HW 7b

Chapter 4-

Precis:  Small businesses such as pizza shops get sold out by bigger fast food chains.  Local businesses are go out of business because a fast food restaurant such as McDonalds is being built across the street.  The government gives more money to the larger chains.  

Gem:"None of it matters"-Christopher Reeve

Thoughts:  At the end of it all it's not worth it to have so much money.  Christopher Reeve is being connected to the fast food chains because they have all this money and they're not caring about small businesses and they're making peoples lives horrible but at the end of the day Christopher Reeve points out that all the money that they're making none of that really matters.  I thought this connection was very interesting.  

Chapter 5-

Precis:  Drying potatoes and onions began during World War 2 to feed people in the military.  It is now used for fast foods making the potatoes are dried and frozen eventually made into french fries.  They're made with technology, they are given a certain fragrance to make the food more appealing to people. 

Gem:  "About 90% of the money that Americans spend on food is used to buy processed food"

Thoughts:  This is insane, these fast food chains really will do anything to make you want their food.  It's pretty insane how far they will go, making a food smell different then it actually does to make people eat it…. They're brainwashing everyone!

Chapter 6-

Precis:  The fast food chains took over the poultry and now are taking over the meatpacking industry.  This gives the top 4 companies almost all the power and makes it almost impossible for local small companies.  The fast food companies purchasing the meat have control over the meatpacking industry and they buy the meat for very cheap and the ranchers get less money for their cattle.  All this puts farmers and ranchers in a bad situation unless they are part of the top 4 meatpacking firms.

Gem:  "The suicide rate among ranchers and farmers in the United States is now about three times higher than the national average."

Thoughts:  This chapter just is sad once again, the fast food companies are just doing what works out best for them and what will make them the most money.  They aren't thinking about the people's lives they're ruining.  They are making people go out of business and even kill themselves.