hw#12 Final response Ouline

Thesis

Dominant social practices in our culture - nightmarish industrial atrocities they may be - evolved to fit this culture's demands and will not be replaced by voluntaristic feel-good tree-hugging utopian fantasies.

Major Claim: The food movement fails to change the way the majority of people eat. The failure only shows that the fast food culture is superior to the voluntaristic fantasies. 

Supporting claim 1: Food movement is getting more recognition in the media

Evidence: Food Journalism: “the food journalism of the last decade has succeeded in making clear and telling connections between the methods of industrial food production, agricultural policy, food-borne illness, childhood obesity, the decline of the family meal as an institution, and, notably, the decline of family income beginning in the 1970s.”

Evidence: The movement : The Movement, which has surely done more than any other reform effort in American history to provoke popular interest in sustainable agriculture, encompasses such a hodge-podge of sub-genres—localism, organic, “deep organic,” “artisanal” production, anti-GMO, foragers, farmers’ markets, free-range meats, slow food, etc

Supporting claim 2: The way people eat is having a negative affect on our society and themselves no matter the success of the food movement..

Evidence: Obesity: “The annual cost of obesity alone is now twice as large as the fast food total revenue.”

Evidence: expansion of fast food restaurants: “The number of fast food restaurants, or QSRs, in the U.S. increased 12.8% in the past 10 years, with 138,340 outlets doing business in '02 compared with 120,633 in '92, according to a report from RoperASW”

Evidence: Convenience of fast food: (Prices for fresh produce have increased since the 1980s.) 

http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-2755136_ITM

Fast Food Nation

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/jun/10/food-movement-rising/?pagination=false

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/fair-trade-and-the-food-movement/

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/jun/10/food-movement-rising/

Food Inc Response

The food we eat looks good when we are eating it but there is corruption behind it. Food inc. focuses on the things behind closed doors, things that we don't take into much consideration. The food industry continues to gain revenue but also continues to make food worst. Food Inc is just one of the sources that want us to know that even though food looks good in front of you there is a large amount of corruption behind it that is slowly destroying our society and food.

There were many advantages Food Inc had over books such as “Fast Food Nation” and “Omnivore's Dilemma” One of them were the visual insight that the movie was able to give us. The viewers were able to deeply understand how corrupted the food industry was. The horrific images of animals begin slaughter had a bigger impact on reading; “ thousands of pigs slaughtered a day” There are still advantages that the book has that the movie doesn’t. The movie is only letting us see one point of view and is completely bias. The Book gives more direct statistics which also plays a big role on how we see the food industry. The Book helped us as readers see how our country and food industry became more and more corrupted over time.

Things that i continue to wonder about is why doesn't the food industry fix these problems that they have and make their food more healthy? People continue to come down on them such as the film “Food Inc.” and “Fast Food Nation” People will ultimately end up understanding that the things were are eating are slowly killing us and the food industry will eventually be forced to change. Another interesting question i had was ; What do the owners and the important people in these food industries eat? Do they eat the food they know they are making less healthy or do they eat healthy foods?( food they don't produce) My ultimate thought about the film is if we don't change our selves the food industry wont change. They food industry is business and if we are the consumers. If we only demanded healthy food and the majority decided not to eat their food they will find away to make their food healthy.

Epilogue Response Fast Food Nation

Fast Food Nation By Eric Schlosser

Epilogue: The fast food companies that fast food nation were targeting did not fully agree with what the book was addressing. Fast food companies shouldn't be able to advertise food that are negatively affecting children and fast food wasn't the only food that was doing it. Meat was contaminated and the government wasn't doing enough to fix it. Even though they were trying to clear up their image the meat packing industry and fast food industries were still having more of a negative impact on the country than a positive.

Quotes:

“As for the food now served at school, it should be safer to eat than what is sold at fast food restaurants, not less safe.” (263)

“But the absence of unions can permit corporations to behave like continuing criminal enterprises.” (265)

Questions/Ideas:

It was interesting to know thats school cafeteria food can be less healthy than fast food. It is interesting because school makes cafeteria food look and seem very healthy. This is just one of the ways the food industry tricks us to eat unhealthy food.

I found it interesting that even after fast food nation and “the jungle” the meat packing industry did not change much and still have horrible conditions.

Chapter 10 Reading response Fast Food Nation

Fast Food Nation By Eric Schlosser

Chapter 10: Fast food industries began to expand their companies abroad after the cold war. Mcdonalds was the first major fast food corporation to succeed. Many American corporations began to bring their companies abroad and continued to succeed. Fast food took foreign countries by storm and excessively increased the obesity rate. Even though these American fast food companies were doing well in business not all foreigners were happy with the fact they were there. Even though people tried to stop and destroy these American fast food industries they still found ways to keep their business on track.

Quotes:

“Mcdonalds represents, “Americana and the promise of modernization.” (231)

“The success of Mcdonalds, Pizza Hut, and T.G.I Fridays in Germany has helped spark a franchise boom.” (231)

“No other nation in history has gotten so fat so fast.” (240)

Questions, Ideas:

I find it interesting that fast food industries always get their ways and never get into serious problems that threaten their company. This shocks me because their food sickens thousands or maybe a million people a year.

Americans are not the only one’s who are suffering from these fast food industries,so why don't both foreign and American citizens join forces to try to make these fast food industries more healthy and less deadly?

Chapter 9 Reading response Fast Food Nation

Fast Food Nation By Eric Schoolser

Chapter 9 response:

Americas favorite food, the hamburger was beginning to become the reason for many deaths and illnesses. The beef was contaminated with unsanitary things such as; vomit, stool, and rats which lead to many health inspections in the future. The inspections were the cause to some factories being closed. Inspections helped create new rules and regulations but factories continued to find ways to get around them.

Quotes Chapter 9: 

“The hamburger habit is just about as safe as” one food critic warned, “as getting meat out of a garbage can.” (197)

“Those who survive are often left with permanent disabilities, such as blindness or brain damage.” (200)

Questions and responses:

Fast food industries wouldn't be where they are today without hamburgers so, what if there were no such thing as hamburgers?

I feel that the fast food industries know they their meat is not as healthy as it should be especially the hamburgers. Since they know those why do they still advertise so much to have children continuously eating these hamburgers?

Chapter 8 Reading response Fast Food Nation

Fast Food Nation By Eric Schlosser

Chapter 8: When people think about the most dangerous jobs they think about the slaughter house. Slaughter houses are the workplace of the most injuries recorded. Majority of the workers were immigrants and not involved in a union so it made it easier for their injuries to be covered up and ignored.  Benefits were reduced and people were severely hurt and still forced to work. until the company felt they were useless.

Gems: 

“During a three month period in 1985, the first log recorded 1800 injuries and illness in the plant. The OHSA log recorded 160, a discrepancy of more then 1000 percent.”(180)

“The fine was $480 for each mans death.” (1780

“Sharping big knives in her lap as if she was knitting a sweater.” (173)

Thoughts: The employees of the slaughterhouses depend on their jobs severely because most of the time they aren't qualified for other jobs. The slaughterhouses did not care about them enough to give them fair benefits. 

Meatpacking is the most dangerous job in America so why aren't people doing something to make them safer? 

I then began to think about who and what America stands for. America still and always will be a Capitalist country. These Meat Packing business are multi billion dollar companies. This makes it easier for America to sacrifice lives, especially if the majority of them are immigrants.

Freakonomics

How do the Freakonomics authors address the "correlation versus causation" issue? Do they pretend correlation IS causation? Do they prove that some correlation is causation, and if so, how? Or do they explicitly acknowledge the lack of proof of causation?

Freakonomics address’s correlation vs causation throughout the movie. They basically explained that once ones motives and incentives are noticed it is easier to find out who they are. This is showing the causation. One of the ways the authors of the book showed this were how names labeled people. One analyzer explained that the names do not determine your destiny but ones neighborhood and how they were raised does. Their incentives then lead them in the wrong direction or positive. 

What sources of evidence do the Freakonomics authors most rely on? Why is this innovative?

The authors of Freakonomics get the majority of their evidence from surveys, test, and experiments. They use these sources of evidence because they are the most accurate and they get a broad point of view. For example when they asked what are black names they got a broad perspective because they asked all types of people. Also when they sent out resumes with the same information besides the names the white names were 33% more likely to be called back. These sources of evidence showed the accuracy and broad perspective they receive from the sources of evidence.

Statement: Freakonomics serves as an inspiration and good example to our attempt to explore the "hidden-in-plain-sight" weirdness of dominant social practices.

I agree with this statement. I do agree because of the fact that the problems and things they addresses where things that ordinary people think about but do not take enough time to think about. People usually look at these things from one point of view but the film helped show that there are opposite points of view that are equally accurate. For example the “black” and “white” names are something that people don't may much attention to and don't believe is a big deal. This movie helped us look more into how something as simple as names can affect ones life.

Hw: Reading Response Chapter 7

Fast Food Nation By Eric Schlosser

Chapter 7:

The Town of Greely, Colorado is a small meat packing town where everything was revolved around the business. But IBP meat packing company started a whole new way of meat packing. Instead of skilled workers working at these factories the factories began to structure with a disassembly line. This made it easier for the business to hire because desperate individuals, unfortunate individuals, and immigrants had no problems taking low wage jobs. Unions were started and were  slightly involved but slowly started to get pushed out the picture. The Meat packing business was eventually changed for good because of their new techniques such as the disassemble line and low wages.

Quotes: “We’ve tried to take the skill out of everything.”(pg 154)

            “Patience my ass” one vulture says to other. “im going to kill somebody.”(pg 159)

“The new meat packing plants in Iowa, kansas, texas, Colorado, and Nebraska followed IBP’s example, paying wages that were sometimes 50% lower than what union workers earned in Chicago.” (Pg 155)

Questions/Response: The meat packing business was ready to do anything to increase their revenue even if it meant breaking the law and innocent people being killed. I thought it was interesting how ConAgra meat packing business was worth 10 million dollars at one point but 20 years later they were worth 25 billion. Without the disassembly line this wouldn't be possible. Where would these companies be today without people willing to work for excessive wage cuts?

Hw # 8

Throughout my entire life food has been something that i did not put much thought into besides the taste and connivence until now. This experience was a good and different one2 from the normal experiences i have with food. Majority of the time i don't even have to cook my own food so growing it was very different from what i am use to. By growing my these sprouts i was able to realize that i can produce and grow my own food with the same amount of time i use to play video games or watch t.v during the week. Also from this experience i learned that things aren't as easy as they seem, you have to actually make a effort to grow and take care of your food. The time you put into growing the food shows how healthy the food can be for you. In my case the experiment was a disappointment because of my lack of effort my sprouts were not even good enough to eat. One of the most important things i got out of this experiment was, if you don't take care of your food your food wont take care of you.

reading response

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser

Chapter 4:  Franchising became a big part of the fast food industry because of the increase in revenue. Mcdonalds began to adopt the idea and benefited greatly from franchising, because of Mcdonalds success other fast food chains began to follow. Dave femster one of the people who adopted the franchising ways began with little to no money to his business making millions because of franchising. Franchises are not always beneficial if one doesn't follow the major corporations rules who are franchising them. One can gain millions or fall into major debt with franchises.

  

“American taxpayers had covered the franchise fees, paid for the buildings, real estate, equipment, and supplies.” (102)

If the franchises are not successful innocent people could be affected by this. They can be the ones suffering. Then why cant innocent people benefit from the franchises if they are successful.

Franchising is so important to the fast food industry and how would it be affected if franchising was taking away and made illegal?

Chapter 5: Potatoes were a big part of the fast food industry and now french fries are a even bigger part. J.R Simplot who had his own potato farm and was very interested in frozen food technology. His ideas made him the top french fry consumer for Mcdonalds which ultimately made him a billionaire. Favors and taste was also a big part of the fast food nation. People wanted more natural flavors but didn't know that natural and artificial flavors were very similar in everything even health.

“In 1960, the typical American ate eighty-one pounds of fresh potatoes and about four pounds of frozen french fries. Today the typical American eats about forty-nine pounds of fresh potatoes every year and thirty pounds of frozen french fries.” (114)

Fast Food Nation is the perfect tittle for this book. America revolves around fast food. Most of our daily meals come from fast food restaurants. Our farms produce food for our fast food companies. Our fast food companies help other small companies succeed. Where would we all be today without fast food?

Hw# 7

Book & Author: Fast Food Nation, By Eric Schlosser

Chapters: 1-3

Chapter 1: Carl  N. Karchers’s Rise from the bottom of the food industry to the top of the food industry. The Fast food industry began to dominate the West coast. McDonalds changed the Fast Food industry forever and others began to follow their ways and techniques.

“If i had looked at McDonalds and saw someone flipping hamburgers while he was hanging from his feet, i would have copied it.”

It was very interesting to me how one fast food restaurant jump started the fast food industry so quick and how people emulated their ways. Since McDonald’s techniques were the thing to copy in the fast food industry, how would the industry be affected today if Mcdonalds was never created?

Chapter 2: Ray Kroc and Walt Disney incorporated the idea of “attracting children” to better their businesses. Things such as ; amusement parks were created and toys were added into McDonalds “happy meals”. Children will be the key to bringing in more revenue.

“Kroc understood that how he sold food was just as important as how the food tasted. He liked to tell people he was really in show business not the restaurant business.”

What is the ratio of how much money Mcdonalds spends on commercials and toys compared to the amount of revenue collected from the happy meals? How important was the partnership of Walt Disney and Ray Kroc?

Chapter 3: Many of the west coast began to Migrate to Colorado Springs and bring their ways of living and underpinnings along. Mcdonalds and fellow fast food restaurants began to abuse their power and take advantage of young and less fortunate workers. Unions were created but did not get far because they frightened McDonalds and the rest of the fast food industry.

“One of the most anti-union companies on the planet.”

First i wondered why any strikes never took place then i thought about how easy of a job working at Mcdonalds is. This only made it easier for a employ to be replaced. Unions were the only thing that protected workers from the cruel fast food industry. Since Mcdonalds is a multi million dollar company or even a multi billion dollar company why do they try so hard to avoid paying people more then minimum wage?