Taking Advantage

It's incredible how people are taken advantage of in the fast food industry. I don't understand how these businessmen pride themselves on getting cheap labor from teenagers, the uneducated and disadvantaged-- it's absolutely sickening. Also, I found it a bit upsetting that managers get bonuses for having their employees work more hours but finding a way to pay them less. The word that immediately came to mind was SWINDLE! I may be naive to think so, but I would think that managers and employees would be on the same side against the fast food industry. The more I read, the more the fast food industry becomes the "Dark Side," and managers seem to selfishly be leaning towards that side. It further puts them into a bad light when you realize that the employees that are being taken advantage of are teenagers and mostly non-english speaking people. How could someone do that? Regardless of the job, how could people throw other human beings under the bus in order to better themselves. It makes more sense for these big business men because they presumably make a large buck off of these people, but a manager? Could you really be bettering your life THAT much by making people work more for less? If you want to make more money, get a better job. If I were in their position and thought of doing what many managers do, I'd have to take a step back and re-evaluate my life because I honestly wouldn't respect myself.

Every Man for Himself

I was incredibly shocked while reading about the robberies that occur in the fast food industry. Firstly, I didn't realize that robbing a McDonalds was something that happened pretty frequently. It's interesting that fast food restaurants are more apt to be robbed than a convenience store, gas station and even banks. Also, that many deaths have occurred as a result is even more unfathomable to me. I know that fast food is unhealthy and detrimental to a person's well being, but the fast food industry has negative moral and mental effects on people too. It was a huge shock to me when Schlosser revealed that the robbers were either ex-employees, current employees or a current shift and even managers. You would think employees would sympathize and relate to one another, not put their peers at further risk. It makes the job easier; being familiar with the location, possibly having the trust of the on-staff workers and having the accessibility. But many of us could do the same thing at our own jobs or somewhere that we know well, but that goes against our morals and it's not the right thing to do. It makes you realize how bad of a situation that these employees are in. I haven't found one thing that is truly good about the fast food industry so far... The only gains are the size of people's waistlines.

Love Through Food

Fast Food Nation discussed how kids are the main targets when trying to sell a product, especially foods. Although this was the main point, and very true, another point stood out to me-- parents try to show love through buying their kids these products, and often fast food. Fod instance, McDonalds was trying to be a family place, where parents could bring their kids for a meal, showing how much they love him or her, and this was successful. As I read this, I immediately realized that my dad did this. For instance, whenever my siblings and I played a sports game, we were rewarded with a win (usually Carvel ice cream) and if we lost, he'd buy us carvel as a treat to make us feel better. Carvel uses deals like the McDonalds dollar menu; ever since I can remember they've done the buy one ice cream sundae on a wednesday get one free. Also, when my mom refused my siblings and I something, my dad would take us out, making him the more favorable parent and foolishly we believed that he cared more. I can recall an argument with my mom about not letting us get Burger King-- I told her when I'm older, I'm going to get Burger King for my kids whenever they wanted. Another time, I questioned why rich people didn't get all the food that they wanted. As a kid, I wasn't aware of the health problems that came along with fast food. I was told that it isn't good for you, but as an active kid with a fast metabolism, I wouldn't understand nor see the effects of it until I got older. It's these simple deals that allow parents to easily treat their kids to treats. It wasn't until I got older and I had to start watching what I ate that I became a bit resentful of these deals, and what I considered my dad being affectionate. As much as we want to think that we can't be swayed by deals and commercials as kids, Schlosser was right, children's minds are easily targeted and although immoral, an efficient way to market these foods, deals and other products.