On
Good Morning, Amerika, er,
America, “reporter” Diane Sawyer had a story on Appalachian kids drinking Mountain Dew all day and ending up with crappy teeth. (See
here. Video included.) She also had a dentist on who works in the region.
Lessee here: the kids are drinking quart-sized bottles of Mountain Dew
all day, at home and at school. Families put Mountain Dew and Pepsi in
baby bottles. They don’t go to the dentist often enough because they
can’t “afford” it. They tell us they are “addicted” to Mountain Dew.
Whoa. Horrible stuff. Right?
And, of course, it was not the fault of the parents who gave the kids
Mountain Dew or money to buy the stuff. It wasn’t the fault of the kids
who were guzzling it or who didn’t brush or floss often enough. It
wasn’t the fault of the schools who let them consume it or who made it
available. Oh, no.
Hell no.
It was
Pepsi’s fault for making and selling Mountain Dew. The
parents and kids and school officials are “not responsible” for the
actions they
chose to engage in. And the dentist said it was “wrong” to “blame the victims.”
But of course! That
has to be the case. It’s never anyone's
personal responsibility or fault for the bad actions in which they
engage. Oh, no. They can’t help it. They’re powerless to prevent what
happens to them. They are mere pawns.
Other people are responsible and must be held accountable for the negative consequences the victims suffer.
Oh, wait. We’re discussing bankers and auto makers and state governments and all the rest in line for bailouts, aren't we?
No? Hmm.
It’s no wonder this country is going down the tubes.
(from
Don't Get Me Started!, 2-13-09)
