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Apr 24, 2004 Over the past couple of decades there has been a huge shift in the view of responsibility from the individual to the corporate world. Lawsuits have been filed for years against the tobacco industry and more recently the gun industry as well. A business ethics professor once remarked that people who lived a few decades ago may have some real concern for not knowing the effects of tobacco, but that everyone beyond that point has had ample opportunity to realize the dangers of the “cancer sticks.” That is, there is no excuse for sucking on something that you know is going to harm your body and shorten your life. Personal responsibility comes into play at some point and people should not be able to escape the fact that actions have consequences. The latest arena for the “it’s not my responsibility” fad is centered in the fast food industry. People are now starting to sue the industry for the fact that they are too fat. What a laugh. No one made anyone go into a McDonald’s against their will. No one puts a gun to anyone’s head when they place an order at Burger King or Skippers. There is nothing compelling anyone to turn into the golden arches other than their own personal choice to do so. Ronald McDonald is not hiding in the bushes, ready to force unsuspecting individuals into the drive-in. He doesn’t whisper in anyone’s ear that they need to ‘super-size’ or go ‘biggie’ with their order. Now it must be admitted that Ronald has had some buddies in the past which look like burglars (were they called ham burglars?) but even then their aim was to swipe Ronnie’s burger, not to force him to eat one against his will. The freedom of our way of life is at stake if Ronnie is put behind bars for the crime of making citizens fat. In America we exalt the value of the free will, the freedom to choose our path, our life, our pursuit of happiness. And if that pursuit takes one into a McDonalds or Burger King, so be it. It is a free will choice and made by someone who has the option to do something alternative if they so desire. One could argue that children don’t really understand the implications of eating a Big Mac versus having a nutritious meal at home, but their parents certainly do. And thus free will is available for them as well. Most are not forced against their will to eat a Big Mac anyway. The issue here is one of personal responsibility. Every day it is up to the individual to make choices that involves a variety of variables, including happiness, greed, lust, risk, boredom, hunger, and a hundred others. But the wonderful element is freedom to make such choices absent compulsion. The American system has been one that allows for elements of greater risk in employing responsibility, but also greater rewards that come from being able to do what you want to do. Even the hippies of the 60’s and early 70’s acknowledged this in their slogans such as ‘do your own thing, man” and many others. Another couple of slogans from that era sum up the problem. First, ‘I can’t believe I ate the whole thing’ and ‘the devil made me do it.” People do realize that they have eaten too much, but some are trying to shift the blame from where it belongs (squarely on their shoulders) to industry. Industry is starting to react to the potential lawsuits by broadening their menu selections beyond hamburgers and fries. The salads and low carb choices showing up almost across the board means that even the fast food restaurants have heard what the market is saying and are reacting in turn. The invisible hand of the free market is working, and working in the right way. There is no need to tie that hand up and toss it in jail with Ronald McDonald due to the poor choices and gluttony of some of the population. The matter can take care of itself without enriching the tort lawyer gang forming to line their pockets in yet another way. It is time for some common sense to prevail. Eating lots of burgers will make you fat. Spilling hot coffee on yourself will give you a burn. These are lessons to learn before you get out of grade school. So is the lesson of individual responsibility. ------------ About the author: Dwayne Hines currently has 12 books selling in major bookstores and writes for major magazines such as Physical and FitnessRX. Email Dwayne Hines: dhines@3dinet.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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