New Mexico Falls In Line

The State of New Mexico, deeply embarrassed by the entire “Kid Nation” fiasco that was filmed in their state under shadowy circumstances, has passed into Law its first protections for children involved in the entertainment industry. We applaud that State’s effort.

Don’t hold your breath for any sanctions to be imposed on the people who deliberately chose New Mexico to exploit the 41 children who made up the cast of “Kid Nation.” The Parents who abandoned their children to the tender mercies of a production company will not have to answer for their decision. Tom Forman and CBS are going to escape legal action. The Entertainment Industry, which provides the tawdry products that defile our airwaves and movie screens, is still shopping for “friendly jurisdictions” so they can take advantage of kids as we see so plainly in NBC’s “Baby Borrowers,” shot in Idaho.

We at AMC want to take a moment to remind all the kids who participated in “Kid Nation” that they can have their day in Court when they reach 18 if, in looking back, they decide the effort wasn’t worth the cost. “Disaffirmance” is the legal principle immediately available to them on the day they turn into what the law calls an Adult, age 18. The contract was an abomination. The compensation was atrocious. The workplace was patently dangerous. Education was entirely absent. The violations of existing state law during production are transparent.

“In the absence of shame all conduct is excusable.” When will this nation come to its senses?

Paul Petersen
AMC