The Ronald McHummer Sign-o-Matic

Wow, how revolutionary. THE MAN must be shitting his pants.

Oh geez, lighten the heck up you wackos! They're TOY Hummers for KIDS. Uh oh, better not give out Transformers with the upcoming movie, I hear they utilize anti-matter propulsion and, therefore, will make kids want to dabble in Super Science, Witchcraft, Sorcery, and possibly blow up the planet!!!

OK, if you really think that spending time crying about this giveaway is worth while, do me a favor, let me live in your world where apparently all other problems have been solved.

You feel ashamed of yourself yet?

Why such the big deal? Would people be having a problem if it were Tonka trucks? Super cars?

Seriously some people need to get a life. The kids that eat happy/mighty kids meals are years away from buying their first car. The SUV thing will be long dead by then so chances are they won't buy a hummer just because they got one as as toy.

the world is getting fried quicker than a chicken mcthumbnugget.

it's about making gass guzzlers socially unacceptable.

I agree with zaxxon...
McDonald's own ubiquity is an indication of the power of marketing toward children. You shouldn't berate someone's honest attempt to show concern and build environmental awareness so readily. The "bigger is better" aesthetic is deeply ingrained in the average American psyche and, along with plain old laziness, compels many of the environmentally destructive choices that plague our culture today. Don't begin to think that the foundations for such attitudes aren't built in childhood.

Jamie and Zaxxon, you really just don't have a clue, do ya? Somehow we all grew up in the free gas SUV world, yet we're now here, RIGHT? We were taught as children to hate Russians, but now we're good friends, RIGHT? We all played with toy guns, violent video games, and watched pre-green-Arnie films, yet we're not psychopathic criminals, RIGHT?

UGH, see the darn forest through the trees and maybe you can help make a difference rather than be distracted by nonsense like this.

People are not ZOMBIES! I grew up playing army men. I did not grow up and become a soldier. And I'm sure there's not many people who grew up and became JEDIS. So why would a kid grow up and buy a hummer because somebody gave them one crappy toy when they were 3? People can think for themselves.

Some of you people think that this is some kind of evil brainwashing sceme. They're just doing this to sell more HAPPY MEALS not Hummers. Think about it for one second! Why would MCDONALDS try to sell HUMMERS? They're in hamburger business not the automotive business.

Why don't you people worry about something important like the coal burning power plant they're building in your backyard, or maybe even REAL HUMMERS, not some stupid toy!

I totally agree with the article,
Why would a 7 year old boy like a toy Hummer. McDonalds should be giving away a toy Prius or Segway. Little boys yearn to be carbon neutral.

Everytime I hear the word Segway I think of Arrested Development.

the issue is larger than whether or not a kid is going to grow up to buy a hummer because he got the toy.

it is about educating the public that hummers, gas-guzzlers, and global warming are bad.

the hummer is symbolic of american overconsumption, excess, and thoughtlessness.

the campaign against the toy is good because it educates the public about conserving and the global warming. a lot of people are still clueless about gas-guzzling and the climate change emergency. these people are the zombies.

the fact that mcdonalds gets patronized the way it does shows that a lot of people are zombies.

Bill S., the point I'm trying to make is that propaganda is an important tool in protecting our environment. While it is certainly worth our effort, we don't have to work that hard to change the mindset or habits of reasonable people who are open to adjusting their world-view in response to facts. Smaller changes in the mindset and habits of "the masses" who are more resistant to reason will cumulatively have a much larger positive effect and must inherently be a part of any "total" approach to environmental stewardship. No, Voice of Reason, you are not a zombie, and perhaps I underestimate modern man's resistance to cultural norms and phenomena of group psychology. But it seems to me that cultural norms are norms because within a culture (American culture, for example) we exist in roughly similar environments and have had roughly similar experiences, and the norms are the most likely or common product of that environment. In case you haven't noticed, green isn't quite the norm yet and people like you are the exception. What's wrong with tilting the ground a little bit and letting the water run downhill? All I'm saying is that we should avoid bad examples and encourage good ones for example's sake at every opportunity, to change the baseline level of public responsibility. Please don't pride yourself on being greener than everyone else... strive to be as green as you can and bring others (even the stupid and selfish) up to your level.

You want conspiracy? I'll give you one. This is just another non-issue that the current powers that be foist upon us to distract from the real problems at hand. This is just the sort of pablum that appeals to the upitty dullards in our society who fancy themselves "activists". Add to that the pseudo-environmental-scientist-wannabes and the pseudo-intellectual-social-commentators, and you got a whole lot of hubbub about nothing. The world burns.

OK Bill, etc. What do you think the real issues are? If not global warming, then what?

And what, pray tell, are you doing about your all-important-issue? Other than casting aspersions on the rest of us, that is?

McDonald's and its happy meal toys has little to do with global warming. If the has some other gas guzzling car in it, I'd bet that there would be no outrage. They have had matchbox toys before, firetrucks, tow trucks. Where was the outrage for those gas guzzlers?

Treehugger is being taken over by "you dumb greenies!" trolls.

It's too bad.

Actually, Bill S, you are the one who doesn't have a clue. McDonald's is saying, that they want to bring "the fun of Hummers" to children. Well, Hummers are not fun. They are polluting monsters for men with little penises.

Hey GreenEngie, the issues are many, the problems extreme, the danger is real, and it seems that too many of us would rather distract ourselves with silly little plastic Hummers than face reality. Forget actually DOING something about it.

As for what I do myself: first off, its none of your business as my message is sound no matter what. But I will gleefully list the things I do anyway:

3 cars converted to run on used vegetable oil.

Home heating boiler converted to run on same.

Large solar thermal hot water array.

And I grow most of my own produce, organically, because its actually easier than using crappy chemicals in the first place.

So, in the words of the great Emeril....BAM!

Now go do something constructive and give the kiddies their plastic crap, made in China, boated over here, wasting many tons of diesel.

Sig, sexist insults really aren't going to help anything. In fact, its even more of a waste of time than crying about Happy Meal Hummers. Apologize now and grow up.

P.S. you might want to check GM's demographic data on the H2 and H3. Maybe then you'll realize how far down your throat your foot really is.

Hey, Folks--

We're quickly devolving into "insults and inflammatory remarks" here. You certainly don't have to agree about the merits (or lack thereof) of the Sign-o-Matic, but please try to keep the discussion civil. Thanks!

JM-S

Bill, I applaud your significant personal efforts, but any gains made by you are undone many times over by individuals who choose a "fun" Hummer over a more sensible vehicle (or none at all). Every little bit, "real issues" and "non-issues" alike, does something to change what's "normal" in our society, which must happen in order to see lasting and significant gains.

hopefuly we can all sit here and insult each other and not even worry about how much of a waste it is to even get happy meal toys. i know i used to get these toys all the time. they all end up in the trash and usually as soon as the kids get home and start playing video games. maybe we can actually get something accomplished if we can stop bickering.

Jamie, appreciated. But I aint holyer than thou by any means. I do, however, take issue with the seeming disconnect of many supposed "concerned citizens" from what the real goals are.

It does not make sense to worry about what color the drapes should be when the foundation of your house is crumbling. Sure, a passing thought to the time after the foundation is fixed and you can think about smaller issues is ok, but that's it.

Yea, I'll admit that when I first saw this MCD campaign my initial reaction was "great, another example of American absurdity". But that was for, like, 3 seconds. I then went out and tended my veggies. The fact that a web site has been created, its getting press, to me is just another example of American absurdity.

I dropped the hint up above about the "plastic crap" and it being "boated over here". I was hoping someone would pick up on that. I guess not. So here's an aspect of this issue that should be worried about:

mass quantities of petrochemical based trinkets and chachkies being made over seas and shipped across the world.

So hey, people, why not rail on MCD to have their crap made locally and out of bioplastic? Imagine the impact that would have. I would love the irony of a toy Hummer created in this fashion.

let's not forget that obviously McD's and Hummer have a corporate partnership of some sort going. if you support the McD's happy meal, you are in turn supporting Hummer.

This is about illogical as protesting GI Joe because you disagree with war.

If you don't like Hummers, protest GENERAL MOTORS!

"let's not forget that obviously McD's and Hummer have a corporate partnership of some sort going. if you support the McD's happy meal, you are in turn supporting Hummer."

Posted by: Anonymous

Ah, the voice of reason. Obviously this is a boom for Hummer: for their bottom line and for their image. Sure, there are tons of environmental problems, but belittling people's concern with one of them is ridiculous. The Hummers pollute three times more than an average car. They are a big problem, and judging from the city where I live, where they seem to be multiplying like mushrooms, it's getting worse. Any campaign that shows it's cool to have a Hummer, it's the wrong way to go, and we need to fight it. I wish I could say I would boycott McDonald's until they get rid of the little monsters, but I haven't eaten there in years.
But boasting in their website about their environmental concerns while peddling gas guzzlers (toys or otherwise) tells me their mascot suits them well indeed: these people are clowns.

Sig, you failed to APPOLOGIZE for your previous insulting and inaccurate post. Please do so.

Your perception of more Hummers is bizarre as their sales are dwindling. Even used and price-chopped they can't get rid of them. Again, the data seems to conflict with your position.

You also fail to realize that this "partnership" is a beautiful thing. Hummer's are already such dinosaurs that GM will try anything to unload the last bunch. When it hits "Happy Meal" status, the end is very near.

But now I must ask the question that several above have asked and no one has ventured an answer: if this promotion was for the Dodge Charger, would you have even noticed? How about the F-150? Corvette? Is this an inconvenient question?

I like the comment by Bill S. Bioplastic Hummers HA! Seriously I guess I can see a point but it's not worth the effort and words people are putting into it. I agree protest GM! Hummers are evil!

WAKE UP! You are fixating on the Hummer just like they want you too. This is a niche vehicle, made in VERY small numbers. They make up a fraction of one percent of the vehicles on the road. This is not worrying about the drapes in the crumbling house, this is worrying about the fuzz under the couch!!!

You yell and scream about the big bad “HUMMER”, so then the politicos and gang can then use that convenient benchmark to make “green changes”. Why don’t you get smart and stop being such a patsy for the petrochemical industry? Why not rail on the Prius? Huh, Prius, rail, bad, what are you talking about??? Yea, Prius is bad. That’s because the plug-in version should have been available for 2007. Its such a simple mod that companies are doing it for state fleets. Toyota talks about maybe 2008-2010, but that’s just lip service. See, they want to make as much money on the current model and tooling as they can. They will extract every last cent up until the very last moment before they perceive that they must implement PHEV in order to maintain their sales. The only thing we can do is move up that very last moment by yelling at them. So repeat after me:

38-48 MPG…we’re not gonna take it!

50-60 MPG…no damn way!

Give us 100 MPG right damn now!

You need to check your data Billy boy. Hummer sales are up.
http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/news/breaking-gm-july-sales-down-195-obfuscation-wins-191308.php
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/09/chevy-and-saab-kick-it-in-europe/
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/06/hummer_sales.html

And your conspiracy theories about Toyota are ridiculous. It's called R&D and making sure your car does not blow up like an Apple or Dell.

Actually, I did not fail to "appologize" (Sic: please learn to spell when you are being holier than thou. Otherwise, it's impossible to take you seriously.)

My previous comment was censored. I guess it's OK for Bill S. to be rude and insulting, but not for anyone else to criticize. Fine. I'll try again just in case the censor is feeling liberal.
I did apologize for making fun of Hummer users. It's not their fault that they have small penises, so I should feel sorry for them, not make fun of them. And yes, I'm aware that overall Hummer sales are diminishing, but that is clearly not happening in places where people are rich enough not to care about skyrocketing oil prices. I do indeed see more and more Hummers every day: black, red, white, yellow, burgundy, etc. And with one exception (a woman driving a white H2), the driver is always a man in his thirties or forties. These are men who obviously:
A: Don't care about the environment.
B. Are willing to fund very questionable regimes who have plotted to kills us in the past.
The only reason I can think of for such stupid behavior is the need to compensate for some serious shortcomings. That you have reacted with such fury to criticism of a campaign whose only effect will be to tell children that Huge is Cool makes me assume the same about you, but again, I'm not making fun of you. Not your fault.

You can reply directly to my email address. But please, use spellcheck before pressing "send."

Jilted, thanks for the links. I was behind the times. Maybe the MCD campaign is having an effect and all those kiddies are now buying Hummers? :)

But seriously, this odd bump is just that. Someone's gotta buy into that nonsense about oil prices returning to $30 due to diminishing demand.

Sig, you're something else. You blatantly insult me in a manor which would be legally actionable in the work place, yet we both agree that Hummers are bad and I certainly don't own one. Although my next waste vegetable oil vehicle might indeed be an H1 if I can get one cheap. I guess if I'm holding out for the mac-daddy of small phallus compensation symbols, I must be a male imposter. You are a sad sad, angry little person, but you did a great job of illustrating that for us. The world burns.

Yea, Jilted, on that Toyota conspiracy thing. I never said that was a conspiracy, I simply pointed out how business works. They will indeed extract every last cent of profit from the current design, until their numbers show that they must go PHEV. You can't possibly disagree with that, can you? Toyota is not in the business of saving the world, they are in the business of selling cars and making a profit. When enough people say "I want a PHEV Prius", they will make one, and not a moment sooner.

Oh yea, Sig, you're a rube. :)

"You blatantly insult me in a manor..."

From dictionary.com:
man·or n.
A landed estate.
The main house on an estate; a mansion.
A tract of land in certain North American colonies with hereditary rights granted to the proprietor by royal charter.
The district over which a lord had domain and could exercise certain rights and privileges in medieval western Europe.
The lord's residence in such a district.

---
Sig is right. Learn to spell, Billy. And the only one in this debate who's come across as a "sad, angry little person" --not to mention ignorant-- is you.

I got another inconvenient question for you sig...clesp...whichever you are at the moment: do you have an issue with my position, or simply such a bad case of OCD that you can't look past my misspellings?

If I rub you the wrong way, get over it, you're making yourself look like a fool. If you disagree with my position, let us know how, and refrain from sexually harassing comments.

Your move. :D

Oh god, what is wrong with this person? First s/he says people with hummers have small dicks, then s/he gets crazy with the alternate personalities. Is there any moderation here or is it a total freeforall? Screw mcgarbage, screw hummer, ride a f-in bike, and take your meds!

well you can't forget that 40% of h3 owners are female, so hummers are also polluting monsters for women with large penises.

Wow let's insult spelling. And no Bill I don't agree that Toyota is holding anything back for more profit on their current models. I do agree they want to make money. Since they make the car they must make sure it will last, not like some fly by night company that won't have to live up to long warranties. Toyota would make Way more money releasing a PHEV for a price premium over a normal Hybrid, both would sell. Maybe it's taking so long because they are redesigning the Fugly pruis body style. Go the Camry route please.

And sig please, supporting questionable regimes? Do you even know were we get most of our oil from? Hint, its not in the middle east.

Take deep breaths and hummm after me. Redemption comes not from language unless it be artful.

Wow let's insult spelling. And no Bill I don't agree that Toyota is holding anything back for more profit on their current models. I do agree they want to make money. Since they make the car they must make sure it will last, not like some fly by night company that won't have to live up to long warranties. Toyota would make Way more money releasing a PHEV for a price premium over a normal Hybrid, both would sell. Maybe it's taking so long because they are redesigning the Fugly pruis body style. Go the Camry route please.

And sig please, supporting questionable regimes? Do you even know were we get most of our oil from? Hint, its not in the middle east.

BIll S = Nothalo troll

Do you even know were we get most of our oil from? Hint, its not in the middle east.

We don't get "most" of our oil from anywhere, unless it's a simple breakdown of imports and domestic sources - in which case imports are the predominant source.

41% of imported petroleum products come from OPEC. 17% of imports come from the Persian Gulf. Canada supplies 16% of imports, Mexico 12%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Venezuela 11%, and Nigeria 8%.

Wow, there is certainly a lot of agression on this webisite and I don't think it stems from Hummer's, McDonalds, or what each do to the environment. Why not kill two birds with one stone and not eat or endorse that crap? By n