JDs Halloween post kindled many thoughts in me. And in this time of voting and change being on the horizon, if I am accepted onto the Halloween Holiday Board I will take immediate action to improve our current situation. As I read over JD’s costume list, I noticed that it reflected much of what I saw from recent Halloweens - WEAK outfits. I remember my mom spending hours sewing up such classic costumes as Yoda and a California Raisin. It is like the parents aren't even trying anymore. Or maybe the kids don't have any imaginations or think that some costumes are too infantile, and thus unworthy. I saw one kid with normal clothes, some white face paint, and some red lines that I supposed were supposed to represent lacerations. I asked him what he was, and he just held out his basket and shrugged. Whatever the case, I think many have forgotten that looking cool is the reason for the season.
I understand that we don’t need to be flushing future college tuition down the drain just for a costume, but come on! Give me something. So I recommend putting more power into the hands of the candy giver. If the kids are just throwing on some shoddy costume just to get candy, then take their very incentive out of their baskets. If you don't approve of the costume (for whatever reason – crappy, no imagination, offensive, etc.) then you don’t hand out candy. It will only take a year or two of this system to increase costume thoughtfulness. Granted, you open yourself to a house and car egging later in the evening, but it is time to make people earn the individually wrapped candy we worked so hard to purchase.
I propose we candy be dolled out according to merit. This socialistic candy distribution to everyone is not working. It has removed any impetus for excelling. Seriously, should the beautifully adorned princess get the same amount of candy as the kid who threw on some work clothes? I ask you - are these the principles that founded America? I don't think so! So here is the breakdown of the candy distribution that makes sense and puts more candy in to the hands that deserve it:
Regular clothes/haphazardly thrown together costume - 0 Pieces
Costume with little imagination - 1 Piece
Costume that is thoughtful, just not over the top - 2 Pieces
Costume reflecting a parent with too much time - 3 Pieces
Costume straight out of Hollywood - 4 Pieces(or a King Size)
This is the year for change. So let’s begin with something near and dear to all of us. After all, if the effort displayed at Halloween is any indication of our economic status, then we are indeed in a crisis.
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3 comments:
Unfortunately your candy plan just represents more of the same failed policies of the last 8 years.
What about the kids who come from more humble means, and can't afford the type of costumes that you insist on? Why do you favor special candy exemptions for those kids whose parents are so loaded that they can just go out and purchase the best costume available on the market? That doesn't sound very fair to me.
I would also propose a special candy credit for those kids who make an effort to purchase their costumes from American manufacturers.
I hear your critiques, and have worked extensively with those who think as you do to reform Arbor Day and Memorial Day. But the programs of the past have just not worked. We need to cut these programs that just leech off the real participants of Halloween. Let me guess, you suggest having a separate bowl of candy for lower income families who are just "doing the best they can"? Don't you see that only increases the amount of candy that needs to be purchased thus diminishing the quality of candy for everyone? Instead of getting candy bars soon we can only afford those crappy chocolate coins. Is that what you want?
i think you guys are being sarcastic and tying the current election to halloween.
i'm not that smart or informed, so i propose a reality show, where kids come on as contestants and vie for candy prizes. a true meritocracy
judges could be elvira, charro (is she even alive), any pro wrestler, robert downey in blackface. i'm having a hard time finding a simon type for this show.
let me know.
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