The biggest irony at midst of the economic turmoils - we are allowing food sold at exceptionally low prices.  As many of the small businesses are in dire need of getting any business they can, McDonald's has kept their Dollar Menu at the "non-compete" (a.k.a. you will die competing with us) level in order to maintain and grow their already strong, lucrative business. This deliberate pricing scheme is hurting Americans and we ought to put an end to it. You might think cheap eat is good but that is certainly not true.  I shall explain why.

IMPACT ON OTHER COMPETING BUSINESS
Just picture yourself being poorer (result of the economic downturn) walking down the street and you have a choice of eating at a Bob's $8 sandwich shop ($6 for sandwich + $2 for an ice tea) or at McDonald's $3 meal (two $1 items + $1 sugar water). Which one will you choose?  It doesn't take a PhD in economics to notice that you have a tendency to consume cheaper items when you are poor.  In this case, McDonald's gets your business and Bob's loses the business opportunity.  

It really is unfair for any wholesome pizza and burger joints to compete against McDonald's Dollar Menu or the $1 per slice venues.  These deliberately under-priced food items are threatening the survival of other mom-and-pop joints.  Of all the talks about keeping American jobs and restoring the greatness of our beloved nation, no one is addressing the seriousness of this domestic tyrant that is destroying innocent lives.  It really is a zero-sum game (clear winner and loser) we are talking about here.

RESULT OF CONSUMING UNHEALTHY CHEAP FOOD
I am not even going to try to show you scientific research results or medical findings.  Just look at the people around you that frequent those cheap food joints (If you are lazy, check out this documentary).  Ingredients used in preparing these cheap food products are of the very low quality at best.  What is even more interesting?  They are causing health issues that will end up driving up healthcare expenses, which is something we all want to avoid.

A policy that will restrict their aggressive pricing schemes will certainly lower the cholesterol that is clotting American arteries. 

POSSIBLE EXPLANATION ON THIS DEFIANT ATTITUDE
It is a headache to see that nothing has been done to reverse this exploit by McDonald's. After spending the majority of his current term on the health care cost issue, President Obama has not been able to take any serious actions to force these cheap, fatty food providers to shape up.  It is not hard to see the reason: political contributions are tying the legislative agenda with McDonald's.

McDonald's pricing scheme is a simple common sense example of we-can-beat-your-price, which is not explicitly forbidden by our laws.  And since no one in Congress is willing to bite the hand that feeds him, we hereby advocate a control on this slow poison on our national health.

HOW CAN WE CHANGE THIS DOWNWARD TREND?
It is not an easy task to take on this firmly rooted company.  One way to get around this is by establishing a price requirement on a calorie level.  How does this work?  If a Double-Cheeseburger has 250 calories, impose a $2.50 price minimum.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the governing body of food matters, can take charge to enforce this policy.  Make this policy across the board for all food vendors, fast food or not, and you will not be seeing the cheap-food exploit employed by McDonald's to hurt other small businesses.

Another easy way is to levy a 100% tax on all chained fast food products - call it the Healthy Tax Act.  This will allow other independent restaurants to stay competitive and at the same time, force the public to consume more healthy food.  

Small businesses and employees in the U.S. are in no shape or form to absorb this cut-throat pricing scheme from the fast food giant.  The sooner we acknowledge this importance of this issue and act to the best interest of Americans, the better it will be for all of us. Surely the fast food chains will complain and make fuss about how this will hurt them and their employees, but those are short term pains for long term gains.  


*The commentary is written in response to Will China Listen? 
 

 
(Photo: Sameold2008)