Food Wrapped in Paper

In the news today, so-called fast food workers in some locations are planning to strike as a protest against low wages 

"Workers at the nation’s best known fast-food restaurants in seven cities across America are planning to walk off the job Monday to protest what they say are wages that are too low to live on. In a move orchestrated with the help of powerful labor unions and clergy groups, the workers plan to strike for a day to demand their wages be doubled."   (Foxnews)

I am generally against strikes of any kind, since they are disruptive to the customers instead of to Management - with whom the beef resides.  I see it as a mild form of terrorism, where you inflict pain on innocent victims, because you are too weak to fight the source of your aggravation.

But the thing that grabbed my attention was the phrase "Fast Food."

In my recent experience "Fast Food" is an archaic term which refers to a past era.  Sort of like "records" and "drive in movie."
I recall the time, perhaps a decade ago, when you would stop into a Mickee Dees or Burger King and the cashier would be asking for your order before you had decided what you wanted.  Several registers would be manned and the line moved like a hot knife through ice cream.

But that is not the way is is now.  Granted,  I do not go to one of these establishments unless I am travelling.  (Whatever else you might rightfully say about the food, McDonald's brews a pretty good cup of coffee.) 

In virtually all of my recent visits to such places, the "drive-thru" line is usually at least half a dozen cars deep; I go inside.  Actually I prefer being inside, rather than eating in the car. Invariably,  I have found a line of people ahead of me, with only one beleaguered cashier taking orders. A dozen or so workers are feverishly scudding around the kitchen area.  Yet, my order usually takes at least 5 minutes to arrive, sometimes closer to ten.  Usually there is enough time to strike-up a conversation with other waiting patrons and come to a consensus about the acceptable number of tattoos that the employees should be allowed to display. 

This is is not what I call Fast.

But, back to the subject at hand: Low wages.
I am in favor of upping the wages for people who work in restaurants.  McDonald's has an annual employee turnover rate of 75%.   I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for my Big Mac if the price increase allows them to attract a better quality employee.
It is always a bit disturbing to know that your food is being prepared by the least educated, lowest paid and least motivated people on the planet.

No Blackout Here

If you click on a Wikipedia link today you will get a split-second view of your desired search page and then a black out overlay with the query "Imagine a World Without Free Knowledge..."
They are going dark for 24 hours to "raise awareness" that the U.S. Congress "is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open Internet."

Attention Getting Gimmick?

As an unabashed opponent of strikes and other stoppages as a means of getting public attention, I am on the side of the so-called capitalists on this issue. I think it is just silly to stage such a mock protest. That's like saying, "Hey everyone. I am going on a 24 hour hunger strike to stop the madness!"

Stopping Piracy is a worthy aim.
I do not know if the current SOPA and PIPA proposals will kill the free Internet - that would require more research than I am in the mood for.  But, as an occasional  producer of revenue-producing intellectual content, I claim solidarity with my brother/sister artists who have been getting ripped-off by illegal piracy.

On the mostly free Internet,  no one seems to be in charge.  (This is not universal, some countries closely monitor local access)  In general censorship does not exist.  You can watch dirty pictures, say virtually anything you want about anyone with impunity.  You can learn how to make bomb components just as easily as accessing a Kayak fishing video.  

But, some people think it is dangerous to publish certain kinds of information.  Ben Franklin is alleged to have said that "citizens who are willing to give up a little liberty in exchange for a little safety deserve neither".  Poppycock, I say.  Sometimes you need to constrain freedom of speech.  We do it all the time, and it makes for a healthier, less course and safer society.

Free = Worthless
Most people tend to have more regard for experiences that have a cost associated with them. Studies have shown that people who wait in long lines for tickets value the performance more than those who got the tickets for free. Kids are notoriously careless with stuff that doting parents have lavished upon them. One parent in my neighborhood recently complained that his son was on his 3rd iPad in twelve months. My generation was raised without the expectation of entitlement. I had to earn the money to buy my first car.  

Summary
If you have read this far, you have ascertained that I am - as usual - all over the lot on this topic.  I think people ought to be paid for worthwhile expression of their art*, yet I am like you annoyed to have to pay for stuff that used to be free.  And is free content covered by free speech?

Blogging is the ultimate free arena. There is zero cost of entry and maintenance. I have often wondered why Google offers the Blogger.com platform for free to anyone regardless of writing skill. Who is paying for all the space and access? And why? As a reader, you pay nothing, and you probably use the Internet more for entertainment than for information. You correctly disregard the brandished wisdom of pedantic bloggers, thinking If you're so smart why aren't you rich?

*Note - I think the setting of a fixed price for entertainment needs to be abolished.  I am developing a new paradigm, where tickets are paid-for after the performance. The price is set by the perceived value as determined by the purchaser.  (If Meatloaf shows-up sober, remembers the lyrics and gives a good show, he makes a lot more money than if everyone was disappointed.  If the Patriots suck and lose the playoff game, they are docked and the price of a ticket is reduced accordingly.) This concept might work for Wall Street too!