Doing The Wright Thing

By Tim Philbin

Burlington City Council president Kurt Wright is insisting that a private company come before city leaders and explain their latest marketing scheme.

At issue are pictures on Burton snow boards of Playboy centerfolds (never mind that you can't see much). The council, under Wright's direction voted 12 - 1 in favor of a resolution calling upon the local company to come before the group with an explanation and get an earful from various community organizations that don't like the pictures.

According to Mr. Wright the city council has a "responsibility" to put pressure on businesses to do the right thing.

Oh really?

And what is or better yet who will decide what is the "right" thing for each business to do?

Maybe in a socialist state governmental agencies can appoint themselves the ultimate power to oversee the private sector. In our society the market will decide.

If potential buyers find the pictures so offensive they won't buy the product and thereby forcing the company to change their marketing and design programs.

Until then the Burton snow board company should use the age old argument that as been the cry by many on the left that they are merely expressing "artistic free speech".

That may not work because it's not the "Wright"thing to do.