From Seattle writer and consultant Matt Rosenberg...: "Cheeseburger Bills" Proliferate

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"Cheeseburger Bills" Proliferate

February 11, 2005

Cheezborger; Cheezborger. As John Belushi woulda said (his grave here, 3rd pic, right, top row). Did say, actuall-A.

The Wyoming House has passed a "Cheesburger Bill." Love ya, dear departed John, and when I was a Chicago limo driver, I once transported your business manager, to, I forget where, exactly. But still.....good for the Wyoming House.

Like deciding to smoke, or drink lots of milk, or eat whole wheelbarrows full of Dulce de Leche ice cream; becoming a cheesburger addict is a personal choice.

And so, to the addicted cheeseburger snarfer, I say, YOU bear responsibility - and no one else - for your cost to society, and yourself. No lawsuits, please.

Last week, the Wyoming House passed a bill that would shield restaurants, advertisers, ranchers and others from lawsuits by obese people claiming their weight and health problems were caused by the long-term consumption of food or drink. The Senate may hear the bill this week. Fourteen states have enacted so-called "common sense consumption" acts, dubbed by some as "cheeseburger bills," that bar people from seeking damages in court from food companies for weight gain and associated medical problems. Wyoming is one of 18 additional states considering such legislation.
The U.S. House approved the idea last year, but the Senate did not act on the legislation. "They can't come back and say, 'What you served me is what made me fat,' because every single day each of us has the opportunity to push back from the table and say, 'I've had enough.' And we also have the opportunity to get up and exercise," said Rep. Debbie Hammons, D-Worland, the chief sponsor of the legislation.....A federal appeals court last month revived part of a New York class-action lawsuit blaming McDonald's for making people fat through its advertising.

Thanks, Lil' Debbie. Love your cakes. And I'm widcha. But I must confess, I have my own problem. I blame Carl Reiner, Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore for making me a TV addict.

Yes, yes. It was a long time ago. But now that the problem has careened out of control, I may sue them.

So everyone please, call your legislators, now.

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at February 11, 2005 11:11 PM

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Comments:

I just noticed your new template today -- it's very nice and has a great feel.

Posted by: Coyote at February 12, 2005 10:40 AM

Thanks Coyote, nice to hear from you on the new look. All hail to Phil Wright, of Mystic Sludge, in Portland (link in my upper right hand column).

Posted by: Matt R. at February 12, 2005 01:57 PM

Just want to say...stuff at McDonald's...sugar, caffine, and now even recent studies show CHEESE, are addictive. Looks like McDonald's could be like the tobacco industry...you know, putting in additives that MAKE people come back for more. Watch the movie SUPERSIZE ME...and see if you think it is ONLY the consumer's fault that they eat fast food.

Posted by: Public Health Student at February 18, 2005 01:31 PM

There is also "Undersize me!". Someone lost 13 pounds in 17 days, while eating only at McDonalds (and exercising regularly). Read here:
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/News/2005/02/18/934774-sun.html

Posted by: Adrian at February 19, 2005 11:38 AM

Read about the MSG and then get back with me on this one.

http://www.spofamerica.com

Go to rensen minus the n dot com slash general52 slash msg.htm

http://www.msgfacts.com/facts/msgfact12.html

http://www.wnho.net/cheeseburger_bill.htm

http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/judiciary/hju87814.000/
hju87814_0f.htm

http://www.answers.com/topic/personal-responsibility-in-food-consumption-act

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3500388.stm
(Actually just the House, not the Senate, at the time of this article)

http://banzhaf.net/obesitylinks (Activism link)

http://action.citizen.org/pc/issues/votes/?votenum=54&chamber=H&congress=1082 (Voting in House by state)

http://www.theorator.com/bills109/hr554.html (HR 554)

http://www.restaurant.org/pressroom/print/index.cfm?ID=1079
(April 2005)

http://www.nam.org/s_nam/doc1.asp?CID=459&DID=233930

http://www.nacsonline.com/NR/exeres/00005c1fqinhgjwlkkccdhgy/NewsPosting.asp?NRMODE=Published&NRORIGINALURL=%2fNACS%2fNews%2fDaily_News_Archives%2fJanuary2005%2fnd0126053%2ehtm&NRNODEGUID=%7b9DE1278F-71B5-433D-B18E-D35F91375CA7%7d&NRQUERYTERMINATOR=1&cookie%5Ftest=1

http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2005/05/13/msg_causes_most_obesity_but_congress_grants_immunity_to_food_producers.htm (Repeat info + articles in right hand column!)

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=11984

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,113836,00.html
(House vote March 11 2004)

Posted by: MAC at May 18, 2005 12:59 AM