Will the Kelloggs Boycott Work ?
Paul Sterne
February 10, 2009 Last week, Kelloggs fired Michael Phelps from the Corn Flakes account. Michael Phelps will no longer appear as a revered athlete on the Kelloggs Corn Flakes box.
Micheal Phelps was photographed in South Carolina taking a bong hit. He was clearly smoking something that he really wanted to inhale -- though there is nothing to indicate that it wasn't flavored tobacco. As punishment, Kellogs fired him like he was a drunk driver or some guy who shot himself in the leg.
Within one day, Boycott Kelloggs groups started appearing on Facebook. At last count, the number of spontaneous boycotters had grown to 30 groups with more than 10,000 members. I admit to joining a group because I think that Kelloggs really misbehaved, commited an act of grand hypocracy and violated the privacy of America's greatest living athlete.
US law enforcement agencies, estimate that 25,000,000 pounds of marijuana are consumed each year in the United States. Social scientists estimate that 25 million smoked pot in 2007. Marijuana usage is highest in the 20 to 25 year old age group at 31%.
http://www.drugscience.org/Archive/bcr5/Marijuana_Use_in_the_United_States.pdf
Given America's love for weed, it is pure hypocracy that the Federal Goverment continues to stop the de-criminalization of marijuana. Marijuana should be regulated in the interest of public safety. It should be taxed as means of raising revenue. Decriminalization will reduce the size and cost of government by freeing up law enforcement to work of crimes that involve 'victims' and clearing out of jails of marijuana offenders.
If Kellog had kept Micheal on the payroll [like the other estimated 10% of its work force that are using marijuana] and the campaigned for the decriminalization of marijuana, I would have applauded their sense of civic responsibility. But to fire the guy because he does what 31% of all his peers do is unfair.
I really hope that the Kelloggs boycott works. The only way to hurt corporations is to attack their pocketbooks. I dumped a box of Kelloggs Raisin Bran down the disposal on Sunday. It felt like being part of the Boston Tea party.
At the end of the first quarter, when Kelloggs releases its results we will know if we have made a difference. It is time to stop letting corporations punish our beloved athletes because they smoke pot , shoot themselves in the leg or drive drunk like the rest of us.
P.S. Micheal Phelps used to date a girl on Cricket Lane so we are very protective of him.
Tags: Kelloggs , Phelps , Boycott , Marijuana
