Oh capitalism, you're incorrigible

[terri]

The OP has requested this not get political, and I already removed a couple of comments earlier. Please respect her request and keep the discussion confined to the photo and its intent.

 

[ristretto]

Terri, the photo IS political and you are a hypocrite.

@ Donkey: here's a better idea : let's keep it truthful rather than hide behind bogus pseudo intellectual posturing. Lots of people short of money get fed at McDonalds every day for cheap; no doubt the types champagne socialist 'intellectuals' despise. The same people that would be hungry queuing for basics in the failed socialist states many of us recall. Socialism = make everyone poor (except the corrupt, hypocrite elites); socialism = ulimately, someone else will pay for our largesse.

 

[pgriz]

McDonalds put more more food into poor peoples' hungry bellies than Karl Marx or Trostky ever did.

That is very true. But that's not the whole story. There are also the costs associated with cheap food: environmental damage connected with beef production, lack of good nutritional balance for the consumer, and the cultural consumerization of the basic act of providing food and eating it. Simple solutions don't work well in a complex world. What is most efficient for a corporation, is not necessarily good for the society. We all make trade-offs, and it is best when we are fully informed what the trade-offs are.

 

[pgriz]

Back to Leonore's observation - the photo is actually quite remarkable in that it was taken in Slovenia, and yet it would not have been out of place taken in a US city. The ubiquity of English speaks to the attractiveness of American culture although it could be argued that this is the attraction to the lowest common denominator. American movies generally follow a formula (yes, not always, but generally) which rewards the viewer with an upbeat message at the end, and tend to be relatively polarized (ie, the line between good and bad is pretty clear). However, the attraction to the culture is not always rewarded by the reality. Huxley's Brave New World comes to mind.

 

[unpopular]

Terri, the photo IS political and you are a hypocrite.

@ Donkey: here's a better idea : let's keep it truthful rather than hide behind bogus pseudo intellectual posturing. Lots of people short of money get fed at McDonalds every day for cheap; no doubt the types champagne socialist 'intellectuals' despise. The same people that would be hungry queuing for basics in the failed socialist states many of us recall. Socialism = make everyone poor (except the corrupt, hypocrite elites); socialism = ulimately, someone else will pay for our largesse.

Here's an idea. Figure out what "socialism" means before you post about Marxism. They're not the same thing.

Second, go back and actually read what I write, because I've made it very clear that I do not support either capitalism nor communism. I do not believe in this ideology of settling for the lesser of two evils.

Third. Griz is correct. The nutritional value of McDonalds and other low quality, processed foods is actually extremely expensive compared to the currently inflated cost of fresh fruits, vegitables and meats.

Fourth. Food banks, soup kitchens and food stamps feeds FAR more poor people at a far greater value than McDonalds ever could while freeing other funds to diversify household resources to a greater number of services outside of food acquisition. I am not saying that socializing the food industry is a sustainable solution, but it's far better than thinking McDonald's is a valid solution to global hunger!

 

[limr]

Terri, the photo IS political and you are a hypocrite.

@ Donkey: here's a better idea : let's keep it truthful rather than hide behind bogus pseudo intellectual posturing. Lots of people short of money get fed at McDonalds every day for cheap; no doubt the types champagne socialist 'intellectuals' despise. The same people that would be hungry queuing for basics in the failed socialist states many of us recall. Socialism = make everyone poor (except the corrupt, hypocrite elites); socialism = ulimately, someone else will pay for our largesse.

No, the photo is NOT political and yours and Brain's were the kinds of comments that made me ask that we keep this discussion away from politics. I don't mind a civil, intellectual discussion like pgriz and unpopular were engaging in, but I DO mind polarizing soundbites and the attitude that anyone who disagrees is automatically a lesser person worthy of mockery or insults. Things were interesting and respectful and I ask once again that we keep things that way.

 

[unpopular]

Our discussion was anthropological/sociological, not political anyway.

 

[oldhippy]

I like the irony in the picture. The woman of an older generation, reading a sign that probably rings home to her. I feel her wondering where this new Capitalism we take her and her country. It is true that communal or socialist moments have for the most part been unsuccessful. Every where social justice tries to take hold, capitalism stifles it. Just thinking. Ed