No Matter How Thin You Slice it, it's Still McBaloney

I first read about this story over on Jame's Blog, and thought it was mildly entertaining and quite ridiculous. Now, as the saying goes, the story has "grown legs" and is developing a life of its own.

McDonald's is quite irate over the definition of "McJob" in Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

The term McJob was coined by the Canadian novelist Douglas Coupland in his 1991 novel Generation X to describe a "low-prestige, low-dignity, low-benefit, no-future job in the service sector".

McDonald's has gone so far as to create an online petition that can be virtually "signed" by anyone supporting their view.

On The Current this morning there was an article aired on this topic, first to speak was a representative of Merriam-Webster's who said, in essence, it is not going to be changed.

However, the next person to speak was Jerry Newman, PHD who went "undercover" working as a "bottom rung" employee at various big name fast food place such as, yes, McDonald's and Burger King. Mr Newman contends that working in these places is a wonderful thing that teaches responsibility, teamwork, work ethics, and the list goes on. He even wrote a book on the subject: My Secret Life on the McJob - Lessons From Behind the Counter Guaranteed to Super Size Any Management Style. During the interview he painted a glorious life among the fries and McNuggets with almost an evangelical fervor that made me want to bring up my Wheatabix.

Now being the inquisitive sort, I followed the old adage of "follow the money" to see who was actually paying for this study of Professor Newman's. There it was, in the biographical notes of the above article as plain as day:

Jerry M. Newman, Ph.D., is a University Distinguished Teaching Professor for the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is the coauthor of Compensation, which has been the bestselling book in the category for 21 years. He is also an advisor to firms including AT&T, Hewlett-Packard, Burger King, McDonald's, and Nabisco. (emphasis mine)

Yup, Just as I thought, paid for by the purveyors of Fast Food.

Now to be honest, the good Professor does bring up some valid points: working at those jobs does teach problem solving, work ethics, responsibility, teamwork, etc. Sure it does, I don't argue that one little bit. However, that said, those valuable "lessons" learned while on the job do not preclude it from being a "McJob" because the job itself is a dead end. Ask anyone who presently works at any fast food emporium where they want to be in 5 years. I would lay you good money they won't say: "Working for 'insert name of fast food place".

Let me prove my point in another way: How many people you ever heard say "My life's ambition is to work on the Front line at McDonalds?"

***************Crickets chirping******************
I thought so.

For all of his possibly good intentions and insights, in the 6 or so months Jerry Newman worked slinging Happy Meals, at the end of the day, he is a still tourist.

When his shift ended "the distinguished management professor" went home to his condo in Florida or his home in Amherst, back to his real life, and his real job. He was not stuck in the place where flipping burgers was "his real job." He has not gained one iota of insight into the real lives of the people who work the grills, the tedium of the job and the lack of any real future in those jobs.

Sorry, Mr Newman, I just don't buy your line: No matter how you dress it up: a McJob is still a McJob.

Nemesis - the Last Days of the American Republic

Chalmers Johnson is president of the Japan Policy Research Institute & professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego, has written numerous books on Japan & Asia including his classic "Miti & the Japanese Miracle"&"Japan: Who Governs?" He was also, for many years, an advisor to the CIA.

From his publisher:

The long-awaited final volume of Chalmers Johnson''s bestselling
"Blowback" trilogy confronts the overreaching of the American empire and the threat it poses to the republic. In his prophetic book "Blowback," Chalmers Johnson linked the CIA''s clandestine activities abroad to disaster at home. In The Sorrows of Empire, he explored the ways in which the growth of American militarism and the garrisoning of the planet have jeopardized our stability. Now, in "Nemesis," he shows how imperial overstretch is undermining the republic itself, both economically and politically. Delving into new areas--from plans to militarize outer space to Constitution-breaking presidential activities at home and the devastating corruption of a toothless Congress--"Nemesis" offers a striking description of the trap into which the dreams of America''s leaders have taken us. Drawing comparisons to empires past, Johnson explores in vivid detail just what the unintended consequences of our dependence on a permanent war economy are likely to be. What does it mean when a nation''s main intelligence organization becomes the president''s secret army? Or when the globe''s sole "hyperpower," no longer capable of paying for the vaulting ambitions of its leaders, becomes the greatest hyper-debtor of all times?
In his stunning conclusion, Johnson suggests that financial bankruptcy could herald the breakdown of constitutional government in America--a crisis that may ultimately prove to be the only path to a renewed nation

Johnson was interviewed on The Current - April 18, part three. If you have realaudio, and half an hour to spare, I suggest that you listen. I think I will be picking up those three books.

In the interview, Johnson points out that one can either have a domestic republic or a foreign empire, but not both. Further, that the only way to have the empire is through a military dictatorship.

As one standing on the outside of America, Johnson's premise and prediction have a frightening ring of clarity - the constitution is effectively eroded, the influence of congress has all but disappeared.

If the price of Liberty is eternal vigilence, The USA is asleep at the wheel.