Letters

(2 of 2)

Looney Litigation

It is ridiculous for overweight teenagers to sue McDonald's [SOCIETY, Dec. 2]. The kids say McDonald's didn't adequately warn them that its meals contained lots of fat, salt and sugar. But the teens' obesity and health problems are their parents' fault as well as their own. Their parents should not have let them eat at McDonald's nearly every day for years on end. Children must be taught that some foods are bad for you. Any lawsuit shouldn't be against McDonald's; it should be against the negligent parents.
CHARLES KYUNGHWAN KIM
Hacienda Heights, Calif.

You Get What You Pay For

Envy is all over garrison keillor's article complaining about express lanes for first-class passengers at airport security checkpoints [ESSAY, Dec. 2]. It irks him that you can get better service by paying more. But if everybody gets above-average treatment, we simply redefine the level of service. Forced equalization reduces incentives to excel. As for security searches, if Keillor wants to encourage passengers to submit meekly to them, he ought to make a convincing argument instead of waving the overused Sept. 11 flag. It's like dabbing your eyes when there are no tears.
THERESA LONG
Williamsburg, Va.