Day By Day© by Chris Muir.

January 19, 2006

Suing Spongebob

These groups should join under the moniker People for the Nanny State of America:

Anti-junk food groups are suing Kellogg and Nickelodeon for $2 billion to block Tony the Tiger and SpongeBob SquarePants from pitching sugary cereals to kid viewers.

The attack is based on a new Massachusetts law that would protect children from product harm — in this case, the ill effects said to be caused by junk food.

I am not surprised this idiocy is happening in the Great Socialist State of Massachusetts.

"Nickelodeon and Kellogg engage in business practices that literally sicken our children," said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the consumer group.

Gosh, all of those little kiddies might be exposed to the siren call of Tony the Tiger and Spongebob Squarepants. And what happens then? They beg Mommy and Daddy while at the store to buy Frosted Flakes and other such sugary breakfast concoctions.

Who buys the cereal and everything else? Mommy and Daddy. Who is ultimately responsible for their child's health and well-being? Mommy and Daddy. If Mommy and Daddy can't say no to Billy and Susie, then Mommy and Daddy have some real parenting issues.

Punishing the food industry for trying to sell their products isn't the answer; making information available to parents and kids about healthful food choices is. After that, it's up to the parents.

I don't approve of Frosted Flakes and Cocoa Pebbles either. So I don't buy them. I don't have a problem saying "no" to my kids when I think it's in their best interests.

Unfortunately, there are some people out there who want to impose what they think is acceptable behavior (not buying junk food) on the rest of us by punishing legitimate companies for advertising in an attempt to sell their legal product. While sugary cereals aren't the best choice, they are not lethal.

What's next?

UPDATE: Michelle Malkin has more.