It sounds a little crazy, but West Virginia state representative Jeff Eldridge has apparently introduced a bill in the West Virginia House of Representatives (No. 2198, to be exact) that would ban Barbies and their ilk. The governor, Joe Manchin apparently thinks that doll shopping decisions should be left to the parents. As a parent, I appreciate his faith.
This is the actual statutory language:
It shall be unlawful in the state to sell "Barbie" dolls and other similar dolls that promote or influence girls to place an undue importance on physical beauty to the detriment of their intellectual and emotional development.
Wouldn't you love to have to enforce this law? Glad they have enough to do in Charleston!
Image: Lunch Date Barbie, circa 1964
Obviously the legislators have too much time on their hands. Put those people to productive work cleaning bathrooms or something!
they had to realize proposing a Barbie ban would cause a big media stir, but maybe this was part of the strategy…
Since the 1930s the Supreme Court of the United States has interpreted the Commerce Clause of the Constitution of the United States in an expansive way that has dramatically expanded the scope of federal power