Reebok Settles Case Where it Could Not Substantiate Claims; Conservatives Fear They Will be Next

Conservatives: What Do You Mean We Can't Just Make Things Up?

The Dismal Political Economist is always learning new things, and just today he has learned that running shoes can make a huge difference in your health.  Well, maybe. It seems the Reebok Company has made some rather strong claims about their running shoes, 

The shoes were introduced in 2009 and used “balance ball inspired technology” that, according to Reebok advertising, strengthened hamstring and calf muscles 11 percent more than other walking shoes. Reebok also asserted that the shoes toned a user’s bottom 28 percent better than other shoes. 



They Would Be a Lot Healthier
if Those Shoes Were Reebok's.



Now there was one problem with the claims, they were unsubstantiated, so Reebok is paying a settlement of $25 million and agreeing not to make future claims unless they can be substantiated, although they did say they did not agree they had done anything wrong, 

Reebok stood by its shoes, saying that despite the settlement the company did not agree with the FTC’s allegations. “We have received overwhelmingly enthusiastic feedback from thousands of EasyTone customers, and we remain committed to the further development of our EasyTone line of products,” the company said in a statement.

 nicely omitting why, if they disagreed with the FTC they were paying $25 million in settlement costs.

Conservatives were reported to be outraged at the settlement.  Fearing the case sets a precedent, they are arguing that if Conservative claims on policy had to be substantiated by facts, logic and data they would be put completely out of business