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Today I awoke to what can only be described as another assault upon our choice and ultimately our responsibility as human beings.  Santa Clara Supervisor Ken Yeager has taken it upon himself to spearhead legislation that will ultimately ban the “happy” part of the “Happy Meal” – namely, the toy! 

Here is my open letter to Mr. Yeager in a plea for sanity:

Dear Mr. Yeager,

I do not work for the fast food industry.  I did about 22 years ago when I was in high school, but that has no bearing on my plea to stop the insane legislation you are proposing.

I am a 37 year old male who grew up in Santa Clara Valley and current reside there.  I have three children, ages 10, 7 and 4 and I place a lot of value in their health and happiness.  My wife and I make their lunches every day and provide a balance between fun and healthy items within that lunch. 

As a parent, it is my responsibility to ensure that my kids are taught right from wrong, fact from fiction, and healthy from not.  I abhore the idea that we have to legislate for the parents who do not take that initiative to be watchful for their children’s health.  Does it sound right that kids should be penalized for poor management of their caloric intake by their parent(s)?    To blame the meal because it includes a toy as the culprit is just insane thinking.  The meal is still going to be cheap and affordable for those in need of a quick dinner.  Where will this line of thinking stop?  Maybe a ban on video game sales in Santa Clara because kids sit too much in front of the T.V.?

In today’s health concious society, their are many options for parents wanting to find a better balance within their fast-food options.  Many fast food companies allow you to substitue poor health oriented food like french fries and soda with apple slices and milk. 

You know who is to blame – the parents.  You know who is going to suffer – the independent business owners and the children.

I have a saying I garnered from Armstrong and Getty radio and it goes like this:

‘You cannot legislate stupidity or ignorance’

Please stop wasting money on poor legislation and do something else for the kids to get them fit. After school programs and activities that get the children away from the T.V. and Computer are what they need.  Put your funding and your money into those programs – better our parks, our education and public safety and the kids will go out and play.

Well, there it is in a nutshell – you really cannot fault a politician for attempting to make a name for himself, but there are better ways to find a solution to this problem.  For now, I guess my kids will be penalized for the few irresponsible parents out there.

My blog – my two cents.

B

Got my beef! Thanks to my mother-in-law!

She loves me!

Some days, the weight of existence is falls hard and reality sets in.  Growing up as a child of the 80′s, I watched a lot of TV and found solace in shows like Little House on the Prairie and movies like the Lost Boys and Lucas.

Two deaths have hit home hard this week.  Corey Haim died yesterday and today was Merle Olson.  For the uninitiated, Corey was an 80′s movie star who was age 38 at the time of his death yesterday.  Merle Olson, amongst playing in the NFL for the RAMS, also played in Little House on the Prairie and some other shows.

I also have a head cold which doesn’t enlighten my darkened mood.  I pray for both of their souls that they find the peace with GOD they could not have here.   Life is a many splendid thing and our existence is very short and fragile – how peaceful this world would be if we all understood that and embraced it.

Sad.