic but not. You may feel applying the tag addict is a cop out. You might be right. It's all willpower. I was sure you were right as I held that thought for decades. THAT is another thread. All I will say is this. I think you are way wrong. It is a disease. Anyone who is a drug addict or alcoholic can remove themselves from temptation if they choose. You cannot do that with food. It must be pure torture. Then the stares and the comments. Eat to feel better, keep trhe cycle going. Go ahead and say it's a copout but it's not. It is their choice however and that is how it gets approached when you get help.. I have been through it and I would be dead if there were no avenue to remove my temptation . You can't run away but you can't stay in the same room. It is just the beginning of the crooked path. That is just my opinion on that.
That being said, making Mcd's a scapegoat is not the answer. Enacting legislation would be impossible. If it were possible I think we would find the fight was more ccostly than the victory. You would have to either identify the active 'poison' and remove it from every product out there. Or you can simply vote to discriminate against them and hope your industry, paycheck, and way of life are never gone. I mean I smoke cigs. When they made the last price increase, I rolled my own. There is something in the factory cigarette, other than nicotine, that gets you. I still miss the factory smokes. You would need something like that in McD's, and only McD's. Or hope they are the only ones that have special, million dollar ingredient. Nobody else figured it out.
Or we can just outlaw driving because of what it does to the environment. Make that the next 'I'm right' crusade. No? No, you are right. Maybe just your car.

[Eclipse]

Cars are being worked on. Once we have the alternative to switch to a clean car then we will and laws will probably be implemented. Consumers of fast foods already have alternatives.

[Eclipse]

Not necessarily. There are various reasons to support healthcare and they do not have to include, what one may deem, harmful actions against ones self.

I take this back. I was thinking of extreme examples and it is not a reasonable statement for my view. The rest still stands.

[Pockets]

Boetie said

Does anyone remember when this country jumped on Joe the Camel cigarette campaign because they said it was aimed at children

Yeah. They were the only ones using a cartoon character in their ad campaign. The product was already deemed unsafe. It was their target market, children, that made it illegal. That would be great for Mcd's with Ronald and all. Oh, wait. Nobody has PROVEN Mc"ds and only McD's deserves to be banned. Just not popular. And cars are being worked on. What date is set for the phase out of the I mean at combustion engines? I mean at Mc D's you can buy a salad.

[Eclipse]

I mean at Mc D's you can buy a salad.

Salads are an alternative. I'm not sure what the specs of a McDs salad really are. So, you've made it clear that McDs salads ought not to be banned. What about the rest? Obviously this can't be done immediately. You have to go through the process and continually implement alternatives. Set a guideline and a deadline for McDs to clean up their act without forcing them out of business. This is what has been the process thus far.