There have a been a lot grumblings about the Fast Food Workers Strike. Normally, the grumblings reside in the comment sections for sites and Facebook.
The usual terms get thrown around "want something for nothing," "entitlements", "pull yourself up by the boot straps", and many more other clichés to characterize the movement as lazy people trying to come up without working for it.
Lots of talk about "if you double the wages, it will double the price of your Big Mac, Whoppers, and Frosties." Let's not tout our own education and in the same reader comment post says something uneducated like "if you double the salary, it will double the price of the Big Mac." I am sorry that is dumb. "Nobody is going to pay more for a Big Mac." We're not? Are you serious?
In 1986, the Big Mac cost $1.60. In 1996, the Big Mac cost $2.36. In 2006, you paid $3.10 and right now you are paying $4.20. As longs as McDonald's are putting out food that we don't have to cook ourselves (no matter how bad it is for us) we are going to buy it.
All that's not even my original rant that made me waddle off the couch after finishing my Biggie-sized fries and Dr Pepper to the kitchen table to type this up.
My rant is about how so many pro-capitalism people do not see this for what is. These strikes are an example of Capitalism. We are watching a group of people who are negotiating a price for the services they provide. Imagine that minimum wage workers using capitalism to their benefit.
These people are telling the franchise owners and corporations what they believe the market is for the service they provide. Isn't that what every American does when they try to negotiate their salary, during merit raises evaluations, or trying to win that contract bid?
Let's watch capitalism in progress.
Andres Aguilar is one of the hosts of the TNA Show. The TNA Show is live every Friday night from 9 to 11 pm at fbrn.us in the Talk Bowl.
