RE: Corn, overproduction, alcoholism, obesity (a must read!)

["Tom O'Lincoln" <suarsos@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>>I think the question is one of "excess" as opposed to "access". In the
U.S., fast food chains such as McDonalds and Diary Cream are essentially
cultural icons, whereas in other parts of the world they are for the most
part seen as symbols of U.S. cultural hegemony.<<

I agree it's factor but it probably shouldn't be overstated. I'm in
Australia, probably comparable to Canada in this context.

It's only leftists and worried liberals here who see McDonalds as a symbol
of imperialism. Ordinary people respond much like Americans, and the
nickname "Maccas" has even become established as part of Aussie slang.

The obesity problem is rampant here too, just a bit less -- as apparently
in Canada. I'd suggest it comes down to the fact that like so many aspects
of capitalist modernity, the economic and cultural phenomenon of fast food
has just been a bit slower to emerge outside the US, and probably slower in
Europe than in Canada or Australia.

Footnote #1: there's nothing new about junky fast food per se in Australia.
It just took other forms: fish and chips, Australian style greasy
"hamburgers with the lot" (with egg, pineapple and beetroot - no kidding),
and the famous "chicko rolls" and "dim sims" which represent corruptions of
Chinese spring rolls and won tons. When nationalists bemoan McDonalds, I
bring up chicko rolls. That usually causes an awkward pause.

Footnote #2: In Nicaragua in the Sandinista era I came across a hamburger
joint that used the whole McDonalds formula, except in Spanish -- quarter
pounders, everything. It didn't taste like MacDonalds -- they had just
stolen the categories. Whether anyone saw this as cultural imperialism, I
never found out...


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