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If we raise the minimum wage nobody will even be able to buy a hamburger at McDonalds. (Original Post) BlueJazz May 2015 OP
Oh Please, don't confuse us with facts! tech3149 May 2015 #1
LOL SoapBox May 2015 #3
In the Southern Hemisphere, money goes down the drain in clockwise fashion. DisgustipatedinCA May 2015 #2
Lol! spooky3 May 2015 #27
true rpannier May 2015 #82
I was at a client's office last week MaggieD May 2015 #4
This is a great idea. Wouldn't it be great if everyone did this spooky3 May 2015 #28
Hell, he would just think that it was from people who admire the bastard. olegramps May 2015 #72
You're wrong... Glassunion May 2015 #123
Fast food is unhealthy. undeterred May 2015 #5
That isn't even remotely the point Bettie May 2015 #31
Putting McDonalds out of business is a good thing. undeterred May 2015 #34
So, do you advocate putting Bettie May 2015 #35
No. I advocate a livable minimum wage. undeterred May 2015 #39
So do I Bettie May 2015 #46
Depends on the food. jeff47 May 2015 #73
wait, what? d_r May 2015 #79
Yep. jeff47 May 2015 #80
Yep, you can now. xmas74 May 2015 #117
Very FunnY! ProfessorGAC May 2015 #122
They must be charging more for the drinks! Helen Borg May 2015 #6
..plus they charge you an "Entrance fee" of $6.00. BlueJazz May 2015 #50
Even though this is McDonalds that people are scoffing at BrotherIvan May 2015 #7
And I'd love for some of the $15/hour wage complainers erronis May 2015 #17
Great post, couldn't agree more BrotherIvan May 2015 #29
Unfortunately many of those light bulbs are of very low wattage or burnt out completely Person 2713 May 2015 #49
Internalize propaganda BrotherIvan May 2015 #55
Dumb beliefs perpetuated by a dumb party AZ Progressive May 2015 #8
You laid out a compelling case for demand-side economics Populist_Prole May 2015 #54
If no one could buy a hamburger at Mc Donald's the world would be a better place... ellenrr May 2015 #70
I don't think you could. Erich Bloodaxe BSN May 2015 #102
1000 rw talk radio stations licensed to operate in the public interest certainot May 2015 #97
Let's assume that were true... Blanks May 2015 #9
Probably neither, just different. I could have used Subway instead. BlueJazz May 2015 #51
no one should be eating hambugers anyway Fast Walker 52 May 2015 #10
OH we ALL have a very very onecent May 2015 #57
Good to know you don't care about the environment or animals. cui bono May 2015 #61
judgemental aren't we??? onecent May 2015 #62
No, I got that directly from your post. cui bono May 2015 #64
Oops I misunderstood.... it makes you more intelligent than I thought...my bad... onecent May 2015 #65
Not that it would make any difference to you but... cui bono May 2015 #66
Yes, they have absolutely nothing else on the menu. jeff47 May 2015 #74
If I had a dime.... Populist_Prole May 2015 #11
This is a good visual, but it's not the whole story thesquanderer May 2015 #12
That is still better than here, where a parent works for minimum wage to try to feed their kids. -none May 2015 #14
The graphic is misleading. Yes, the age structure is better than the US... Purrfessor May 2015 #24
Wrong. Most Americans are ignorant of facts because they get their information thru graphics. Dawgs May 2015 #26
OK, then. If you think it's better to intentionally mislead people... Purrfessor May 2015 #68
What you say is true but for other businesses such as clerks, and workers in the food industry... BlueJazz May 2015 #52
I'm simply addressing the graphic as it appears at the top of this page. Purrfessor May 2015 #69
Isn't that what the anti-living wage crowd says about American minimum wage workers? YoungDemCA May 2015 #18
If adult wages are compared, the difference is very close to what the graphic says it is... Violet_Crumble May 2015 #92
That suggests two more questions. Erich Bloodaxe BSN May 2015 #103
Meanwhile,...in Germany.... Spitfire of ATJ May 2015 #13
I dunno... GummyBearz May 2015 #37
If they tried to pull that they would face the wrath of a torch bearing mob wearing lederhosen. Spitfire of ATJ May 2015 #41
Germany has purity laws for beer d_r May 2015 #81
I Had A Beer At A McDonald's In Frankfurt ProfessorGAC May 2015 #124
A DUer familiar with Germany calls it "McScheissBier" KamaAina May 2015 #109
Better than Coors. Spitfire of ATJ May 2015 #112
I could never understand why Mr.Bill May 2015 #15
Thanks for posting Omaha Steve May 2015 #16
Even if that were true, LWolf May 2015 #19
The more salient comparison... americannightmare May 2015 #20
A lot of objection to this proposal is coming from people who make $16 an hour right now tularetom May 2015 #21
Ain't that the truth! Orrex May 2015 #23
Yup. Same goes with union workers' pensions. SunSeeker May 2015 #36
I honestly don't get it. qwlauren35 May 2015 #106
I have those types where I work too Populist_Prole May 2015 #115
I don't even eat at McDonalds now. Phlem May 2015 #22
Nobody will be able to buy a burger at McD's? JustABozoOnThisBus May 2015 #25
K&R... awoke_in_2003 May 2015 #30
K and R (nt) bigwillq May 2015 #32
Currency difference Nuh Uh May 2015 #33
I was going to point this out GummyBearz May 2015 #38
Read the line at the bottom of the graphic hifiguy May 2015 #40
I went to google. GummyBearz May 2015 #42
"Maybe"? Like where they explicitly say so in the graphic? (nt) jeff47 May 2015 #76
Thats right. GummyBearz May 2015 #85
You find "Wages and prices in US dollars" to be confusing. jeff47 May 2015 #86
Yes, I did GummyBearz May 2015 #88
So you also had trouble with the font displaying usernames, and failed to notice I'm not the OP? -nt jeff47 May 2015 #113
I had no trouble with that GummyBearz May 2015 #114
reply to hifiguy Nuh Uh May 2015 #43
How about you actually read the graphic this time. jeff47 May 2015 #75
"Nuh Uh"? Spitfire of ATJ May 2015 #44
The past year, the currency difference has been all over the place. About 2 years ago, the.... BlueJazz May 2015 #53
I went to dinner last night at a pretty nice restaurant. lumberjack_jeff May 2015 #45
But did each of you get a toy in your respecitve happy meals? Orrex May 2015 #47
Heh. Italian... we did get breath mints though. n/t lumberjack_jeff May 2015 #48
I feel sorry for anyone Thespian2 May 2015 #56
I get their coffee in the morning. It's pretty good. A lot of other Australian places to eat... BlueJazz May 2015 #59
Yep. Thespian2 May 2015 #60
Golly, if only they had other things on the menu. jeff47 May 2015 #77
Thanks for the link... Thespian2 May 2015 #78
They have a LOT of options. qwlauren35 May 2015 #107
I really think raising minimum wage too high TheFarseer May 2015 #58
How would they automate the jobs? d_legendary1 May 2015 #108
they're already testing touch screens to eliminate order takers TheFarseer May 2015 #116
Har, Har RobinA May 2015 #120
These days college kids follow a different diet d_legendary1 May 2015 #121
Rape the consumer aaand the worker Dont call me Shirley May 2015 #63
Yea, but. Just imagine how the CEO is suffering. Enthusiast May 2015 #67
...and obesity rates drop. L0oniX May 2015 #71
Stop eating McDonald's. Never eat their food. Ever. Until we get fair wages. The Jungle 1 May 2015 #83
not being a troll.. but... TheCrankyLiberal May 2015 #84
I understand. Thanks! BlueJazz May 2015 #87
Thats a little misleading. loooneranger May 2015 #89
The idea, as I posted earlier, is even in retail such as Woolworths stores, Australia offers a... BlueJazz May 2015 #90
Do Aussie stores make up the revenue in other areas? IronLionZion May 2015 #91
Why? KansDem May 2015 #99
Yes they do. As I posted previously. loooneranger May 2015 #104
Austrailian beef is free range The Wizard May 2015 #93
Unlike here, they use real meat on Oz. ChairmanAgnostic May 2015 #94
Actually, that's a mixed blessing swilton May 2015 #95
You had my hopes up n/t Gore1FL May 2015 #96
A Big Mac meal was $3.29 in 2000, $2.99 on sale. tridim May 2015 #98
Yeah, it's more like stockholders won't be able to buy a third yacht deutsey May 2015 #100
Its a bullshit argument particularly when it comes to the fast food industry JonLP24 May 2015 #101
+1 uponit7771 May 2015 #105
Australia does have a subminimum wage for teenagers. KamaAina May 2015 #110
Not where I live. During the school days, very few. BlueJazz May 2015 #111
kick woo me with science May 2015 #118
Message auto-removed Name removed May 2015 #119
Pssssst.... Glassunion May 2015 #125
Great meme Gothmog May 2015 #126

tech3149

(4,452 posts)
1. Oh Please, don't confuse us with facts!
Sun May 17, 2015, 11:50 AM
May 2015

We all know facts have a liberal bias, or is that liberals have a more fact based view of the world?

 

DisgustipatedinCA

(12,530 posts)
2. In the Southern Hemisphere, money goes down the drain in clockwise fashion.
Sun May 17, 2015, 12:12 PM
May 2015

So of course you can't compare hamburger prices. It's a Coriolis thing...like the tides, for which science has no explanation.

rpannier

(24,304 posts)
82. true
Sun May 17, 2015, 09:38 PM
May 2015

but fortunately shill o' lielly does
money goes in, money goes out, money goes in, money goes out
No one is quite sure how it happens

 

MaggieD

(7,393 posts)
4. I was at a client's office last week
Sun May 17, 2015, 12:30 PM
May 2015

Someone ordered Papa John's pizza. I won't touch that crap. But I was tempted to give the delivery man a dime and tell him to ask John Scheinder to use it to provide his workers health insurance. Estimated to cost the company a dime per pizza.

Bettie

(15,998 posts)
31. That isn't even remotely the point
Sun May 17, 2015, 02:36 PM
May 2015

and everyone knows that. Few (if any) people go to McD's looking for health food.

Bettie

(15,998 posts)
35. So, do you advocate putting
Sun May 17, 2015, 02:52 PM
May 2015

all businesses that serve or produce food you deem unhealthy out of business?

People can and should be able to choose.

Bettie

(15,998 posts)
46. So do I
Sun May 17, 2015, 03:16 PM
May 2015

and if McDonald's starts paying one, that is a great thing.

A decent wage has nothing to do with the quality or lack of it in the food they serve.

jeff47

(26,549 posts)
73. Depends on the food.
Sun May 17, 2015, 09:00 PM
May 2015

You can order five double quarter pounders with bacon.

You can also order their ranch salad with grilled chicken.

They don't actually force you to eat unhealthy food. And if you want a salad that tastes pretty good and is fresh when you don't know any of the local restaurants, McDonalds is a very good option.

jeff47

(26,549 posts)
80. Yep.
Sun May 17, 2015, 09:29 PM
May 2015

You can either add bacon to the double quarter pounder, or you can add double meat to their new bacon burger.

xmas74

(29,658 posts)
117. Yep, you can now.
Mon May 18, 2015, 11:06 PM
May 2015

They also have a sirloin burger advertised. I was given four coupons for any sandwich on the menu-free of charge. I used one for my kid about two weeks ago. She got one of the new sirloin burgers with bacon and cheese while a friend of hers got a double quarter pounder with bacon and cheese. Turns out they now have a smaller menu but allow you to build sandwiches to order.

Btw-she said it wasn't half bad.

BrotherIvan

(9,126 posts)
7. Even though this is McDonalds that people are scoffing at
Sun May 17, 2015, 12:39 PM
May 2015

it is a great graphic to help the light bulb go off in people's heads. There has been objection, even on DU, that some jobs aren't worth $15 an hour. They don't understand what that means to the economy or the benefit to business. They also think all prices will rise automatically. So this is good info that is plain and simple to help counter the misinformation.

erronis

(14,955 posts)
17. And I'd love for some of the $15/hour wage complainers
Sun May 17, 2015, 01:36 PM
May 2015

To try working one of those jobs that "aren't worth" this barely reasonable wage.

Hey, Rep. Brotherly Love or Sen. Well Todo - how about you show the world how easy it is to flip burgers or haul trash or any of the other thousands of these types of jobs that are hard work for 10% of what you make as a salary (guessing here). I'm thinking you'll find these jobs a hell of a lot harder in many ways than your little cushy-butt one.

To make it easy, just do it for six months. Eight hours every day, schedule is not fixed, minimal benefits (if any). All your congressional salary and other forms of income (dividends, non-recorded loans, asset sales) will be held in a independent trust until you complete your six month probationary period. Your spouse's multimillion salary/wealth is also not allowed to find its way to you.

You'll give up almost all of your possessions (but you'll get them back): cell phones, laptops, sharkskin suits, patent leather shoes. You won't want this stuff anyway where your going to have to live.

You'll have to find new digs that fit into that $15/hour. And you won't have any limousines or friends slipping you a few thousand every day like you do now. If you have children, they need to live with you and you need to supply childcare. You might be able to find a used car but be prepared to use public transport from your new digs to your inner-city job - you might want to give yourself a couple of hours each direction.

If this becomes too onerous please consider looking for another job to help pay for childcare, since you won't have any time to spend with your preciouses.

When you complete this little personal experiment (liken it to a holistic Esalen retreat in the real world), let's see how you vote against a $15/hour wage.

I know I couldn't live on that (and I'm unemployed.)



BrotherIvan

(9,126 posts)
29. Great post, couldn't agree more
Sun May 17, 2015, 02:11 PM
May 2015

And on top of that, no one understands that no one wants those crappy jobs. They take them because that's all there is. Most people would want better paying jobs that are "worth" more per hour but those jobs don't exist. Our do-nothing Congress hasn't passed a jobs bill. They're too busy making sure the "job creators" get every dollar earned in this country. They keep crowing how unemployment is down, but that's because displaced workers are having to settle for slashes in wages and benefits. The only people who like these kinds of situations are sweatshops like WalMart and fast food. When we get back to true full employment, then those jobs can revert back to "teenagers flipping burgers." But now they are for people with kids and college loans!

Person 2713

(3,263 posts)
49. Unfortunately many of those light bulbs are of very low wattage or burnt out completely
Sun May 17, 2015, 03:34 PM
May 2015

Plain and simple to you maybe
But not so many anymore

AZ Progressive

(3,411 posts)
8. Dumb beliefs perpetuated by a dumb party
Sun May 17, 2015, 12:42 PM
May 2015

Imagine just how huge our economy would be if the business community didn't get on this obsessive war on American workers and wages. You need a healthy middle class to have a healthy economy, so people would have money to buy things, stimulating businesses and increasing the need for workers. If you are pro-capitalism, you would want as much money in the hands of American people as possible.

Populist_Prole

(5,364 posts)
54. You laid out a compelling case for demand-side economics
Sun May 17, 2015, 04:02 PM
May 2015

It's true. It works. It also runs afoul of an unshakable tenet of right wingers: Supply-side economics. It doesn't work. Never has, never will. But they are a stubborn lot, and being the ideologues they are, defined more by what/who they hate than what they like, there seems to be a never ending supply of them to try to take another crack at the apple.

Don't forget many of them might accept the validity of demand-side economics as a theory, but are possessed of a selfishness that makes them prefer being a rich person in a poor country. I mean, some people are just shits.

ellenrr

(3,864 posts)
70. If no one could buy a hamburger at Mc Donald's the world would be a better place...
Sun May 17, 2015, 06:59 PM
May 2015

let's see... forests removed for cows grazing.
"Methane is 21 times more heat-trapping that carbon dioxide.”
torture of animals
heart attacks for humans...

yes, no hamburgers.
why not put all the minimum-wage workers to work at a good rate rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure??

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)
102. I don't think you could.
Mon May 18, 2015, 11:24 AM
May 2015

There are lots of old folks working in fast food these days, and I don't think they could handle the rigours of construction work. Being outside on a highway moving concrete around is a lot more strenuous than standing behind a cash register.

 

certainot

(9,090 posts)
97. 1000 rw talk radio stations licensed to operate in the public interest
Mon May 18, 2015, 09:37 AM
May 2015

have spent 25 years perpetuating those and many other myths, and it's worked great for them because the left gives that radio PSYOPS a free speech free ride.

not only that, but millions of US students who would benefit from living wages (and lower tuition) go to universities that endorse those radio stations by renting their sports logos to them for peanuts. the stations get community cred and ad dollars while helping ALEC/GOP defund public ed, attack teachers, fight living wage initiatives, and spread that trickle down crap.

here are 90 such universities, crapping on their own mission statements, and keeping wages down, from republiconradio.org .

Air Force 2
Alabama 2
Arizona St. 1
Arizona 1
Arkansas 3
Army 1
Auburn 3
Baylor 1
Boise St. 4
Boston College 1
Bowling Green 1
Central Florida 1
Clemson 2
Colorado 1
Colorado State 1
Connecticut 1
Dayton 1
Duke 3
East Carolina 2
Florida 10
Florida St. 4
Fresno St.
Georgia 7
Georgia Southern 2
Georgia Tech 5
Idaho 3
Illinois 7
Indiana 1
Iowa 4
Iowa St. 1
Kansas 1
Kansas St. 2
Kentucky 1
La.-Monroe 1
Louisville 2
LSU 2
Marshall 1
Maryland 2
Memphis 3
Miami 2
Michigan 7
Michigan St. 11
Minnesota 4
Mississippi 2
Mississippi St. 3
Missouri 6
Nebraska 6
Nevada 1
New Mexico 2
New Mexico St. 1
North Carolina 8
North Carolina State 3
Notre Dame 6
Ohio St. 6
Oklahoma 1
Oklahoma St. 3
Oral Roberts
Oregon 5
Oregon St. 7
Penn St. 11
Pittsburgh 2
Purdue 4
Rutgers 1
San Diego State 1
Seton Hall 1
South Carolina 2
South Florida 2
Southern Miss 1
Southern Alabama 2
Syracuse 6
TCU 1
Temple 1
Tennessee 4
Texas 1
Texas A&M 9
Texas Tech 4
Toledo 1
Troy 1
UCF 2
USC 2
Utah St. 1
Virginia 1
Virginia Tech 5
West Virginia 1
Western Michigan 1
Washington 5
Washington St. 1
Wichita St. 1
Wisconsin 4
Xavier 1

 

Fast Walker 52

(7,723 posts)
10. no one should be eating hambugers anyway
Sun May 17, 2015, 01:12 PM
May 2015

animal agriculture is a huge contributor to climate change.. . see "Cowspiracy"

onecent

(6,096 posts)
57. OH we ALL have a very very
Sun May 17, 2015, 04:59 PM
May 2015

long list of "no one should be..........anyway"....but cha just gotta suck it up!!!!!!!!!!
I'll eat hamburgers as long as the cows come home...boy

cui bono

(19,926 posts)
61. Good to know you don't care about the environment or animals.
Sun May 17, 2015, 05:25 PM
May 2015

And probably even your fellow human being based on your 'throw it in your face' reply.

cui bono

(19,926 posts)
64. No, I got that directly from your post.
Sun May 17, 2015, 05:41 PM
May 2015

You don't care that eating meat contributes to climate change, you're going to eat hamburgers until the cows come home.

You don't care about factory farming if you're going to eat hamburgers until the cows come home.

You post it like a child would, not caring at all that your actions are detrimental to life itself, posting it to someone who points out that it is a contributor to climate change.

cui bono

(19,926 posts)
66. Not that it would make any difference to you but...
Sun May 17, 2015, 05:47 PM
May 2015

I edited my post and added the body of it while you were replying.

Why do you not care that your actions are a major contributing factor to climate change and animal suffering? And if you don't care about that, why do you post on a political message board that leans Democratic?

jeff47

(26,549 posts)
74. Yes, they have absolutely nothing else on the menu.
Sun May 17, 2015, 09:06 PM
May 2015

And in fact, as soon as you walk in the doors, they start shoving quarter pounders into your mouth.

Populist_Prole

(5,364 posts)
11. If I had a dime....
Sun May 17, 2015, 01:13 PM
May 2015

For every selfish and ignorant jerkweed I've met that angles for getting paid the most they can get at their own jobs while at the same time demanding everyone else be paid less so that their money will go further, I'd have....well, a lot of dimes.

thesquanderer

(11,954 posts)
12. This is a good visual, but it's not the whole story
Sun May 17, 2015, 01:22 PM
May 2015

I'm always a little wary of these kinds of visuals, which, for some reason, people often seem to accept at face value. Sure enough, there's more to this story...

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/08/the-magical-world-where-mcdonalds-pays-15-an-hour-its-australia/278313/

Notably, while minimum wage in Australia is $16/hour, 16 year olds may be hired at $8/hour, and McDonald's there hires a lot of 16 year olds. Other good info at the link as well.

-none

(1,884 posts)
14. That is still better than here, where a parent works for minimum wage to try to feed their kids.
Sun May 17, 2015, 01:31 PM
May 2015

Too often at two or more minimum wage jobs that teenagers used to do, but now parents have.

Purrfessor

(1,188 posts)
24. The graphic is misleading. Yes, the age structure is better than the US...
Sun May 17, 2015, 01:53 PM
May 2015

But the graphic implies that all McDonald's employees earn $16 per hour when in fact that is not the case. Cherry picked information does not bolster one's argument, but rather has the opposite effect as it opens one up to doubt and questions of impropriety. Whether a graphic promotes a liberal or conservative view it should be entirely accurate.

thesquanderer is simply pointing out the facts.

 

Dawgs

(14,755 posts)
26. Wrong. Most Americans are ignorant of facts because they get their information thru graphics.
Sun May 17, 2015, 02:06 PM
May 2015

And, they only think in black and white.

If most only see this message (which is entirely accurate), then does it really matter if it helps get mininum wage here in the US.

Purrfessor

(1,188 posts)
68. OK, then. If you think it's better to intentionally mislead people...
Sun May 17, 2015, 06:53 PM
May 2015

rather than argue from a position of strength, then that's your view. Personally, I prefer to stick with the facts in their entirety. Otherwise we become no better than FOX News and all the other right-wing bullshit that pops up on social media everyday.

 

BlueJazz

(25,348 posts)
52. What you say is true but for other businesses such as clerks, and workers in the food industry...
Sun May 17, 2015, 03:55 PM
May 2015

... and retail, few 16 year olds are employed plus during the school year the same applies.

Purrfessor

(1,188 posts)
69. I'm simply addressing the graphic as it appears at the top of this page.
Sun May 17, 2015, 06:55 PM
May 2015

I am in full agreement that the minimum wage is too low.

 

YoungDemCA

(5,714 posts)
18. Isn't that what the anti-living wage crowd says about American minimum wage workers?
Sun May 17, 2015, 01:39 PM
May 2015

"Only high school/college kids, working for a little extra cash over the summer, have minimum wage jobs."

Meanwhile, the reality in the US of A;


The workers who would receive a raise (from raising the federal minimum wage) do not fit the stereotypes of low-wage workers:

-Among affected workers, the average age is 35 years old, nearly 88 percent are at least 20 years old, and more than a third (34.5 percent) are at least 40 years old

-Of affected workers, about 54 percent work full time, about 69 percent come from families with family incomes less than $60,000, and more than a quarter have children.

-The average affected worker earns half of his or her family’s total income.


http://www.epi.org/publication/raising-federal-minimum-wage-to-1010/

Violet_Crumble

(35,954 posts)
92. If adult wages are compared, the difference is very close to what the graphic says it is...
Mon May 18, 2015, 07:20 AM
May 2015

Here's the most recent Enterprise Agreement for McDonalds and if you take the adult wage for a permanent employee at level 3 (my daughter got there pretty quick), it converts to US$16 before tax. They also get 4 weeks annual leave (don't know if they get that in the US), long service leave, superannuation and leave loading...

While they do employ a lot of kids, I know from the Maccas my daughter worked at that there's also a lot of adults who work weekdays when the kids are at school. And when it comes to the kids, it's a stepping stone to other jobs. My daughter did 18 months there before getting a job in the organisation I work for where she was one of over 8000 people who applied for 100 entry level positions. They were looking for school leavers and someone involved in the recruitment process later told me that when they were doing the mass culling of applicants ones who'd worked at Maccas were looked on favourably because working there gives them experience in team work and stuff.

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)
103. That suggests two more questions.
Mon May 18, 2015, 11:27 AM
May 2015

At what age do they have to start paying minimum as opposed to $8? Is it 18?

And secondly, do they fire the 16 year olds as soon as they reach that age?

 

GummyBearz

(2,931 posts)
37. I dunno...
Sun May 17, 2015, 02:59 PM
May 2015

I wouldn't drink a beer at McDonalds personally. It probably was frozen for transportation, and had water added to it to reduce the amount of beer per cup.

ProfessorGAC

(64,425 posts)
124. I Had A Beer At A McDonald's In Frankfurt
Wed May 20, 2015, 02:07 PM
May 2015

We'd been in Europe for about 2 weeks and the last night, one of the guys i was with wanted to get some fries while we were coming back from the Saxenhausen (sp?).

The beer there was just like the other beer we had had that night.

 

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
109. A DUer familiar with Germany calls it "McScheissBier"
Mon May 18, 2015, 02:07 PM
May 2015

Apparently it is possible to make crappy beer within the context of the Reinheitsgebot.

Mr.Bill

(24,104 posts)
15. I could never understand why
Sun May 17, 2015, 01:34 PM
May 2015

people want those preparing their food to make as little money as possible. Food preparation is an important task related to the health and well being of the consumer.

Would you hire an electrician or plumber who makes minimum wage to work on your house? How about an auto mechanic?

How about a doctor or a nurse?

LWolf

(46,179 posts)
19. Even if that were true,
Sun May 17, 2015, 01:41 PM
May 2015

it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing...at least all those former Big Mac eaters might be healthier.

Why does MCDs tolerate less profit in Australia? THAT's an interesting rabbit hole to explore.

americannightmare

(322 posts)
20. The more salient comparison...
Sun May 17, 2015, 01:45 PM
May 2015

is that if the minimum wage was adjusted for inflation since the late 60s, it would now be $21/hr. I'm sure we all know where the bulk of that money goes nowadays...that's the difference. We also know that every time the minimum wage was raised, business leaders whined and moaned, and said they would have to close shop, and of course they didn't. Maybe this will mean more In and Out Burger. I rarely eat fast food, but on those rare occasions it's nice to know that I'm getting a quality meal and the workers are paid starting at $11/hr. At least that's moving in the right direction...

tularetom

(23,664 posts)
21. A lot of objection to this proposal is coming from people who make $16 an hour right now
Sun May 17, 2015, 01:45 PM
May 2015

And believe that raising the pay for "burger flippers" would somehow demean or cheapen their status.

Orrex

(63,085 posts)
23. Ain't that the truth!
Sun May 17, 2015, 01:50 PM
May 2015

When I've had that discussion (many times over) that is absolutely the primary objection to raising the minimum wage.

For every complaint that the burger-flipper shouldn't make $16/hour, my answer to the complainer has been this: "That might be a reason why you should earn more than $16/hour, but it's not a reason why they should make less than that."

The key is that people have been forcibly conditioned into accepting the grotesque devaluation of their time and work. That's why they howl when they hear about an assembly line worker making $30 an hour (or whatever). They have it in their heads that the plebes are only worth a pittance, and if anyone makes more than that, then it must be WRONG WRONG WRONG.


The brainwashing goes deep.

SunSeeker

(51,370 posts)
36. Yup. Same goes with union workers' pensions.
Sun May 17, 2015, 02:58 PM
May 2015

Reminds me of the old Russian proverb that goes something like, "My neighbor has a cow, I don't, so his cow should be killed."

qwlauren35

(6,112 posts)
106. I honestly don't get it.
Mon May 18, 2015, 01:17 PM
May 2015

I have a co-worker who made that argument. I really couldn't understand it. He said a lot of ugly things that were hard to deal with.

That people should be able to get minimum wage jobs at age 16 and then get the skills to get paid more... and anyone who couldn't do that has something wrong with them...

That raising the minimum wage diminishes the value of those already making $15. Why did they push themselves to get ahead only to end up making the same amount as a burger flipper?

Or worse still, people making $15/hour would ask for raises. Like that's a bad thing...

Ironically, he was the only white guy in the room, and the only one with that opinion. It got very nasty. We tried to agree to disagree, but that was not acceptable to him.

Populist_Prole

(5,364 posts)
115. I have those types where I work too
Mon May 18, 2015, 06:25 PM
May 2015

They have no problem trying to get paid as much as they can get; but it's like they want everyone else work for less. It's almost as if they're the only ones who "deserve" what they get. They too get quite testy when others they think 'deserve" less than them want to earn more. One got me so mad I really wanted to punch him in the face but feared being fired more than being charged with assault. He actually says autoworkers should make only ten dollars and hour, so he can buy a car cheaper.

These are the sociopaths who want to be a rich person in a poor country.

Nuh Uh

(47 posts)
33. Currency difference
Sun May 17, 2015, 02:41 PM
May 2015

$16.00 AUD is $12.78 USD

$4.47 AUD is $3.79 USD

So $16 Australian cannot be $7.25 U.S. dollar. The sign is not correct.

 

GummyBearz

(2,931 posts)
38. I was going to point this out
Sun May 17, 2015, 03:01 PM
May 2015

Its important to make arguments that are correct, and when dealing with numbers there is an exact answer... the gif should be changed to account for currency conversion or it will get attacked as a lie.

edit: the cost of the burger in US currency would be $3.59, which should also be corrected

 

GummyBearz

(2,931 posts)
42. I went to google.
Sun May 17, 2015, 03:06 PM
May 2015

16 Australian dollars = 12.84 US dollars....

on edit:

now maybe the pay in Australian dollars is pre-adjusted in the gif... so I see your point. I don't really know what Australian McD employees are paid

 

GummyBearz

(2,931 posts)
85. Thats right.
Sun May 17, 2015, 10:10 PM
May 2015

It would be much more clear if they said xx.xx AUS$/hour and then the US equivalent. Obviously more than 1 poster has had this confusion upon seeing the gif, which could easily be cleared up a bit. Oh well, maybe just make it more confusing by decreasing fonts, or something.. hell who cares about getting the message across as loud and clear as possible? You don't

jeff47

(26,549 posts)
86. You find "Wages and prices in US dollars" to be confusing.
Sun May 17, 2015, 10:15 PM
May 2015

Yeah, no you don't. You're trying to pretend it's confusing because you skipped it.

Obviously more than 1 poster has had this confusion upon seeing the gif

Actually, only 1 other poster. And he still refuses to acknowledge that the bottom of the graphic is present at all.

That's not confusion. That's someone who thought they were being clever, but made a mistake. And are now trying to hide from their mistake.
 

GummyBearz

(2,931 posts)
88. Yes, I did
Sun May 17, 2015, 10:26 PM
May 2015

I had to look at it twice to see the stupid small print that is about 10 font sizes smaller than the main message. You just don't understand the point of a 1 chart zinger and how its supposed to work. Good luck with your small print disclaimers in the future, I'm sure you are going to just kill it

jeff47

(26,549 posts)
113. So you also had trouble with the font displaying usernames, and failed to notice I'm not the OP? -nt
Mon May 18, 2015, 05:47 PM
May 2015
 

GummyBearz

(2,931 posts)
114. I had no trouble with that
Mon May 18, 2015, 06:07 PM
May 2015

I have been replying to you a few times now. You are the one who thinks gif is perfectly clear as-is. I am the one saying the tiny ass font size at the bottom is a source of confusion.

Nuh Uh

(47 posts)
43. reply to hifiguy
Sun May 17, 2015, 03:07 PM
May 2015

Use any currency converter and see for yourself, the graphic is incorrect. We could pay $5.00 more dollars per hour and only pay .15 cents more for the burger.

jeff47

(26,549 posts)
75. How about you actually read the graphic this time.
Sun May 17, 2015, 09:10 PM
May 2015

Then take a moment to think about it. And realize they already took care of the currency conversion.

That's $16 US Dollars in the graphic, not $16 Australian dollars. Because they already converted to US dollars.

 

BlueJazz

(25,348 posts)
53. The past year, the currency difference has been all over the place. About 2 years ago, the....
Sun May 17, 2015, 04:02 PM
May 2015

...difference was nil. The wages are higher now also.

 

lumberjack_jeff

(33,224 posts)
45. I went to dinner last night at a pretty nice restaurant.
Sun May 17, 2015, 03:12 PM
May 2015

The price tag was about $100 for the four of us. I happen to know that the employees at that restaurant earn minimum wage.

So if McDonalds can sell for $30 a meal that costs $100 at another restaurant in the same labor market, other factors are at work.

 

BlueJazz

(25,348 posts)
59. I get their coffee in the morning. It's pretty good. A lot of other Australian places to eat...
Sun May 17, 2015, 05:18 PM
May 2015

...coffee not-so-good.

I don't eat their stuff either.
Maybe I should have used Woolworths. (Woolworths is rather like a smaller version of Walmart that pays good)

Thespian2

(2,741 posts)
60. Yep.
Sun May 17, 2015, 05:25 PM
May 2015

I have occasionally had their coffee...better than branch-water...also better than Charbucks...

a Big Mac would make me sick...

jeff47

(26,549 posts)
77. Golly, if only they had other things on the menu.
Sun May 17, 2015, 09:13 PM
May 2015

Like http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/full_menu/salads.html

(Personal pet peeve. McDonalds actually makes a pretty good salad, and they are consistently good unlike other chains. It's a pretty good option when you don't know the local restaurants or are in a hurry)

Thespian2

(2,741 posts)
78. Thanks for the link...
Sun May 17, 2015, 09:20 PM
May 2015

all those salads had at least one food I do not eat...specifically bacon or chicken...I do like salads...

qwlauren35

(6,112 posts)
107. They have a LOT of options.
Mon May 18, 2015, 01:23 PM
May 2015

The happy meals now come with yogurt and apples. I personally like the yogurt parfaits with strawberries and blueberries. They offer a $1 garden salad.

McDonalds has gone pretty far in offering a wide variety of food choices. The only time I couldn't eat there was when I was vegan.

TheFarseer

(9,308 posts)
58. I really think raising minimum wage too high
Sun May 17, 2015, 05:18 PM
May 2015

Will hasten the day when Mcdonalds automates and eliminates jobs. Customers order on touchscreen and so forth. I'd hate to see unskilled jobs like this lost.

d_legendary1

(2,586 posts)
108. How would they automate the jobs?
Mon May 18, 2015, 02:03 PM
May 2015

No one is gonna buy a burger from a vending machine unless there is nothing else to eat.

TheFarseer

(9,308 posts)
116. they're already testing touch screens to eliminate order takers
Mon May 18, 2015, 10:11 PM
May 2015

Not sure exactly how much they can automate in the cooking process but they can for sure eliminate a lot of order takers if they think it would save enough money.

RobinA

(9,878 posts)
120. Har, Har
Wed May 20, 2015, 08:27 AM
May 2015

like in college when having the munchies. Two vending machine cheeseburgers. Microwaved. I still can't believe I did that MANY times.

 

TheCrankyLiberal

(35 posts)
84. not being a troll.. but...
Sun May 17, 2015, 10:05 PM
May 2015

McDonalds does exactly what many Consumer/ServiceWorker based companies do in the world... The use the economical offset to provide the product at the same price around the world. That ~5 dollar worldwide is brought to you in part to the disparity between MW rates between countries..

 

loooneranger

(34 posts)
89. Thats a little misleading.
Sun May 17, 2015, 10:32 PM
May 2015

While it is true that the big mac cost is basically the same between the two countries, it is because Mcdonalds figured out that there is a ceiling price for burgers beyond which people really dont buy them. They solve this by recouping cost in other products which were further from top-out such as a mcflurry costing $4 vs America $2. A regular cheeseburger costing $1.69 US and $3 AU. Instead of dollar menu they have "loose change" menu which ranges from $2-$5. Their breakfast biscuits & fries also cost a significant amount more.

 

BlueJazz

(25,348 posts)
90. The idea, as I posted earlier, is even in retail such as Woolworths stores, Australia offers a...
Sun May 17, 2015, 11:04 PM
May 2015

...much higher wage in retail than America will ever offer.

IronLionZion

(45,259 posts)
91. Do Aussie stores make up the revenue in other areas?
Sun May 17, 2015, 11:22 PM
May 2015

I find it hard to believe that they just take less profit than American stores.

KansDem

(28,498 posts)
99. Why?
Mon May 18, 2015, 10:57 AM
May 2015

Why would you find it hard to believe that Aussie CEOs take less profit than American CEOs?

Maybe Aussie CEOs are comfortable with a financial status that allows their employees to earn a living wage?

Maybe Aussie CEOs don't have a "I want every fucking dime on this planet" mindset?

 

loooneranger

(34 posts)
104. Yes they do. As I posted previously.
Mon May 18, 2015, 11:43 AM
May 2015

The more we use asinine, easily refuted talking points like this, the longer it will be before we actually accomplish something meaningful on wages.

The Wizard

(12,482 posts)
93. Austrailian beef is free range
Mon May 18, 2015, 07:33 AM
May 2015

and costs less to produce. And you don't get a regimen of antibiotics and steroids from eating Australian beef.

tridim

(45,358 posts)
98. A Big Mac meal was $3.29 in 2000, $2.99 on sale.
Mon May 18, 2015, 10:51 AM
May 2015

In 2015 a Big Mac meal costs $6.79, which is not affordable for the average person.

Point is, the price doubled over the same time that McDonalds wages stagnated. Price hikes have nothing to do with wages, they have to do with greed.

JonLP24

(29,322 posts)
101. Its a bullshit argument particularly when it comes to the fast food industry
Mon May 18, 2015, 11:12 AM
May 2015

You can't offshore the labor to serve handburgers so they exist in countries where unions dominate and countries that are police states, they actually charge for napkins in the Phillipines but from what I told from someone who visited the all charge for paper by the square overall.

 

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
110. Australia does have a subminimum wage for teenagers.
Mon May 18, 2015, 02:08 PM
May 2015

Not surprisingly, Mickey D's Down Under are pretty much entirely staffed by teenagers.

Response to BlueJazz (Original post)

Glassunion

(10,201 posts)
125. Pssssst....
Wed May 20, 2015, 02:08 PM
May 2015

My company has been paying over $12 an hour for years....

Our prices are comparative to similar retailers.

Top it with quarterly bonuses and annual profit sharing.

We must be insane!!!

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