Nathan took me to task for not bringing up an important issue in front of the WV Legislature: Delegate Jeff Eldridge has proposed a ban on Barbie dolls.

I’d like to point out that Eldridge is from Lincoln county. I live in Monongalia, so this guy is Not My Fault.

Now, to address this mess.

First, thank the gods this Legislator is male and not female. Can you imagine how this would be spun if it was a woman who proposed this bill? Wackos like Rush Limbaugh would be denouncing the lesbian feminist agenda in our legislatures, blah blah blah. So at least we missed that bullet. Not that what we left with is much better.

Second, I don’t like Barbie dolls, and never had one as a child or pre-teen. (Most of the dolls I had were rag dolls, and they were beat out by the stuffed animals.) I also agree somewhat with the premise that Jeff Eldridge is putting forth: I don’t think that Barbies (being humanly impossible and all) are necessarily a good role model for girls and pre-teens.

Elementary aged girls are now dieting, because they don’t look like the TV stars and models. We are creating a culture where more and more young women are getting eating disorders, and this is a terrible problem, and a problem that needs to be addressed.

However.

Banning Barbie is not a solution. I mean, shall the state police arrest people coming across the border with desired Christmas presents for their daughters and granddaughters? This is an incredibly stupid idea.

Even more importantly, however, this bill is a phenomenal waste of time. I recognize that Jeff Eldridge doesn’t really believe his bill will pass. Which means he has put up a bill solely to garner attention.

Sir? In case you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of an economic recession/depression. West Virginia is losing tens of thousands of jobs as manufacturing companies close down and consolidate.

So why in the holy hell would anyone waste time with something like this?

I can’t answer it, but I hope the voters of Lincoln county demand an answer from Jeff Eldridge. Because we have issues of greater importance to address, and although female self image is important, calling for a ban on Barbie dolls isn’t going to do a damned thing to solve the problem.