I just got off the phone with another reporter asking for a comment about the new ordinance San Francisco passed last week banning McDonald’s from putting toys in high-calorie Happy Meals. This is about the 10th interview I’ve done on this, the biggest of which was CNN World News in London. (You can see the CNN interview by clicking on ‘Steve on TV’ on the Mental Toughness Blog header) This story goes far beyond kids getting fat eating happy meals. The larger issue is this: does any government have the right to tell companies what they can sell to their customers? Today, toys in Happy Meals, tomorrow, who knows? Where does the regulation end? The United States government is slowly and systematically infringing on our freedom and removing our rights as free citizens, and I resent it. How about you? Watch this short 3 minute video and please take a few seconds to weigh-in on this important subject. Almost 17,000 people a week follow this blog, not to mention reporters from CNN, ABC, NBC, FOX, BBC Europe and others. Your comment will literally be seen around the world within 24 hours. Maybe if enough of us speak up we can turn the tide and take back our freedom. On the other side of the argument, if you think I’m wrong, don’t be afraid to let me have it! Mental Toughness is about thinking for yourself, and we welcome all sides of any argument. All of us are smart as individuals, but together, we have the brainpower to positively impact the world. As always, I’ll look forward to your comments and a robust discussion on this very important topic. Steve Siebold ( 3:04 )
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They are getting away with the injustice and atrocity of forced, paid labor working for money which is being forced on everyone, but nobody is questioning it. Everyone loves satanic governments more then the environment, that’s why it stays filthy and ships were needlessly sunk in the oceans and seas, because everyone loves money with occult, satanic symbols of pyramids, etc. instead as well as seeing Christians slain in pain in wars and murdering other Christians in World Wars 1 and 2. A lot of Christians are probably in hell after those evil, satanic wars took place. Baruch “who loves Satan” Obama loves seeing men being persecuted by cruel, selfish, self-deceived women who deceived the government into passing that atrocious, insidious lie into law, that’s from the Devil called “sexual” so-called harassment that women, the cops, judges, juries, governments, etc. use to harass the men ever something as trivial, stupid, inoffensive, harmless, innocent as compliments about busts, cleavages and asses. Our criminal governments have been committing this crime against men since 1976 they have not repented and apologized yet. No one has said I am sorry for harassing you with a lie about your compliment. I am sorry for making you into a criminal because you complimented my breasts, cleavage and rearend. How this wrong could be righted is if someone told Obama do away the sexual hassling lie, abolish the harassment so-called “sexual” “law”, it’s from Lucifer the treacherous demon.
I hear you, Steve, and I agree in many areas where that can be applied effectively. However, it places trust in a contract that is not reliable. Our paths diverge when powerful folks go after the powerless. I read a study that seemed carefully executed to me that said a large number of the most successful executives of very large corporate interests were diagnosable sociopaths. Sociopaths, by definition, will not treat people the way they would like to be treated. My hands have to leave my lap when they go after hapless folk.
I see those of us with good minds and middling power as stewards, though we don’t want the job. And have no right to it. It’s arrogant to think that way and we will blow it. But we can’t stand by, because it’s immoral to do so.
No one who wants to be a president should be, as the saying goes. The really messed up folks at the bottom lack most of what is required to defend themselves. That leaves us.
Rand would disagree; she would say the natural order when left to unfold is best, no matter how cruel. But I reject that. We all have to turn inward for this answer. It’s not the “right” one, just the one I can live with.
Anyway, thanks for your thought-provoking videos. Nice conversation — thanks for responding!!!
Jenny
I just discovered your blog Steve, and I really like your coaching work. I like you too! Most of your social commentary leans libertarian and I’m a progressive, but I always like to hear other views from reasonable, sincere, thoughtful folks. (Let’s face it, there aren’t enough of us out there on any either side!)
On this one, I was moved to comment. In short: actually, we are not “all smart people.” That’s the problem here. Lack of education and poverty beget lack of education and poverty, and people in that trap are sitting ducks, pawns for corporate abuses of a wide variety.
Should customers be able to sue McDonald’s for not alerting customers that the hot coffee they serve is hot? No. Should they be prevented from really dark manipulation of vulnerable populations — Camel cigarettes’ marketing targeting children, toys in Happy Meals in a country being brought to its knees by diabetes? Yes. If you extrapolate from those two example, you’ll have my philosophy.
Jenny,
Thanks for your comment. While I agree there is an education problem, the people with influence are educated. These are the people making the laws and leading the way. It doesn’t take education to discriminate against a minority.
The bottom line (for me) is a libertarian leaning philosophy: live and let live. If you’re not hurting anyone else, live on your terms. And leave others to do the same while showing love and tolerance for the people and actions you don’t agree with or understand. In actuality, this is a kindergarten philosophy: hands to yourself. Be nice to others. Don’t take things that are not yours. Treat people like you wish to be treated. Do we really need much more than that to have a moral society? Do we really need a book or ancient scripture to figure that out? It seems pretty basic to me.
Steve, I like the way you think…this is what I call the tough love approach to a turn around…I was raised with it and I know that it is the reason that I never got into any real serious trouble, because my parents was not going to bail me out…and to stay out of trouble I learn to ignore hurtful words that people say rather than take them to heart…my grandmother use to say in so many words that no one else can validate you, only you and GOD can do that, and make it a habit to always encourage yourself….because people will some times say and do things that will disappoint you!!! Keep up the good work Steve…!
I agree with you Steve Siebold… It is childish and totally ridiculous….it is the vote of the people that elect to put those in the office of Government, and the Legislative body to implement and establish laws that benefit us all…a lot that they can do to have an IMPACT, and set an example for other cities, states, countries and the world….they don’t do…I say leave the McDonald’s children’s Happy Meal Toys out of it if they’re not causing any harm…But, what I’d like for the Government to do is this, and I Believe that I speak for ALL Entrepreneurs across the Globe, it is the Entrepreneurial Spirit that WILL put this GREAT CITY OF DETROIT back on its feet as #1 again…To THE GOVERNMENT, and to the LEGISLATIVE BODY, Exercise your Authority and implement the kind of change that Will IMPACT the World for all generations to come…Speaking for ALL Entrepreneurs we give you permission to
Ban Plagiarism /Infringement…
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A TRUE STORY
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I Love the creative mind, and I’ve come to realize that without it, imagination to do GOOD would become void! Creativity is limited due to the ” FEAR ” of someone that has the withal will STEAL our IDEAS…This is called Plagiarism…Just as our forefathers believed that ALL LABOR SHOULD BE COMPENSATED/ REWARDED…
To THE GOVERNMENT /LEGISLATIVE BODY: This NEW REWARD LAW WILL CLOSE UP ALL THE LOOP HOLES IN OLD LAWS…NO MORE BAND AIDES ON OUT DATED LAWS… WE SAY OUT WITH THE OLD LAWS AND IN WITH THE NEW…EVERY CREATIVE MINDED PERSON I POSED THIS QUESTION TO VOTED YES!
“Should there be a 40% MANDATORY REWARD LAW if someone has PLAGIARIZED / INFRINGED UPON YOUR IDEA, YOU HAVE PROOF BUT YOU CAN’T AFFORD AN ATTORNEY? YES…OR…NO
From sales revenue that generate $1,000,000… YOUR SHARE WOULD BE $400,000…$2,000,000/ YOUR SHARE $800,000… IT IS THE DESIRE OF THE PEOPLE THAT CHANGE THE LAW THAT CREATES NEW WEALTH IS A MUST, AND THEN WE’LL MAKE IT A LEGAL HOLIDAY TO CELEBRATE OUR VICTORY!!! IF I RECALL CORRECTLY 2NEWS REPORTED THAT SOMEONE LEGALLY LAID CLAIMS AS OWNER OF THE SUN…WELL, IN CASE SHE DIDN’T KNOW, IT BELONGS TO ALL OF US…BUT, I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO CUTE AND FUNNY…I LOVE PEOPLE WITH A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR …YOU SEE, LAWS ARE CREATED BY US AND THE VERY THING THAT MAKES THIS SO GREAT IS THAT WE CAN HAVE IT ALL….THE SUN….AND A NEW LAW THAT WILL CREATE NEW WEALTH, NEW JOBS, A NEW ECONOMY KACHINGING KACHING!! HISTORY IS UNFOLDING, AND GREAT GOOD WILL COMES FROM IT…