'Dad pays us so we don't have to work some crap job at McDonald's'

You worked to put yourself through high school? I worked through high school, but it was to pay for gas for my car, clothes, and save for college. There weren't a whole lot of expenses going to public high school...

Also, school started at 8 a.m. for us, so there was no "getting up early" to go to work before high school classes began. I worked after school let out.

I understand your point, but at the same time, I think it's nice when parents are able and willing to let their kids focus on studies (in the case of the daughter going to college). I refused help from my middle class family in college, worked, and my studies suffered for it (especially after I tried to juggle a FT course load with a FT job at a newspaper). So even though it taught me a tremendous amount about financial management, multitasking, balancing my responsibilities, etc., it was also a great stress for me while away at college. If I had kids, I'd want to give them every opportunity to focus on their studies. In the end, William's kids are getting a jumpstart on their careers (writing) instead of toiling away at McDonald's. (The most working at McDonald's did for me was teach me that fast food is incredible hard work, and we should always, always, always be courteous to people in the industry.)

[deleted]

There have been many people who have found success in life from the training discipline at McDonald's. I am sorry I don't recall the TV special that dealt with this issue. For a teen, it was doing that or babysitting/lawn work.

Wow! Did you really spell that word like that? Such ingenuity.

Kreippiman: Are you kidding? If YOU don't want to eat unhealthy food that is your choice, as it is the choice of millions world wide to eat at McDonalds. Now if a person is irretrievably stupid, then they can choose to eat fast food too much and gain weight. Again, THEIR CHOICE!

Yep, that's what freedom means. People are FREE to go to school, earn a degree and become whatever they choose to be...sometimes that choice is funded by businesses who sell products deemed unhealthy by judgemental turds like you i.e. McDonalds, Taco Bell Burger king, Pizza Hut or hell even pole dancing or prostitution! Some finance their education by waitressing, clerical work and other "respectable" jobs, IF they can find them.

Make no mistake - with or with out McDonalds there would be hormone induced cattle and battery chickens! It's supply and demand, basic business.

YOU don't like it? DON'T EAT IT! But don't try to preach anyone else out of bettering their lives by having a paying job or enjoying an occasional freaking Big Mac!

Takashi kupo--

What I am about to say you need to know is delivered with the sincerest respect and without the least amount of sarcasm. (I feel it is important to say this because on the Internet it can be difficult to understand how a comment is meant to be taken, as I'm sure you'll agree).
When I came back to this topic today to see if anyone else had replied, I saw your name and avatar and felt very honored that you would reply to one of my topics.
I've been reading your comments on the Politics board for quite some time and have always been impressed with the depth of your replies, even if I don't always agree with you. I don't spend a lot of time actually posting on the Politics board, because I find most of the folks on that board are hyper-partisan, rather restricted in their views (whether they're "LIB" or "CON"), and rude. You, however, have always struck me as civil and well-informed. So I am truly honored that you would reply to me.
But I don't entirely agree with you in this case. However, before we explore this issue, let me give you some background information on me so you can better understand where I'm coming from.
While I don't consider myself Democrat or Republican, I've been leaning more heavily Democrat as of late. I voted for John Kerry in 2004 and Obama in 2008 and 2012. I am a public servant (USDA) and have been a union member since 2001. I am currently the vice president of my Local, which covers the entire state for the specialty I am employed in. I have filed or given information for a number of grievances, one of which led to a nationwide disbursement of millions of dollars of backpay to affected workers in my specialty who were denied compensation for donning and doffing activities.
Like you, I believe in the value of an education; I possess two undergraduate degrees, both in the humanities.
So, you see, I am not your enemy and I think you and I would agree on many things.
Now, for the issue at hand:
I did take Rusty's comment as elitist, and I still do. During my college years (and after) I've met too many people who look down on fast-food jobs and many other types of "menial" jobs, and look down on the workers who take those jobs, and reply, when asked if they themselves would ever work those jobs, say things like "No I wouldn't, because that's not what I went to college for."
People like that, no matter how educated, should, in my humble opinion, be given a shovel, thrown in a ditch, and worked like a dog until that snarky attitude is eliminated (okay, I exaggerate, somewhat).
I feel that Rusty Borgens is one of those people.
To your point about McDonalds workers being underpaid-- I actually agree with you.
As the U.S. economy moves more and more towards low-paying service sector jobs and with more traditional higher-paying jobs disappearing (think manufacturing) as well as lower- and middle-class workers' wages declining overall, I definitely think that fast-food workers should make more than seven or eight dollars an hour. These are no longer just temporary jobs for teenagers anymore. Many people have no choice but to make a living at these jobs, and if these types of service sector jobs are the future (including the retail sector outside of food), then people need to be paid more. I'm not sure $15/hour is the answer, but it definitely needs to be higher than the seven or eight dollars most people make now.
The problem is bigger than McDonalds (I think it's unfair to single out that company exclusively); it's the entire service sector economy. And the fact is, this "exploitation" that's occurring is happening because our society has failed to adequately address this issue; it's happening at least in part because we as a society are allowing it to happen. People have to become upset with the status quo in order for things to change, Takashi.
But there is another issue here. Even if we raise wages in these jobs significantly, I suspect there are many people out there-- and I think the Rusty Borgens character is one of them--who still won't work those jobs because they'll still think those jobs are "crap" jobs that are beneath them.
In other words, elitism. And elitism affects people of all political persuasions in this country; it's part of a long-evolving negative cultural shift in views towards "menial" work.
And for those people, money isn't going to fix the problem.
And, as I said Takashi, Rusty is one of those people.
At any rate, Takashi, I greatly appreciate your replying to my topic and again, I am honored.
Sincerely,

Todd

FooserX--

Thank you for your reply.
I think where you and I disagree is that I don't think a fast food job (or other "menial" job, for that matter) is "meaningless".


Todd

You can think hes right or wrong in the situation the step father obviously didn't agree with it, that wasn't the point of the scene. The point of the scene was he was not going to let him down talk his father