By John Matonich
A number of years ago I was reading an editorial in the Detroit News that really made me think. The editorial was about a Michigan lawmaker who had gone to the movies with her husband. Evidently, she was very unhappy with the theater when the posted starting time for the movie was actually the starting time for the upcoming movie previews and some general commercials. The actual movie they wanted to see didn’t start for another 20 minutes.
When she got back to Lansing shortly thereafter, she introduced a bill that would require a movie theater to post the actual starting time of the movie and not simply when the other hoopla was to start. As I was reading the account of the problem the state lawmaker faced, I had to wonder if this was the first movie this person ever saw in their lives at a theater. Anyone who has ever shelled out the necessary ton of bucks to get a ticket could have told her that any movie was far from starting when the screen lit up.
The editorial went on to say that there must not be enough things of substance happening in our state Capitol and perhaps it was time for a part-time legislature. I am sure they were being far more facetious than serious, but it probably made some folks think. I know this idea was floated earlier this year and didn’t go over very well but I am not sure it isn’t time to really look at it once again.
I saw a post someone shared on social media from the Fox News channel that more than a dozen Michigan legislators introduced a bill in November that would prohibit fast-food restaurants from passing out gender-specific toys such as action figures or stuffed animals. These legislators claimed it limited kid’s imaginations and interests. I had to listen to the report several times to be sure it wasn’t coming from outer space.
First of all, the reality used to be when my kids were small that if you didn’t like the toy your Happy Meal contained, you could swap it for something else whether for a boy or a girl. Second of all, what exactly is a “gender-neutral” toy? I mean seriously… is it a doll in khakis, a golf shirt and medium length hair that is named “Pat”? Good grief!
Given that our state legislative term is up or soon to be up, I suspect this bill didn’t make it very far. Even with that being said, if there is so much time in Lansing to start building a case for gender-neutral free toys, I am not so sure we shouldn’t re-visit this part-time legislature idea.
An old biblical saying pointed out that “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” I am not sure that is totally true, but I would hate to have to start buying Levis without a zipper in the front because it causes gender profiling or some other belief that a less than busy lawmaker cared to think up.
And that’s the situation as I survey it …
bookieb says
Agree with your idea. I have been in favor of a part-time legislature for many years. We are one of only a few states that have full-time governance and we cannot afford it any longer. Michigan’s glory days of the auto industry are gone. Serious thought should be given to cutting the deadwood in Lansing.
Really enjoy your columns. Keep them coming.
John Matonich says
Thank you, bookieb. I will do my best to continue to post my ramblings…
ann b says
The American people are going to wake up one day and find all their rights are gone. People want the Federal government to make more laws all the time about things that parents should be doing. They complain that their kids are spending too much time on smart phones and pads and smoking too many Juul cigarettes. Parents are the ones in the homes and THEY should be policing their kids’ choices. They want government to limit opioids instead of limiting themselves. When you go to an emergency room or a dentist they often give you some, when other pain meds would be a better choice. That does not mean you have to take the med. Etc., etc….. The less laws we have the better we will be. I agree with what you said, John. It’s ridiculous, whether it be Lansing or the Feds.
John Matonich says
I agree with you, ann b…
Fred says
John, gender specific toys are not nearly as dramatic as you made it sound. It’s just toys that would be appealing to both boys and girls. It’s about removing the stereotypes that girls are supposed to play with dolls, bake and prepare to stay home to take care of the kids when they are adults. While boys should be into sports, video games and prepare for demanding jobs.
I agree it’s ridiculous to make a law about it. I especially don’t like it when lawmakers make laws based on their own whims rather than listening to what the public wants. But aside the proposed law part of it, our culture is changing and not necessarily for the worse. We are moving towards being a more tolerant society that encourages both genders to envision the same opportunities without the barriers of the past. As ridiculous as this bill was, I am sure it had good intentions.
There are those who dig in and resist change at all costs, because it scares them, but in the end sometimes change is for the best. A change to part-time legislators in Michigan would be very cost effective to the tax-payers, but because it would mean less pay and less time to sit around doing nothing for those legislators, I can guarantee that such a bill will disappear faster than the gender neutral toys bill disappeared.
John Matonich says
I really don’ have as much of an issue with gender neutral toys as much as having to pass a law that requires them. When did we lose the right to choose? Choices always seemed to work in the past.
Oldugly says
I’m going to skip the “gender neutral” stuff.
BUT, Where do I sign the petition for part time legislature. Let’s dump term limits and go part time.
John Matonich says
Part time legislators seem to work well in other states and should here in Michigan as well. I spoke to a rep about a number of years ago and he said our state was too big to go part time. I reminded him that Texas was part time and just a wee bit bigger in geographic size as well as population. They seem to do ok with it. I also agree that term limits suck. We always had them…they were called elections…
Matthew says
I believe a pistol or shotgun might qualify as a gender-neutral toy. Or, .3006 ammo, maybe 20-gauge shells. Otherwise, this whole topic of gender-neutral toys seems utterly subjective.