Values and Fast Food Nation
In Fast Food Nation: the Dark Side of the All-American Meal, Eric Schlosser presents quite startling information. His arguments are substantiated with more than adequate research and statistics, but the most compelling factor in his evidence is the frequent use of examples. By putting a “human-interest” factor in the book, Schlosser makes the reader understand his arguments. These examples are more than mere anecdotes used to catch the reader’s attention. By putting a face on the issues presented in the book, Schlosser illustrates the values—and lack thereof—in American society. This paper will focus on the use of personal examples that Schlosser employs throughout the book by taking a look at how he uses these examples in each chapter to support his points. A compelling and frequent theme of the book is the idea of America’s values. The recurrence of this theme should come as no surprise. Schlosser informs the reader in the Introduction of his intent: “This is a book about fast food, the values it embodies, and the world it has made…I am interested in it both as a commodity and as a metaphor” (Schlosser, p. 3). In each chapter, these ideas are explored. The reader is given the opportunity to process the information pr . . .
The industry has had a major impact on the economy and work practices in Germany. His use of the Air Force station and almost constant references to McDonald’s starts to give a face to the issue at hand. Chapters 7 and 8 focus on the economics and injuries of those working to speed along the fast food trade. Hank’s suicide is an effect of the new values of sprawl and the advent of the as-much-as-possible mentality in business has created a sad state for the rancher. The tribulations of these workers is relentlessly put forth to the reader in these chapters. One of the most prevalent effects of fast food is set out in Chapter 2. The reader gets the impression that Schlosser blames politics for the decline in American values. With great care and empathy, the reader meets an example of this trend in Elisa Zamot. What should have been an easy route toward the American dream has been lost due to the need for more homes and the use of growth hormones in cattle. And if the nation is genuinely interested in their future, it will adequately fund their education, instead of inviting advertisers into the schools. Just when the atmosphere of the book seems to on a strictly negative note, Schlosser gives us Chapter 4. So many immigrants come to America in search of a better life and what they find are working conditions that are more than dangerous. With big businesses on board and the economy ready for a change, Americans prepared themselves for a whole new set of desires. This is made quite clear in Chapter 9 as he attacks everything from campaign contributions to the Republican Party to the USDA’s supply of meat to schools. 262) Government should uphold the values of hard work with results and not be in the pocket of bib business.
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Acceptance Essays
