McGarbage

[PEACE FROG]

I think that if the McDonalds corp. was forced to stop their "Happy Meal" toy promotion, we could kill two birds with one stone. ONE: We have a problem in this country with child obiesity. McDonalds lures our children and thier parents to eat this notoriously unhealthy "feed" by promising our children a toy featuring the latest cartoon or movie characture that they've just gotta have. Not wanting to be a "bad guy" parent, we consent and take our child to McDs cuz "once in awhile" wont hurt. Problem "once in a while" is more frequent than we realize and our children are plumping up like the blueberry girl on Willie Wonka, the toy being so common place holds their interest for only a short time and ends up on the floor board before we get home. Then it's to the trash where it ends up in a landfill.......TWO: I think because of this TONS of plastic and a good percentage with BATTERIES are ending up in our landfills. I don't know what type of plastic or how it breaks down but it can't be good for our environment. I think that it is irresponsible to abuse our children's health and pollute our planet just to line their coffers...... think they don't know?

[oldkzildjians]

I read a cool article in Earth First entitled "How to Grab Ronald McDonald by the Balls". It contained instructions on how to safely shut off their gas and thus halt production until a gas guy comes. Something I wouldn't do, but it made a funny read and had a pic of an evil Ron McD flipping the camera off.

[PEACE FROG]

What is Earth First?

[tooter_mcgee]

I agree with just about everything you said. The food is terrible for you, and the toys make for alot of needless junk. I do feel somewhat guilty though, I don't really eat the food so much, but I am a sucker for some of the toys because I love cartoons. :o

~~Diana

[toman]

America is supposed to be a free country, and we are a capitalist society. Nobody is putting a gun to anyones head, forcing them to eat McDonalds food. I'm as anti-junk food as the next guy, but to say that a company shouldn't be allowed to market and sell a product is absurd. People who feed children fast food are guilty of child abuse, and if you have so little control of your children that not giving in to their demands for the latest crappy toy causes a crisis, well, I'm sorry but you're a pretty bad parent. There's no doubt McDonals sells a crappy product, or that they're guilty of marketing it in a rather sleazy way. But in the end, isn't it up to the person who ultimately buys and eats it to decide whether the business survives?

[delta9]

Aside from what toman said...

What if you LIKE the way some or all of McDonald's "feed" tastes? I mean, it can't be ALL bad - besides, when you're homeless and begging for money, you learn to love THE GREAT DOLLAR MENU. I heart oreo McFlurries, as well.

My point is, even if you were going to STOP THEM FROM GIVING OUT THE TOYS OH THE CHILDREN WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!?!?! there would still be people going and buying happy meals.

[tooter_mcgee]

Reese's McFlurries are the bomb... YUM. I also like the McNuggets and the fruit and yogurt parfait. Another YUM. I know how unhealthy the food is, but sometimes some old fashioned american junk food really hits the spot. What can I say? I'm only human...

~~Diana

[delta9]

I thought you didn't really eat the food so much? :p

[tooter_mcgee]

Lol, I don't. When I do though, I usually get what I listed. I have a roomate that eats McDonalds religiously while I'm more partial to Subway. Sometimes though, I cave. It might sound really empty of me to say, but alot of what keeps me away from not just McDonalds, but from fast food entirely is the fact that i'm self-conscious of my weight even though i'm not fat. Ah well, again i'm just a person. :o

~~Diana

[morningsunshine]

America is supposed to be a free country, and we are a capitalist society. Nobody is putting a gun to anyones head, forcing them to eat McDonalds food. I'm as anti-junk food as the next guy, but to say that a company shouldn't be allowed to market and sell a product is absurd. People who feed children fast food are guilty of child abuse, and if you have so little control of your children that not giving in to their demands for the latest crappy toy causes a crisis, well, I'm sorry but you're a pretty bad parent. There's no doubt McDonals sells a crappy product, or that they're guilty of marketing it in a rather sleazy way. But in the end, isn't it up to the person who ultimately buys and eats it to decide whether the business survives?
Exactly. Most of time I hear parents saying "well I don't have time to make my kid lunch so we go to McDonald's instead"... well, if you don't have time to make sure your child gets the nutrition they need, then maybe you shouldn't have had kids. my little one's coming, and you can bet your butt that no matter how much s/he begs me, there is no way I'm going to allow her to put that crap in her body. McDonald's can market all they want, but there's no way they can entice me to eat their "food" *coughanimalbyproductscough* or feed it to someone else, especially a growing, active child.

[oldkzildjians]

anyone here fortunate enough to live in cali and near in & out burgers? if you like burgers, they're fresh, never frozen, they slice their own fries, hand peel their lettuce, etc. they taste SOOOO good. if you're the meaty type, they're the best fast food joint and their family owned so you're not supporting a corporation.

[delta9]

In&Out is great, all over cali.

Volcano Burger down in SoCal, too.

Can't forget Fila Burger in Richmond!

There's really a million great burger places in Cali.

[oldkzildjians]

I wanna try a Big Boy burger, I hear David Lynch ate lunch there everyday for a number of years. Speaking of corporations, is it true that McD's owns Chipotle? That's kinda a weird place. Seems like a fast food joint that caters to yuppies. Pretty tasty, though.

[ladywithafan]

McDonalds owns Chipotle, Donatos, and Boston Market. Earth First is a magazine that is about environmental and social issues (I have a subscription). I used to never eat McDonalds until recently :( I am in the middle of moving and working overtime and trying to find a new job and I just get exhausted and not want to cook. But as soon as I settle in my new place- homecooked meals here I come!

[toman]

oh man, is it just me or is Boston Market the most disgusting crap ever? :( I forgot to mention before; I think if adults like McDonalds they should eat it without shame. I eat it a couple times a month; no big deal. I know what it is, I know what it does to me... I think people should be allowed to smoke crack or shoot up smack if they want, too. :bandit:

[delta9]

Everything in moderation.

[Unkle_John]

Toman and Delta9 are right about McDoogles.

But I believe the toys are a marketing ploy, same with the playground and atmosphere geared towards children. But who actually pays for the food & toy? Mom & Dad. Why? Because alot of children today aren't raised like you and I were. Children are "spared the rod" (which is a totally different conversation), children today are spoiled. They will pitch a fit toget their way and many do get their way. This and today's parents both work and have little time to prepare a nutrious meal for not only them selves but for their childen. I have seen this first hand, my sister has never cooked a meal from scratch. He meals either come out of a box and into the microwave or straight from the drive up window. When she and the kids do get to eat something healthy, it's at our parent's house.
Kids don't understand nor care for proper nutrition, they see bright colors, a fun atmosphere and a promis of a toy. When I was growing up we rarely ate fast food. Not because it wasn't as abundant as it is today or we were "too poor", but because we were raised to know when mom or dad said "no" or "maybe next time" that was it. But I'm starting to get off the subject again.
The funny thing is that since Subway has gained in positive publicity and the release of the movie "Super-Size Me", McDonalds (and other fast food joints) has added some nutrious meals, but you are going to pay the price. About $3-4 for the fruit bowl for example. No matter how healthy they promote it, I still would go somewhere else to get better tasting food. And if I ever have children they will know of McDonalds, but they will also know what happens if it is eaten all of the time.

As for me, the best burgersI have ever had at a fast food joint was at Carl's Jr. I stopped in there and ordered a burger to take back to the in-laws to eat. OH MOMMA! It was good. I don't recall what type of burger (double, triple meat) but it tasted like a fast food burger should (home made). But unfortunately they closed down the two Carl's Jr. joints here due to lack of business. Shame.
But I have found the best places for a burger, hole in the wall mom & pop drive-ins. They are served with a smile and pride, along with gigantic burgers and fries that taste like mom used to make. Maybe it's me because I like classic cars and the ways businesses, automobiles, homes, and such looked back in the 50's and 60's, not to mention the pride that was taken into them. But those burgers have always tasted better to me. More nutrious? Not really. It's more of a "giving back to my community" type of pride. The other reason why I don't shelling money to big corporate enterprises.

Why do I not eat fast food in general? Think of how it's processed, think of the crap they try to sell you, think of the type of people who work at these places. They don't work there because they plan on a career in the food industry, they work there because it's their last resort.. or easy job so they can skate through life. The fast food industry is kinda depressing. I will say that there are some nice people that work fast food and love doing what they do. My best friend for example, he worked his way up to manager and now operates two Sonic Drive-ins. But he takes pride in his work, and trians his crews to do the same. And to tell you the truth, he rarely eats his own food. He always said: "Don't get high off your own supply."

damn I went off the subject a bit didn't i?

[toman]

huhuh... spared the rod... :D

[PEACE FROG]

I was there In GRAND JUNCTION this time last year. My wifes brother lives there. What a wonderful place, we stayed there a few days then on to YELLOWSTONE. Awesome time was had by all. Oh and I think my individual right to protest, boycott, petition, ect. supercedes any corperations right to do anything. Ala BOSTON TEA PARTY. So screw McDONALD's I say. I'm just looking for like-minded bretheren to share my opinions with. Tom and Delta, you guys feel free to eat lots and lots, frequently! :D

[delta9]

Did anyone see this movie,SUPERSIZE ME?
Everything in moderation