Thinking Outside the Bun

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Friday, November 14, 2003 | REVIEW & OUTLOOK

[presidio9]

Jim Cantalupo has a beef with the editors at Merriam-Webster. It has to do with the new entry for "McJob" in the 11th edition of their collegiate dictionary, which, as the nearby graphic makes clear, defines the term as a dead-end occupation. That has the McDonald's CEO sizzling mad.

[Willie Green]

the reality is that McDonald's fills a real -- and valuable -- niche in America's increasingly sophisticated labor market.

McServiceJobs are "sophisticated"???

"Condemning retail jobs as 'dead-end' jobs misses the point that these are primarily entry-level jobs for entering or part-time workers," says Mr. Dardia. "The important issue is where workers end up -- not where they start."

Yep, nothing like on-the-job-training to help the 'burger flippers move up the ladder in the biotech sector.
And you can't learn to splice genes until you first master the art of deep-frying.

[Tijeras_Slim]

The last Mickey D's I went into I needed the dictionary... a Spanish-English one.

[dead]

I guess you'd rather have those burger-flippers on welfare?

Oh, now I remember, if we just outlawed foreign competition from our lives, those burger-flippers would be making $250K manufacturing cheap trinkets or crappy WalMart schmatas. Sweet bliss.

[T.Smith]

I think you miss the point, Willie. Teenagers don't just jump into the biotech sector. They need a first employment experience and McDonalds - or any of the other thousand or so fast food restaurants - gives them that.

I learned a great deal as a 14-year old burger flipper. Now, 16 years later, I have done quite well for myself. Those first service sector jobs were invaluable as a life experience, and were never meant to make me rich.

[Willie Green]

Ever notice how, when a small town loses a factory, or the local silver mine peters out, all the retail stores and resaurants/taverns eventually board-up their windows and close their doors as well? Some towns even become ghost towns?

That's because there's no wealth creation in the service sector.

I don't know of many communities that have grown and prospered with a barbershop-based economy.

[Willie Green]

I think you miss the point, Willie. Teenagers don't just jump into the biotech sector. They need a first employment experience and McDonalds - or any of the other thousand or so fast food restaurants - gives them that.

Oh, I certainly agree with that.
My dispute is with those who insist that these service jobs can be the foundation upon which our nation can build a prosperous future.
Nope. No way. A "service based economy" is an economy in decline.

[tysont]

How long until fast food restaurants start posting "English spoken here" signs to attract English-speaking customers, who would otherwise assume only Spanish was spoken by the employees?

And when those signs become ubiquitous, what kind of country will we have? Will English-speaking Americans feel like foreigners in their own country?

[dead]

Ever notice how, when a small town loses a factory, or the local silver mine peters out, all the retail stores and resaurants/taverns eventually board-up their windows and close their doors as well? Some towns even become ghost towns?

Yeah, and did you ever notice how when there are no restaurants or taverns or barbershops in an area, there's a lot less people to buy the products that the manufacturing sector produces? (there's also alot of hungry, thirsty, longhaired factory workers.)

Service jobs contribute every bit as much to the economy as manufacturing jobs. A $10 haircut is worth the same as a $10 pair of socks.

[Willie Green]

No, can't say that I ever noticed that.
Usually, whenever a prospector discovers a new lode of ore, and new mines and factories are erected, saloon keepers and hookers are the first to arrive, closely followed by other retailers peddling their services.

[dead]

Usually, whenever a prospector discovers a new lode of ore, and new mines and factories are erected, saloon keepers and hookers are the first to arrive, closely followed by other retailers peddling their services.

Thanks for confirming what I’ve always thought.

You live in 1850.