Fast Food Nation has brought much knowledge about food and the fast food industry to my view. It has not however changed my point of view on the food itself. In my opinion if the taste is appealing then I will be inclined to eat it. On the topic of fast food, I will think twice before consuming any of this food. This food is not what many people believe it to be. It is only half of what the companies advertise it to be. They deceive the public with images of wholesome burgers and healthy chicken: these foods are in fact processed beyond recognition and then flavored artificially with chemicals that many would not want in their food. I do not eat very much fast food but I will be inclined to avoid it simply because of the treatment of the workers in these restaurants. Personally my view of processed food has changed very little after reading this book, store bought beef or poultry is still just as appealing as before learning of its treatment. Again my point of view is the same, taste prevails over mental appeal. My thoughts on the effects of the meat packing giants and the huge fast food companies are quite simple. Though I do not agree with their methods of production, slaughter, and employee treatment, however if you have the ability and ambition to achieve what these corporations have achieved then they have the right to exploit their resources.

America consumes huge amounts of beef, all of this beef must be cut and processed by somebody. America has turned to beef slaughterhouses to supply them with food. The slaughterhouses are huge buildings filled with migrant workers making low wages, flashing knives, and live and dead cattle. These buildings are teeming with danger a person could be cut, crushed, suffocated, or a number of other grisly ends. My view of slaughterhouses before these chapters was very limited almost to a point of not knowing or caring they existed. Now my eyes have been opened to the cruelty to the animals and to the people that work in the buildings. Between low wages "the basic pay at a slaughterhouse is now 9.25 an hour", insanely high turnover rates "an average turnover rate of about 400 percent" and job inherent danger " lacerations are the most common injuries suffered by meatpackers, who often stab themselves or stab someone working nearby. Tendinitis and cumulative trauma injuries are also quite common." These workers are not even compensated for by insurance for their injuries "Workers comp was meant to function much like no-fault insurance....IN 1991, Colorado started another trend, becoming one of the first states to impose harsh restrictions on workers' comp payments." The conditions these workers are forced to endure are so disgusting most people would be unable to hold down their latest meal, "Dozens of cattle, stripped of their skins, dangle from chains on their hind legs." The inhumane treatment of these animals is a common occurrence. Many different companies have been sued or even shutdown for this treatment of the cattle. " Federal inspectors cited the plant for "inhumane slaughter" and halted production." To add to the inhumane treatment of animals the treatment of employees, specifically their injuries is a major problem. Attempts to protect and compensate employees for their injuries and their work have been halted by the money and power of the "meatpacking giants." Many organizations and workers unions have tried to prevent injury, low pay, and the absence of workers' comp and have failed because of the influence and power of the huge companies. "IBP was caught keeping two sets of injury logs....John Morrel, was caught lying about injuries." All to improve their profit margin by sacrificing the safety and sometimes the lives of the employees. Even when reprimanded for their actions the consequences are of no concern to the billion dollar corporations. "OSHA later fined National Beef for its negligence. The fine was $480 for each man's death." These facts have changed my view of slaughterhouses from one of indifference to one of anger and revulsion. I believe that societies greed has replaced its basic humanity. When the dollar takes the place of the neighbor or the friend this is the result a gross display of power and negligence towards others well-being. My view of this industry and those who reign over it has been twisted into a view of absolute disgust.

The food of today is no longer the whole American meal cooked on a stove, to be eaten by a family in the dining room, no longer is food prepared by parents for their kids using family recipes passed down, no longer is food guaranteed healthy even when it is alluded to. If a person where to walk into their house right now and go through their cabinets and cupboards, what would they find? They would find food so different from what the brightly colored package advertises it as, so different that the ingredients aren’t even natural. If a person where to look at the wrapper of Chips Ahoy cookies they would find "artificial flavors" not what a person would expect out of cookies. Many items are like this, made up of ingredients that a person would never dream of eating. Most of these ingredients named quite simply artificial or natural ingredients. Such as juice box popularly given to young children is labeled natural flovrs, are the flavors really natural? Dr. Pepper has both natural and artificial flavors. Special K bars have artificial flavors this snack is commonly thought to be healthy. Pringles have artifical flavors. Welch's fruit snacks have both artificial and natural flavors.

The fast food industry, an industry full of suprises. This industry hides many secrets in their coolers and kitchens, these secrets are horrific and shocking. These restraunts break laws and bend rules just to make more money or hire a new employee. One of the most shocking truths about the fast food business, the enployee turn-over rate and timescale. many employees do not stay long at fas fod restraunants, "The annual turnover rate in the fast food industry is now about 300 to 400 percent" an astounding number that shows what the fast food industry thinks about its workers. These workers are almost always teenagers that make low pay for working high amounts of hours. This does not encourage workers to stay, " The typical fast food worker quits or is fired after only three to four months" a number that reflects the businesses concern over the long-term needs of its employees. Other shocking facts still remain such as the pay given to these teenage workers. MAny of these workers make only minimum wage these restraunts believe "they [can] afford to to work for wages too low to support an adult" this is why they target the teenage group for cheap work. Teenagers are willing to work the long hour and deal with the unfair pay. " The fast food chains often reward managers for keeping their labor costs low" paying employees only what they have to, sometimes even less.

Reaction Blog

In the book it states that the focus of targeting child is for them to get them to nag their parents until they will buy the desired object. This is an effective technique for most children including myself. If the right technique is used this can be a successful tactic. If the child knows the best way in order to nag their parents they can accomplish their goals quickly.

I believe the companies strive for this goal in their advertising and marketing strategies. It is an effective strategy for companies because of children's abilities to influence their parents decisions. They will buy the children what they want and when they see how satisfied their children are they will continue to buy products from the same company, brand, or store. 

This technique proved effective for me as a young child. I simply needed to irritate my parents until they got tired of listening and bought the object so I would be quiet. I mastered this technique very quickly especially when aided by my brothers. This proved very effective for me and still works for my youngest sibling.

I have witnessed and continued to witness this on a regular basis from younger children. They all have different techniques yet most are effective in their own way. Whether they beg, wine, complain, or irritate by repetitive asking they are almost always successful. I witness this very often in many different scenarios be it fast-food, movies, or toys sometimes even treats such as candy. They use this tactic in order to gain what they want, probably daily for some kids. It has overtaken conventional asking for toys or food because of its simple success and level of ease.

Joshua

The ending of this particular novel caught me by surprise, but as I contemplated the actions of George I saw the necessity of them. Lennie was a burden to himself due to the constant haunting thought that he had done something bad and therefore would be unable to "Tend the rabbits." He was also a burden on George due to the constant need for care. He was a threat to all things he interacted with, due to his immense size and the inability to control it. Though his actions were necessary I do not think that gave any comfort to George or Slim, as he seemed to know what had happened, and he seemed to have a certain fondness towards Lennie. But George shooting Lennie instead of Curley had a sense of rightness to it, George had the best intentions of Lennie and all those around at heart, whereas Curley had only anger and revenge on his mind. Though no death is a good thing some are justified, some are deserved, and some will not be mourned. The death of Curley’s spouse will not be mourned by the denizens of that ranch, John Steinbeck had a great ending to an even better book with the closure of death. Though sad it was fitting, the end of this particular book was in the best of tastes by John Steinbeck.

Slim, he is a jerk line skinner, “The Prince of the ranch” in the words of John Steinbeck, a quiet, thoughtful, observant, and level –headed person who has an air of confidence and self-assurance achieved only by complete mastery of one’s own craft. He is the collection of people in society that know they are good at what they do, the professional athletes who are dominant in their sport and are assured so every day by the people around them. The owners and CEOs of companies that are spread over the vast expanse of the populated world those people that are so dominant at what they do they have little or no self-doubt.

Then there is Carlson, a man moving from one job to the next, a ranch hand, an expendable worker who gives his all and gets little in return. He is the embodiment of those people that sacrifice all or most of their lives to a cause and get little or no credit in return for their efforts. Those single parents that have multiple kids and little formal education, that work hard all day and get barely enough pay to scrape by in their everyday lives. The soldiers that everyday risk their most valuable things, their lives, and do not get the pay or respect befitting of their sacrifices.

Next is Curly, the man with the attitude of conceit and self-importance that only those that think they are above all other humans for racial, mental, or physical reasons that make sense only to them and those like them. He represents the oppressors of today’s society those, that believe they are better than someone ,whether it may or may not be true, and think that that gives them the right to do whatever they want without retaliation or indignation.

Then there is Curley’s spouse, a tart or tramp, a woman whose existence is so pathetic and insignificant that she feels the need to become involved in the lives of others in ways unnecessary and unacceptable in the eyes of others. She portrays those people that feel it is necessary for them to openly judge those people around them or to talk and spread false statements about them, due to jealousy or simple dislike.

Crooks, the colored stable buck he is the lowest on the social scale represented in this book due simply to his skin color. He is at the mercy of all because of something he cannot change or control. He is a figment of a larger population of people that deal with this problem every day, due to things out of their control such as height, weight ,physical or mental capabilities, and heritage or religion. They are shunned from groups, not allowed to join in on activities they would not think twice about letting another person not showing these traits take part in.

Next is Candy, the elderly swamper, a cripple due to an accident on the very ranch where he still resides. He is the elderly or handicapped those do not want to be a burden on others so they continue to go about their lives in normal fashion. They continue to work, be moms and dads grandfathers and grandmothers to take care of what is needed to be done.

Next is George, A cautious and quick minded man whose life has been consumed by a man whose immense size and strength is not matched by intellect, instead being completely opposite, small and inconsiderable. He is a patron of a group of dedicated people who care to much for their charge to give up and walk away, to take the easy road, just let those people take care of themselves. They have dedicated their entire existence to caring for and coaching these people to be a member of today’s society.

After that is Lennie a man of huge proportions, but with a mind of little intellect and consideration he is a man with the mind of one who is yet a young child. He is member of the group that relies on people like George to take care of them. Those that are mentally handicapped and do not or cannot do anything about it.

Last is the boss, a man that is not discussed much in the book, but from a brief encounter seems to care only about if the work is getting done. He is a man that is like those in today’s world that give little thought to those doing the work and more thought to it getting done quickly. Those people like inconsiderate owners, or people who have little regard for human rights and more regard for money.