Fast Food Nation, and Reefer Madness

[brekk]

pair of "muck raking" books by eric schlausser.

The former is an inside look at the darkside of fast food, from the conditions of workers at meat processing plants, (think The Jungle) to a large detailed section about the chemical plants in New Jersey that make your fast food taste like what its supposed to. I read it senior year of highschool, and did not eat fast food for 2 years afterwords.

The latter is a look at the 3 largest black markets in the US; Marijuana, Porn, and Immigrant Labor. His section on Marijuana is especially interesting, it does not focus on wether MJ should be legal or not, but rather the inconsistencies of the laws regarding it across the nation, and also the amount of struggling farmers who are now growing some MJ on the side to keep their farms afloat. Its currently the second largest US cash crop behind Corn, and will surpass Corn by 2010.

I read them at the same time as The Jungle, and would say they are very good modern matches to that very important peace of work.

[Nehrak]

We had to read Fast Food Nation for one of my classes. I'll let you try and guess which one it is, if you have the gumption to look at the curriculum. It was a kind of bothersome read, in truth, though I never finished it cover-to-cover myself. (Hint: it wasn't for any English or Sociology classes.)

[brekk]

you should finish it, the ending section is what I consider the most important. It discusses the current state of food in US public schools, and the kickbacks they are being given by soda, fast food, junk food, and candy companies to sell their products in schools to kids.

The book was not written to talk about the obesity epidemic on this country, but that section shows the way kids are being trained from a young age to devour crap.

[TOOL]

How well documented are the facts and statistics used in Reefer Maddness? I tend to look at pro-drug propaganda just as skeptically as I do anti-drug propaganda. I'm intrigued when you say that the marijuana section doesn't argue that it should be legalized and I'm wondering what variety of sources the author pulled from.

[brekk]

Originally Posted by TOOL

How well documented are the facts and statistics used in Reefer Maddness? I tend to look at pro-drug propaganda just as skeptically as I do anti-drug propaganda. I'm intrigued when you say that the marijuana section doesn't argue that it should be legalized and I'm wondering what variety of sources the author pulled from.

He does directly say it should or shouldn't be legalized. He instead brings up valid concerns; like why a first time offender for marijuana possesion can get more jail time, and suffer more then someone convicted of rape, or murder.

His main focus is on the inconsistent drug laws across the country. He mentions that in New York, 25g or less, will bring a 100$ fine. In louisiana that same amount could bring a sentence of 20 years. In Montana selling a pound could bring a life sentence, while selling 10,000lbs in New Mexico first offense could be given NO MORE then 3 years.

Here's an excerpt:
"On top of fines, incerceration, and forfeiture, a convicted marijuana offender may face the revocation or denial of more then 460 federal benefits, and farm subsidies. ... Convicted murderers, rapists, and child molsters, however, remain eligible for such benefits."

Did You Know: Marijuana a a Type I illicit substance, meaning it has high danger of addiction, and no redeemable medical value? Cocaine and PCP are type II, they can be legally prescribed by a doctor.

As for the documentation, the end of the book has a 9 page bibliography.