Reading Response chapters 4&5

Chapter four
PRECIS: The difference between a franchisee and a franchiser is that the franchisee usually gets ripped off, there are barely any laws protecting franchisee. When a franchisee wishes to go against the major corporation owners rules, there are usually major consequences like the termination of a position.

GEMS:
“He pays some of the college tuition of his regular employees, so long as they maintain a 3.0 grade average or higher.” p.103
“None of it matters. “ p 107

MY THOUGHTS: I surprisingly found this chapter very interesting, I learned a lot about the things behind the scenes, and I get to look at my own experience (working for a major manufacturer like Staples) and question my part in the bigger picture. Kind of makes me feel bad. Like I’m a puppet in their show. However, I still need a job so that also affects how things are perceived and handled within other teenagers like myself.




Chapter Five
PRECIS: Why the fries taste good, the background history of the popularity that lead to fried french fries becoming “the food of America.” The low payment of the actual potato growers, which is about 2 cents for every $1.50 you spend on a large fries at a restaurant.

GEMS:
“Out of every $1.50 you spent on a large fries at a fast food restaurant, perhaps two cents goes to the farmer who grew the potatoes.” p . 117
“The fry companies now tend to be run by outsiders, by MBA’s from Harvard who don’t know if a potato grows on a tree or underground.” p. 118

MY THOUGHTS: I don’t understand how the Idaho potato growers behavior “betrays a type of faulty.” The fallacy of composition; what is good for an individual is in turn good for others. Wouldn’t they not do selfish things, aren’t they the people who get the short end of the stick in this situation? All they want to do is grow their potatoes and make a decent living from it, right?