Sweet, but is it Serious?

The Lynn Item ran a front page story today about the efforts of local politicians to have some locally made products officially recognized. The article by Chris Stevens and Thor Jourgensen was accompanied by two large color photographs of Marshmallow Fluff rolling down the assembly line of the Durkee-Mower plant in Lynn. If such recognition legislation is passed, the Fluffernutter would become the official sandwich of Massachusetts. Also vying for recognition is the Necco Wafer as the official wafer candy of the Bay State. Given the tough economy, I can see why politicians would seek to assist their local industries in any way they can. As a consumer of news, I can't help but feel a little degraded by this kind of advertising being dressed up as news. For the politicians, this seems to be quite self serving as a way of ingratiating themselves with their constituents that costs them nothing. Sure, what is the harm? Looking at the bigger picture, civil society seems to be coming apart over the rising cost of health care and our differences on how to address it. We're already fat and diabetic. What's a few extra gobs of sugar and peanut butter on enriched white bread going to do? That may be too abstract, but is the idea that there may something wrong with politicians using free media to suck up to large constituent groups too abstract?