USA Today: "Pot Activists Rip Kellogg's for Dropping Phelps" and Stand Tall Against Mueslix!

From a USA Today story (via the Cincinnati Enquirer) on the Michael Phelps-Bong kerfluffle: 

Marijuana Policy Project:

"Kellogg's had no problem signing up Phelps when he had a conviction for drunk driving, an illegal act that could actually have killed someone," said Rob Kampia, the group's executive director. "To drop him for choosing to relax with a substance that's safer than beer is an outrage, and it sends a dangerous message to young people."

Drug Policy Alliance:

"It's not just that Michael Phelps did what millions of other twenty-somethings do," said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance. "It's that he did what over one hundred million Americans have done at least once in their lives, including the president, former presidents, members of the U.S. Congress and Supreme Court."

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition:

Norm Stamper, a former Seattle police chief active in the push for easing marijuana laws, released a letter to Kellogg in which he pleaded for "sane, sensible, and compassionate drug policies" and suggested the company had "underestimated the country's maturity on this issue."

He also said he had purchased his last box of what had been his favorite cereal—Kellogg's Mueslix.

Mueslix lovers of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but a small amount of fiber and draconian drug laws!

Reason on Phelps and pot.

Last August, Reason.tv talked with Stamper about how he came to his anti-prohibitionist views and his great memoir Breaking Rank (approximately 10 mins.; for embed code, audio version, and more, go here):

Comments

[Ska]

Mueslix lovers of the world unite! You have nothing to less but a small amount of fiber and draconian drug laws!

My old man will be upset. I'll be giving up Pops and honey Smacks.

PS - less = lose ?

[madmikefisk]

Times like this I'm glad I don't eat breakfast.

That being said, almost hoping this boycott fails, being just down the road from Battle Creek and all.

[Nick]

He said kerfluffle.

he hehe heh hee he

[Michael]

What would be the fallout if he were caught smoking a cigarette? I think it's safe to say a beer bong would be A O K.

[Michael]

Please, THINK OF THE KIDS!!! THE KIDS DAMN IT!!!

[P Brooks]

psssst- Kellogg's does not make or enforce the drug laws.

If you want to boycott somebody, look a little to the south and east.

Ya fekkin' dummies.

[Elemenope]

psssst- Kellogg's does not make or enforce the drug laws.

If you want to boycott somebody, look a little to the south and east.

Ya fekkin' dummies.

Laws exist as reflections of (usually stupid) social norms which are reinforced by the actions of major actors in the society. To change a social norm, it is often necessary to attack its most public and popular exponents.

And Kellogg was stupid enough to make itself a target.

[Citizen Nothing]

psssst - P. Brooks,
Phelps has yet to be charged with breaking any law.

[JOhn Davies]

I stopped buying ANYTHING Kelloggs the day I heard they dropped him. I wouldnt be surprised if most the heads of Kelloggs didnt fire up a big fat one once in a while themselves!

RT
http://www.anon-tools.us.tc

[P Brooks]

Next, we can start a boycott of H&R Block, to protest Geithner's appointment to Treasury.

[Pro Libertate]

I have a thought. Since sovereignty resides ultimately in the people, let the people each decide not to file taxes this year.

[James Ard]

Pro, while I detest people who don't pay their taxes, these days I can at least take solace in the fact that they are better economic stimulants than the government.

[Warren]

I have a thought. Since sovereignty resides ultimately in the people, let the people each decide not to file taxes this year.

What? And let them keep our refunds? Why would we want to do this?

Fuck Kelloggs. I really hope they reverse their decision. This would be a huge victory in the court of public opinion.

[J sub D]

Post makes Raisin Bran. Generic versions of Frosted Mini Wheats, Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Pop-Tarts, et al, exist.

Even though Kellogg's is a Michigan business, fuck them. Tony the Tiger can kiss my royal American ass.

[highnumber]

"To drop him for choosing to relax with a substance that's safer than beer is an outrage, and it sends a dangerous message to young people."

I like that strategy. Not sure how effective it will be, but I like it.

[Pro Libertate]

Very well. Work out your taxes. If you get a refund, file. If you do not, don't.

[P Brooks]

Unfortunately, most people have already (over)paid their taxes (Thanx, Miltie!); it's just a question of how much the Masters will allow them to have back.

[Pro Libertate]

P Brooks,

Of course--that's the insidious nature of our "voluntary" tax system at work. We can't make our employers stop, so the filing process is the only option for wrench tossing.

[John]

They were saying on the radio yesterday that the Kellogs contract was up at the end of the month anyway and there hadn't been any negoitaions to renew it before the whole bong thing. Kellogs just scored some cheap points by claiming they were canceling it for the dope deal even though they planned to do that all along. Crapweasels.

Honestly, I don't know one person who cares about this or in any way thinks less of Phelps over it. The media is making a big deal because they are so out of touch with the country. The media assumes anyone who lives west of the Hudson is a bible toating moron out to rid the world of evil weeds like pot. The reality of course is much different but the media is too stupid, insulated and bigoted to notice, so they push this story like it matters to people when in reality it doesn't.

[Citizen Nothing]

It looks like I'll be getting another income tax subsidy check again this year (thanks, suckers!). We're using these glorious years of a negative income tax rate to slowly convert a large IRA to a Roth. (Thanks again, suckers!)
Paying negative income taxes as I do, somebody tell me again why I'm not an enthusiastic Democrat?
Oh yeah. The future. Rational thought. The fate of humanity.
Sometimes I forget.

[John]

CH,

No one ever beleives me, but I would gladly give up my government job if about twenty million or so others out of the 22.5 million employees would agree to do the same. Everyone ought to have to read Gibbon. He is really unfair to the Byzantines but nonethless lays out the case for what happens to a society when bureuacrats get all the power. I doubt Obama has ever heard of it much less picked up the books.

[SpongePaul]

I have begrudginly tossed out any kellogs in the house. I do not bank with banks that have taken bailouts, i do not drive a car that has taken a bailout, and i do my best to support the few free market buisness that have not fallen to socialism. Kellogs is now done, because they do not care about rights and are hypocrits.

[Pro Libertate]

To be fair, don't you think any company that markets primarily to children would want to avoid any kind of party-hardy spokesperson/icon? If he'd been photographed funneling booze, that might have been just as bad from their perspective.

I don't think Kellogg gains anything fighting against the WoD, anyway, and I doubt their shareholders would appreciate them tossing business considerations aside to become NORML or something.

[Orange Line Destroyer]

Wouldn't Kellog's do better if it employed a heroin addict? I mean what better role model could there be for libertarians?

[John]

"I don't think Kellogg gains anything fighting against the WoD, anyway, and I doubt their shareholders would appreciate them tossing business considerations aside to become NORML or something."

True but the contract was up anyway and they had no plans to renew it. Why did they have to make a show of it and stick it to Phelps? They could have just said nothing and stayed out of it.

[swillfredo pareto]

It's that he did what over one hundred million Americans have done at least once in their lives, including the president, former presidents, members of the U.S. Congress and Supreme Court.

Frosted Flakes cost $.10 more a box because Michael Phelps was on the payroll. I don't think Kellogg's was making any grand statement about marijuana; they just would prefer not to have people pimping their products who are dumb enough to break the law and get caught.

[Pro Libertate]

John,

I'm not arguing one way or the other about Kellogg's motives. Just don't think there's any point in getting upset with them, one way or the other. Focus, people, focus! The government is our problem, not the cereal company.

[R C Dean]

I do not bank with banks that have taken bailouts, i do not drive a car that has taken a bailout, and i do my best to support the few free market buisness that have not fallen to socialism. Kellogs is now done,

Same here.

[John]

"Focus, people, focus! The government is our problem, not the cereal company."

I think it is the media as much as the government. The media assumes Americans outside the enlightened enclaves of the coasts are ignorant, intollerent morons who would toss an otherwise admirable person out of polite society over this. I don't think that is true. But my re-enforcing that perception, the media helps support the drug war. I think if the media said "who cares" about this no one in the public would care either. That would be one step closer to showing the drug czar isn't wearing any clothes.

[R C Dean]

Just don't think there's any point in getting upset with them, one way or the other.

You get more of what you reward, and less of what you punish.

I would like to see fewer companies loudly reinforcing the drug war mindset, ergo, I will punish those who do.

[P Brooks]

If I see a box of Wheaties with Norm Stamper on it, I'll buy it. Seriously. Okay?

Boycotting Kellogg's is a frivolous diversion. If you're pissed about drug laws, there is a better target.

[Citizen Nothing]

John, shouldn't that be "intollerent morans"?

[Curious George]

Wow Seattles ex police chief is in favor of relaxed drug laws. Sort of like a Chicago mayor campaigning for relaxed corruption laws.

Why not get the Cali Drug Cartel to fund the Kellog's boycott?

[Pro Libertate]

I just don't see how we can expect a company that markets food to kids to take up this particular torch. They're going for that wholesome Leave it to Beaver brand image. If it were, say, Pepsi, I'd be more surprised. I'd be shocked if it were Taco Bell.

[Taktix?]

If you're pissed about drug laws, there is a better target.

Like who?

We may have the right to petition the government, but that doesn't mean they listen...

[Citizen Nothing]

I'm not expecting Kellogg's "to take up this particular torch," just to shut the fuck up about it.

[jAMES]

The "intollerent morans" need to get a "brane".

[Taktix?]

I'd be shocked if it were Taco Bell.

Win!

[Tingy Wah]

@Curious George:

Why would Cali want to fund the Kellogg's boycott, exactly? Most of the weed coming from the south is grown in Mexico, so Cali has no stake. Besides, prohibition WORKS IN THEIR INTEREST.

[Tym]

Good article

So what if Phelps smoked pot -- he's in good company

[Nick]

I don't know, John. I know non-libertarian people from the Midwest and Bible Belt and have had discussions with them about drug legalization. I might as well have been advocating for child molesters to teach kindergarden. Sure, it's a stereotype, but stereotypes come from somewhere. The media is just playing it up because it's about a celebrity. But, the seeds were sown long ago in the court of public opinion. Drugs are bad, mkay?

[Tulpa]

Next, we can start a boycott of H&R Block, to protest Geithner's appointment to Treasury.

Not a good analogy, friend.

Boycotting Kellogg's is a frivolous diversion. If you're pissed about drug laws, there is a better target.

We can't do both? And the publicity we've gotten from this boycott is already more than we've accomplished trying to get the drug laws changed directly.

[Nick]

Fortunately, I have at least convinced some of these prohibionists to at least relax their stance on pot being illegal. Problem is, they still vote for candidates who favor their other issues more, such as those long standing gay marriage and right to life mentalities they feel are waaaaay more important than allowing potheads to get high. Nevermind that I have stressed RIGHTS more than just a desire to be high. Doesn't matter. Their "beliefs" are too important to give up on now!

[R C Dean]

I just don't see how we can expect a company that markets food to kids to take up this particular torch.

They didn't have to do anything at all, just keep their dick in their pants for another month. Instead, they went out of their way to make a public spectacle of punishing Phelps.

Fuck them. I eat cereal, but I've bought my last Kelloggs box.

[Felipe]

Hey, guys.
I got really mada at Kellogg's too.
But we should hel and show Phelps some support, cause he's all apologizing. We could try doing it in this blog: http://www.itsokphelps.com

I made the first contribution. hehe

[P Brooks]

cause he's all apologizing

Another reason to not give a shit. Let me know when Phelps tells the Olympic Committee to go fuck themselves.

[Ben]

Excellent post! I'll not buy Kelloggs again until all is set right!

[JB]

Fuck Kellogg's. Fuck them, fuck them, fuck them.

Anyone have any empty Kellogg's boxes? Put them in a pile and burn them and post the video on YouTube.

[The Medic]

Go Seattle!

[Dee]

You know Kelloggs gave money to the Dems and Repubs for this past election, all big corps do hedging their bets on who will be in their pocket after the elections. As such isn't Kelloggs basically sponsoring many drug users ambitions? Typical bullshit double standard crap. I will not buy anymore Kelloggs they can go fuck Tony the Tiger on this one. Even if the contract was to expire they had no reason to play this shit up in the court of public opinion now. Even more so if it was to expire! So they set the court of public consumption on themselves and I am sure it will be but a small dent to their profits. Hopefully it will be at least several times that which they paid to Phelps at a minimum.

Oh and he does need to tell the Olympics to get fucked as well. You would think he was the only one at the last one, what are they going to do ban him from the next one and watch a cash cow for THEM and the network airing the games go down, hardly! China can pimp young gymnists and its all cool with the Olympic Committee, Phelps hits a bong and holy shit what will they do next to this horrible man to punish him. Fucking unbelievable.