Michael Moore's Latest Target: Your HMO

[MTK]

Originally Posted by hagams

Being that I have Tri-care, and I'm in the Military, I can't judge on the Health care in the Nation. However, Michael Moore is no better than any other conman. But, what everyone seems to be forgetting is that he's making a movie about this, not taking it to court, not challenging anyone directly which tells me he's out to make a couple bucks doing this. Take it with a grain of salt. If our Health Care is that jacked up, this isn't the way to fix it.

Well, making movies is what he does, he's not an attorney.

I really disagree that no change can come from a movie. Look at what 'Supersize Me' did to McDonald's. That movie put a lot of heat on McDonald's (even though they don't acknowledge it). Soon after that movie they cut the supersized meals from their menu and introduced healthier offerings. While I don't think that movie was soley responsible for the changes, it certainly had an impact.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Well, making movies is what he does, he's not an attorney.

I really disagree that no change can come from a movie. Look at what 'Supersize Me' did to McDonald's. That movie put a lot of heat on McDonald's (even though they don't acknowledge it). Soon after that movie they cut the supersized meals from their menu and introduced healthier offerings. While I don't think that movie was soley responsible for the changes, it certainly had an impact.

I have to disagree. I guarantee you McDonalds performed a business plan analysis on the healthier menu items, and projected out a pro forma financial projection, and it showed a positive bottom line. They made that move for one reason: money. They thought that adding those items would result in incremental revenue and profits to the firm. Adding apples and milk to the menu didn't cut into revenues from burgers, fries, and shakes. It added onto the existing cash flow.

Now, they may have spun the move as taking an active interest in the obesity epidemic in America, but as always, the real motivation was money.

Business is business. Michael Moore can shine all the light on things that he wants, but in the end, companies are going to do what's in the best interests of their shareholders.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I have to disagree. I guarantee you McDonalds performed a business plan analysis on the healthier menu items, and projected out a pro forma financial projection, and it showed a positive bottom line. They made that move for one reason: money. They thought that adding those items would result in incremental revenue and profits to the firm. Adding apples and milk to the menu didn't cut into revenues from burgers, fries, and shakes. It added onto the existing cash flow.

Now, they may have spun the move as taking an active interest in the obesity epidemic in America, but as always, the real motivation was money.

Business is business. Michael Moore can shine all the light on things that he wants, but in the end, companies are going to do what's in the best interests of their shareholders.

The timing of them pulling the supersize menu items is curious. Perhaps it had nothing to do with the movie, but I really doubt it. McDonald's obviously took notice of the movie and it's success, issuing press releases denouncing the film and they went as far as taking out full page newspaper ads and placing 30 second ad spots in the opening movie trailer section of the movie.

You're right about the money, the movie threatened to hit them where it hurts, the wallet, and they acted accordingly.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

The timing of them pulling the supersize menu items is curious. Perhaps it had nothing to do with the movie, but I really doubt it. McDonald's obviously took notice of the movie and it's success, issuing press releases denouncing the film and they went as far as taking out full page newspaper ads and placing 30 second ad spots in the opening movie trailer section of the movie.

You're right about the money, the movie threatened to hit them where it hurts, the wallet, and they acted accordingly.

That's true about pulling the supersize items. They saw ridiculous class action suits on the horizon, and rather than fight them, they eliminated the supersize items, thereby eliminating that income stream. But they compensated by offering the healthy items (milk, fruit) to add incremental revenue streams. Net effect of the moves as a whole was positive to the bottom line.

Good movie. But don't you find it curious that since that move by McDonald's, Burger King has pounced, adding more and more unhealthy choices to the menu? The BK Stacker, which came out recently, (oh my God that thing is so good) is advertised as simply MEAT AND CHEESE. It's a friggin heart attack on a bun. And yet Burger King is somehow getting off scott free for being so unhealthy for consumers.

That film was good, but seeing people go after McDonald's for it was completely unfair. McDonalds certainly felt it was unfair, but rather than fight the tide, they went with it and summoned the ingenuity to maintain their revenue stream in other ways. Meanwhile, Burger King is capitalizing on the opportunity to capture market share amongst consumers who want to eat a buttload of fries, regardless of how bad it is for you. You can't blame Burger King, they're not caught in the crosshairs of this movie, and there's an opportunity in front of them to make money. The real root problem? Americans simply have unhealthy eating habits. You shouldn't blame McDonald's, it's not their fault that people like to eat a buttload of french fries. The demand for unhealthy food is the problem, not the supply.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

That's true about pulling the supersize items. They saw ridiculous class action suits on the horizon, and rather than fight them, they eliminated the supersize items, thereby eliminating that income stream. But they compensated by offering the healthy items (milk, fruit) to add incremental revenue streams. Net effect of the moves as a whole was positive to the bottom line.

Good movie. But don't you find it curious that since that move by McDonald's, Burger King has pounced, adding more and more unhealthy choices to the menu? The BK Stacker, which came out recently, (oh my God that thing is so good) is advertised as simply MEAT AND CHEESE. It's a friggin heart attack on a bun. And yet Burger King is somehow getting off scott free for being so unhealthy for consumers.

That film was good, but seeing people go after McDonald's for it was completely unfair. McDonalds certainly felt it was unfair, but rather than fight the tide, they went with it and summoned the ingenuity to maintain their revenue stream in other ways. Meanwhile, Burger King is capitalizing on the opportunity to capture market share amongst consumers who want to eat a buttload of fries, regardless of how bad it is for you. You can't blame Burger King, they're not caught in the crosshairs of this movie, and there's an opportunity in front of them to make money. The real root problem? Americans simply have unhealthy eating habits. You shouldn't blame McDonald's, it's not their fault that people like to eat a buttload of french fries. The demand for unhealthy food is the problem, not the supply.

BK is definitely snubbing their nose at the whole health movement. Sad enough, there's a market for that.

I agree that fast food places shouldn't be the one taking the majority of the blame. They are part of the problem, but we need to place more responsibility with the individual who chooses to make these poor decisions.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

BK is definitely snubbing their nose at the whole health movement. Sad enough, there's a market for that.

I agree that fast food places shouldn't be the one taking the majority of the blame. They are part of the problem, but we need to place more responsibility with the individual who chooses to make these poor decisions.

Oddly enough that ties right into the original topic of this thread... healthcare. If more Americans ate healthily, the cost of care would be lower for everybody.

Gotta love it when a tangent comes full circle.