Ronald's not the reason why...
Though I applaud the physicians of America for going after the obesity epidemic (according to the Centers for Disease Control , 17% of children and adolescents are obese), lining up Ronald McDonald in their sights isn't exactly the right target. More than 500 physicians have signed a letter to McDonalds, asking the corporation to retire Ronald. As reported in the WSJ , the letter says: "The letter, slated to run in the form of full-page ads in six metropolitan newspapers around the country on Wednesday, acknowledges that 'the contributors to today's (health) epidemic are manifold and a broad societal response is required. But marketing can no longer be ignored as a significant part of this massive problem.'" (It's looking more and more like marketing is the answer AND the problem!)