Today I've been intrigued by the controversy surrounding the soon-to-air CBS show, Kid Nation. I vaguely remember hearing something about this a while ago, but I didn't really pay attention until I heard this story on NPR. There's a better story with more details from the CBS point of view at the LA Times.

My first thought was "who in h--- would let their child do somehting like this?" Brooklynne made a good point that it's probably desperate parents dreaming a windfall, which is another topic for discussion in itself.

But as a think about it, I'm not sure what it is, but there's something else a little off here. After reading more stories, I'm ready to admit that CBS (and the parents) is not as crazy as I first thought. But even if they are justified, they should have bent over backwards to comply with any possible law that could be applied here. Those labor and wellfare laws are in place to protect kids, and even if CBS was totally upright in their supervision, their lack of transparency signals a poor respect for the spirit of the law.

I don't think I'm upset to the point of not watching, but I am pulling for the state to hammer CBS and put them in their place.

By the way, here's a link to the show's website.