The U.S. government has taken some heat lately after news leaked that
it had meddled with scripts of several popular television shows -- it
turns out that networks that aired programs with anti-drug messages
qualified for special funding.

What may have slipped by many critics is the fact that America Online
and Marvel Comics were also in on it. The government purchased ads
from AOL, and in exchange, the service provider set up a number of
anti-drug Web sites.

Marvel's involvement is a little more central to the controversy
surrounding the matter -- the comic book company published several
stories featuring Spider-Man teaching student journalists how to
recognize drug images in the media.

Critics of the policy are concerned that it could lead to the
government dictating the content of entertainment, and it also raises
questions as to whether popular cultural figures, such as superheroes,
can be bought for pet causes.

Obviously, some people have never heard of a fellow named Wayne
Gretzky.