Parenting 2008

First it was bankers who know nothing about handling money. Now the spotlight is on parents who know nothing of parenting, courtesy of Breitbart:

The message: Please, in these days of economic angst, cut back on marketing your products directly to our children. The letter-writing initiative was launched by the Boston-based Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, which says roughly 1,400 of its members and supporters have contacted 24 leading toy companies and retailers to express concern about ads aimed at kids.

This quote from an Indiana woman, oops, it's a neutered new millennium male, sums up our parenting crisis:

"Unfortunately, I will not be able to purchase many of the toys that my sons have asked for; we simply don't have the money," wrote Todd Helmkamp of Hudson, Ind. "By bombarding them with advertisements ... you are placing parents like me in the unenviable position of having to tell our children that we can't afford the toys you promote."

What a boob. I tell my kids that every year. Try this: "Kids, mom and dad don't have the money to buy those presents you want, but Christmas is not about cashing in anyway."

How do these wimpy parents function in real life? How do they ask for a pay raise or tell a subordinate that their performance stinks? I'll bet the used car salesmen can spot these suckers coming a mile away.