McDonald's Takes on Starbucks

Why doesn't McDonalds have any accountability? Why does the onus always have to fall on the consumer? McDonalds has made a choice to make bad food because they make lots of money that way. Why should they be immune from criticism for making bad, unhealthy food?

I really don't understand the position of always blaming the individual citizen and never demanding any accountability from the huge corporation. It's like corporations are considered deities in our society now.

Because we're a free capitalistic society! Corporations can make and sell whatever the customers will buy and individuals can make a free choice to purchase what they desire.

The next thing you know some city will ban fast food (and make the food police very happy) just like they have banned certain food items like foie gras, trans-fat and other food items. Government needs to step back from creating so many new regulations and allow the consumer to dictate what the market provides.

You missed my point. By "corporate accountability" I am not advocating increased governmental regulation. That would actually achieve the opposite result, relieving them of even more responsibility and putting it on the government instead.

As for the line about corporations being able to make and sell whatever they desire, I can't say I support the idea of corporations being allowed to make crack or child pornography, but I would like to know that they would be held accountable somewhere if they did. If we have a system where everyone is treated equally and held equally accountable we won't need so much government intervention. If, on the otherhand, corporations are able to get away with causing harm to people, government regulation is inevitable.

AMEN!!! I hate those new Burger King ads. Its among those that cause me to change the channel whenever it comes on.

I don't change the channel. I just don't turn on the set.

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Because we're a free capitalistic society! Corporations can make and sell whatever the customers will buy and individuals can make a free choice to purchase what they desire.

My grievance is that they convince the consumers to buy by using techniques that would make Goebbels spin in his grave.

It's not a "free" market when advertising techniques amount to brainwashing and are sufficiently pervasive to reduce "free" will to mush.

Just my opinion.

on a counter point Roger
we all have the ability to turn off the set or not to purchase/support

the inherent problem is that our society is losing the art of critical thinking

whether it is through socio economic issues that necessitate two incomes in every household with children, the complete destruction of our educational system into testing regimes with no kids left behind, or just the general increasing apathy levels

i think Goebbels would have certain issues with the techniques, but he might argue that the techniques are only as pervasive as you allow them to be

for instance, we both enjoy public radio and are intelligent enough to ignore the financial supporters/advertisers there
i enjoy public television and i ignore the oil company ads that have permeated that medium

there are so many factors that affect the decline in "free will" and the apathetic state of our society
that this thread surely can't contain it

for instance
Charlestown recently voted to end their curbside recycling program!!
to you and i this is a no brainer - of course we should recycle

just as shopping at Wally world is a no brainer

but we have the ability and the desire to make informed decisions

i'm afraid that a large portion of our society lacks both the ability and the desire
which accounts for the popularity of our least favorite corp strongholds

for instance, we both enjoy public radio and are intelligent enough to ignore the financial supporters/advertisers there

I also enjoy public radio and have exactly the opposite response to their ads/financial supporters. I recognize those companies/businesses as being of a like mind and supporting the "greater good " with their advertising and charitable support. I'm much more likely to shop/patronize one of those companies because they are supporting intelligent programming and NPR. We wouldn't all be able to have public radio without their support: I for one can't donate $1000 to public radio, but something has to cover their operating & programming costs.

If public radio ever stoops to running YUM, Starbucks or Burger King ads, I would feel differently, but until then I'll support those that support public radio.

Deb

I also enjoy public radio and have exactly the opposite response to their ads/financial supporters. Deb

Me, too.

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Because we're a free capitalistic society! Corporations can make and sell whatever the customers will buy and individuals can make a free choice to purchase what they desire.

My grievance is that they convince the consumers to buy by using techniques that would make Goebbels spin in his grave.

It's not a "free" market when advertising techniques amount to brainwashing and are sufficiently pervasive to reduce "free" will to mush.

Just my opinion.

"Those people, they got nothing in their souls
And they make our tvs blind us from our visions and our goals"

Richard Hawley Tonight the Streets are Ours

hey Deb
i wasn't throwing out all the great supporters of public radio, but i don't blindly support all of them either

the point being, that although i choose to listen to "commercial free" radio, i'm exercising my right to choose
and by ignoring some of their supporters
i'm not prey to the pseudo advertising that exists even on commercial free airwaves and i'm continuing to exercise my right to choose

the reason people go to the mass chains is because they are not exercising their right to choose anything other than what they're being bombarded with continuously