1.

noonebutmme
December 14th, 2006 at 2:05 pm

I suppose since that bashing is what is going on here this comment is going to be ignored, but of course these evil companies do mucho good (besides providing jobs directly and through their suppliers, their taxes, etc.).

For a social example, McDonalds does help quite a bit in various disasters:

From link http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/31/news/fortune500/firms_hurricane/index.htm

“McDonald’s has created a $2 million matching fund to match donations raised by the Ronald McDonald House Charities canisters in McDonald’s restaurants and donations made within the company to help employees in need. McDonald’s is also working with FEMA and the Red Cross to help bring food, water and other supplies where it is needed most. ”

And then they increased their help in a few days (from a McDonald’s press release)

“McDonald’s Corporation increased its commitment to $5 million for ongoing hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts. Additionally, the company will debut national and local advertising to aid and encourage in-restaurant contributions. Television commercials breaking tonight offer customers the added convenience of making disaster relief contributions at Ronald McDonald House Charities canisters at more than 13,000 U.S. restaurants.

Following an initial $2 million commitment announced immediately after hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, Ronald McDonald House Charities converted canisters in McDonald’s U.S. restaurants to accept donations for disaster relief. McDonald’s also announced that contributions to the McDonald’s Family Charity would provide much-needed assistance to company, owner/operator and supplier employees. In addition, the company, its franchisees and suppliers are contributing millions in products and supplies for disaster relief.”

How DARE McDonalds defend its name, sell food that people want, and so on…

They help in lesser known disasters like CA wildfires: http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_489_1919,00.html (red cross link)

“McDonald’s Corporation generously donated $100,000 and more than 30,000 meals to disaster victims and firefighters. Ronald McDonald House Charities concluded collecting customer donations today in more than 800 southern California McDonald’s locations and also donated $100,000 for disaster relief efforts.”

No doubt those firefighters should have thrown that money back into Ronald’s face….how dare McDonalds donate money that was made off unsuspecting Vegans who just couldn’t help themselves from eating at McDonalds…..

Etc. Etc. I think that those directly helped by McDonalds would object to claims that the company should not exist.

Also Wal-mart gives a tone but that was another thread:

“Wal-Mart Stores will give $17 million in cash donations and establish mini-Wal-Mart stores in areas impacted by the hurricane. Items such as clothing, diapers, baby wipes, food, formula, toothbrushes, bedding and water will be given out free of charge to those with a demonstrated need.”

Evil Scum. Much better to let your kids starve than take Wal-marts filthy money!

Or one could mention Wal-marts 4$ drug plan….

me

2.

Jake
December 14th, 2006 at 2:36 pm

I think McDonalds would be far better off ceasing their “donations” to communities and putting that money in to health care and wages for their employees. The reality is that I bet McDonald’s workers use more govt money to assist them with their health care than McDonalds gives to all their charities each year.

It’s really beyond my understanding why most of these large food chains don’t go back to basics. Use real foods and no chemicals! It is just the right thing to do. Look at car companies. Those companies that are doing the “right” thing by building fuel efficient cars are prospering, while gas guzzler manufacturers are trying their best to stay out of bankruptcy. Everyone can see the huge health care crisis coming and the companies that adapt and start offering healthy products that don’t send people to an early grave will prosper.

Oh and Punny, are you sure all of this anger towards McDonalds isn’t ALL about the fact that they ran out of your favorite toy when you were 7? That kind of childhood trauma can stay with a person their entire lives……… LOL

3.

Lazy Man and Money
December 14th, 2006 at 2:36 pm

I would have gone with something like Burger King or Carl’s Jr. over McDonald’s. While McDonald’s advertises its salads more and eliminates Super Size from its menu, the other two chain expand. Burger King had a Quad burger promotion recently, and Carl’s Jr. actually has a steak and cheese on top of a double burger.

Undermining Freedom of Speech… Hmmm, one could say they are the protector of Freedom of Food Choice. You also say that child-targeted advertising is dirty, but that’s protected by the freedom of speech, so they can’t want to undermine it too much. While we are on the child-targeted advertising, Sarah Michelle Geller’s first commercial was for Burger King at the age of 6 (I think). She said something to the effect that she would only eat there. This was some 20+ years ago, so I can’t say that McDonald’s is alone. Plus, watch any Saturday morning cartoon and you’ll see child-targetting advertising. There are hundred other companies that do it.

If people’s beliefs are that strong, they should take measures to ensure the way their food is prepared. I would suggest cooking themselves. I’ve gone to many restaurants and found that things are cooked in some kind of bacon grease or pig fat or something. I admit that they should have been more forthcoming with this, though.

4.

Clever Dude
December 14th, 2006 at 9:43 pm

Your swear word appeared on a computer screen in our home. You owe 50 cents to the swear jar!

5.

Nick
December 14th, 2006 at 11:37 pm

Clever Dude, that’s a quote from a movie I watched in your home, so I’ll let you pay it for corrupting my mind.

6.

Bill
December 15th, 2006 at 5:24 am

I read Fast Food Nation about four years ago, and haven’t been able to eat a MacDonalds or Burger King since. Unlike yourself it wasn’t the ’shady business practices’ or ‘child-targeted advertising’ that hit home when reading the book, but the horrific stories about the quality of the food we were we being fed by these industrial restaurants. This stuff is just not healthy guys, and it really is that simple. The chapters covering the goings on in slaughter houses is just plain disgusting.

7.

Bob Uhl
December 18th, 2006 at 10:54 am

Re. not respecting people’s beliefs–McDonald’s should certainly be honest about the ingredients in their foods; I’ve no objection to that. But the reason that the fries & biscuits have animal fats in them is simple: animal fat is a lot tastier than vegetable fat. Tallow-fried french fries are delicious, while those cooked in olive, corn, sunflower or what-have-you-oil just aren’t as good; perhaps McDonald’s use a tallow extract to flavour the fries while still using the cheaper vegetable oils.

Next time you’re baking biscuits (or anything else), try using lard or tallow in place of butter or vegetable oils (sometimes you have to tweak the amounts slightly). Absolutely amazing!

8.

The Sarcasticynic
December 26th, 2006 at 8:03 pm

Never mind the problems with the food, etc. I hear McDonalds’ managers may have a problem with common sense. Do a google search of “mcdonalds strip search” and see what happened to some poor employee in Kentucky and see how you feel about this fast food chain.

9.

lynn
December 29th, 2006 at 9:15 am

Haven’t ever eaten at McDonald’s…not in my whole life…true…Used their bathroom once or twice though…
For the meat eaters…Have you tried Buffalo?…pretty good stuff…And if you eat beef…try the grass fed…
If you want good food…BigAg. is our worst enemy, along with Monsanto…The ‘cheap food’ is the stuff that’s monocultured, sprayed to death with pesticides, grown in depleted soils, animals are stuffed to death with hormones and anti-biotics and then shipped to market, and tastes like crap…The good stuff is usually more expensive…Gov’t loves the big bucks of BigAg…or is it vice-versa?…
Support your local family farms!
http://www.familyfarmdefenders.org/Main/HomePage
http://www.localharvest.org/

10.

The Person
March 17th, 2007 at 2:37 pm

Hey, i’m not going to give my name or any more info about me. But i can give you an open look on McDonalds. I know thing’s about the inside people probley don’t know, but i wan’t every one to & i don’t know how to be heared & not sued at the same time. So i thought i could maybe tell it all to you! So feel free to message me if you want to know.
“This is for real!”

11.

Bills
May 17th, 2007 at 7:29 pm

Mc Donalds like WalMart are the 800 pound monster on the block and easy targets. I’m sure other companies is similar industries have the same products/business practices, but because of their size don’t stand out.

12.

Saw Your Car For Sale
October 11th, 2008 at 3:47 am

McDonalds always react too late to events. People got sick of their unhealthy stuff but it took them 20 years to offer more healthy alternatives. Same goes for the decor, and sheer ubiquity of their outlets. Making as much money as possible THIS YEAR isn’t always the best thing for the long-term view. Look at Starbucks - people are tired of them because they’re just TOO ubiquitous.