Irregardless of the political symbolism and the overreaching impllications of the loss of foreign investment .. the loss of Clown Burger is hardly a death-knell for Russia. It does mean there will be fewer cases of indegestion after eathing the swill they call food. But perhaps I’m biased, since I live in the heartland of the USA (where everyone is fat) and we have great alternatives to MickeyD’s – Sonic, Whataburger, Wendys .. even Burger King. If I want slop-chute fare, I’ll pick one of those. When a McDonald’s burns down arond here, we build a Taco Bell in its place.
chris sullivan
1 year ago
Excellent essay thanks – McD may be a litmus test for stability as well as comparative purchasing power. Maybe a new cold war will focus folk’s mind on things a little more important than whether one’s sexual fetishes receive due respect etc etc etc. The West obviously needs something to help it maintain perspective lest it starts to disappear into its own navel (or worse !).
In the United States, Waffle House is a recognized test for stability. After any given natural disaster — or terrorist event (“man-made disaster” in Obama-speak) — it’s the first to get up and running.
Waffle House makes for a cultural experience. The ingredients are really cheap. It caters to folks living on the edge.
I’ve been in one. Once. “Waffle House.” It sounded so promising. But, good thing for those folks for showing up and doing what they do.
Paul O
1 year ago
I am sure entrepreneurial Russians will step in to replace all of the profitable McDonald’s outlets. And if it isn’t Russians it will be Indians or entrepreneurs from another country.
Samuel Ross
1 year ago
It seems a silly choice. As the author said, each of those restaurants will be operating again very soon.
David Simpson
1 year ago
If macd was the best we had to offer Russia, is Putin really so surprising?
You, like me and most of the chatterati, Right or Left, are extremely sniffy about McDonalds, but many ordinary people like them, including the Russians.
Chauncey Gardiner
1 year ago
There’s always Puzata Hata (Пузата Xата, spelling?) in Ukraine. It’s really very nice cafeteria food served by very cheery, matronly ladies. And the lines, always long, move efficiently.
Susan Cullom
1 year ago
Shwarma (russian version of Gyros, kinda) has an upside down golden arches implying healthier version of fast food
William Fulton
1 year ago
“the ruling circle of thieves” – an exquisite description of Russia today.
Seized Russian Central Bank assets cannot be used to rebuild Ukraine, says International Law. Rule of law also says you cannot obliterate thousands of civilians with artillery / airstrikes.
Rough justice: rebuild Ukraine using seized Russian assets. A US / international one time referendum would preserve “rule of law” vs these murderous thieves, and perhaps deter a reprise.
Last edited 1 year ago by William Fulton
Victoria Cooper
1 year ago
Nothing to stop them re-opening when Putin is gone. Which will be in a matter of months.
Roger le Clercq
1 year ago
It seems this is part of the despairing efforts to break through the awful reality that Putin propaganda has succeeded in retaining his supporters. How is the truth to be RAMMED home to Russian residents. Probably not by withholding the cheeseburger.
Vladimir Makarenko
1 year ago
Sometimes it shocks me how far apart is Western idea what Russians are after and what the reality is. I am not going to blame “Western Propaganda” or whatever – I am not looking for “who’s the guilt”, I just puzzled – again and again all the forecasts of your “experts” what will happen next to Russia turn wrong.
Maybe it is time to sit down and think? Because as it is now – as I see it – the distance to the nuclear war is shrinking fast. Russia has everything to response militarily. I do not know HOW STUPID, HOW DUMB are the Western political elite and American in particular, when in December 2021 Russians over the head of EU sent the US a letter which explicitly warned about “technical military response” if Russia’s security is not taken into account. Now we have what we have: Death and Destruction, what the West is celebrating, – why not – it’s me who drains my savings to help my friends and relatives in Ukraine…You meanwhile announce $40 Billion “help”, – aha, out which is a half is going to the US companies but it is the Ukraine who will pay for this funny “lend lease”.
What I can say – you know how to make money on other people blood.
And at last so that there is no cheap crap about “russkie” – my father was born off Center West Ukraine.
I do not think that you are evil, you just want to feel good at cheap, while like a politically correct soccer moms, you care so much about fast food because this is how you live, – food, information, feelings: everything has a quick cheap fix – McDonalds, CNN, Pills to feel good. For the poor drugs are on the street corner, for the those with money – at CVS on prescription.
My best. My dog is a most tender creature in the world, he is a 12 year old pitbull. Picked up on a highway 11 years ago. Amstaff, for those who know.
Good luck to everybody.
What a rant and as for “Russian security”, how about Ukranian security and the security of the numerous other countries Russia has invaded over the past century?
Irregardless of the political symbolism and the overreaching impllications of the loss of foreign investment .. the loss of Clown Burger is hardly a death-knell for Russia. It does mean there will be fewer cases of indegestion after eathing the swill they call food. But perhaps I’m biased, since I live in the heartland of the USA (where everyone is fat) and we have great alternatives to MickeyD’s – Sonic, Whataburger, Wendys .. even Burger King. If I want slop-chute fare, I’ll pick one of those. When a McDonald’s burns down arond here, we build a Taco Bell in its place.
Excellent essay thanks – McD may be a litmus test for stability as well as comparative purchasing power. Maybe a new cold war will focus folk’s mind on things a little more important than whether one’s sexual fetishes receive due respect etc etc etc. The West obviously needs something to help it maintain perspective lest it starts to disappear into its own navel (or worse !).
In the United States, Waffle House is a recognized test for stability. After any given natural disaster — or terrorist event (“man-made disaster” in Obama-speak) — it’s the first to get up and running.
Waffle House makes for a cultural experience. The ingredients are really cheap. It caters to folks living on the edge.
I’ve been in one. Once. “Waffle House.” It sounded so promising. But, good thing for those folks for showing up and doing what they do.
I am sure entrepreneurial Russians will step in to replace all of the profitable McDonald’s outlets. And if it isn’t Russians it will be Indians or entrepreneurs from another country.
It seems a silly choice. As the author said, each of those restaurants will be operating again very soon.
If macd was the best we had to offer Russia, is Putin really so surprising?
You, like me and most of the chatterati, Right or Left, are extremely sniffy about McDonalds, but many ordinary people like them, including the Russians.
There’s always Puzata Hata (Пузата Xата, spelling?) in Ukraine. It’s really very nice cafeteria food served by very cheery, matronly ladies. And the lines, always long, move efficiently.
Shwarma (russian version of Gyros, kinda) has an upside down golden arches implying healthier version of fast food
“the ruling circle of thieves” – an exquisite description of Russia today.
Seized Russian Central Bank assets cannot be used to rebuild Ukraine, says International Law. Rule of law also says you cannot obliterate thousands of civilians with artillery / airstrikes.
Rough justice: rebuild Ukraine using seized Russian assets. A US / international one time referendum would preserve “rule of law” vs these murderous thieves, and perhaps deter a reprise.
Nothing to stop them re-opening when Putin is gone. Which will be in a matter of months.
It seems this is part of the despairing efforts to break through the awful reality that Putin propaganda has succeeded in retaining his supporters. How is the truth to be RAMMED home to Russian residents. Probably not by withholding the cheeseburger.
Sometimes it shocks me how far apart is Western idea what Russians are after and what the reality is. I am not going to blame “Western Propaganda” or whatever – I am not looking for “who’s the guilt”, I just puzzled – again and again all the forecasts of your “experts” what will happen next to Russia turn wrong.
Maybe it is time to sit down and think? Because as it is now – as I see it – the distance to the nuclear war is shrinking fast. Russia has everything to response militarily. I do not know HOW STUPID, HOW DUMB are the Western political elite and American in particular, when in December 2021 Russians over the head of EU sent the US a letter which explicitly warned about “technical military response” if Russia’s security is not taken into account. Now we have what we have: Death and Destruction, what the West is celebrating, – why not – it’s me who drains my savings to help my friends and relatives in Ukraine…You meanwhile announce $40 Billion “help”, – aha, out which is a half is going to the US companies but it is the Ukraine who will pay for this funny “lend lease”.
What I can say – you know how to make money on other people blood.
And at last so that there is no cheap crap about “russkie” – my father was born off Center West Ukraine.
I do not think that you are evil, you just want to feel good at cheap, while like a politically correct soccer moms, you care so much about fast food because this is how you live, – food, information, feelings: everything has a quick cheap fix – McDonalds, CNN, Pills to feel good. For the poor drugs are on the street corner, for the those with money – at CVS on prescription.
My best. My dog is a most tender creature in the world, he is a 12 year old pitbull. Picked up on a highway 11 years ago. Amstaff, for those who know.
Good luck to everybody.
What a rant and as for “Russian security”, how about Ukranian security and the security of the numerous other countries Russia has invaded over the past century?