I don’t know; if people would stop supporting these huge corporations and spend their money with small businesses where they’d pay half that much, maybe the economy could be fixed?
I don't think the economy can be fixed unless the fed gov starts paying off that 37 trill debt. That debt is the biggest contributor of all to inflation.
If people want to pay for convenience that’s up to them. There is a lot of healthy food available by the bushel at farmer’s markets. I didn’t miss the point, you did.
Comments don't miss points, people do. That said, the one you are commenting to isn't missing the point at all, they are in fact just pointing out some rational choices that can and should be made.
You're correct. Everyone is missing the point. It's not prices rising, it's the dollar losing its value. Hence it rakes more dollars to purchase less of what you want
I grow my own potatoes, but we don’t make many fries. Oil is really expensive and very unhealthy. I would rather cook potatoes almost any other way at home. I’ll do stovetop shallow fried potatoes in a bit of tallow, but we don’t deep fry, that’s just a huge waste of oil. Oven ”fried” is ok for steak fries, I just drizzle some avocado or olive oil on potato wedges. I grow herbs (and lots of other things as well) to use in cooking and medicinally. Garlic rosemary potatoes are just the best.
Most people aren’t taught how to cook anymore. Sweet potatoes are literally on sale at HEB right now for 12 cents a pound! Stock up! They store well at room temperature, they don’t even need to be covered like white potatoes, they don’t turn green. Even a really poor person should be able to bake a potato…. Takes an hour though. People need to change the way they think about food.
Five years ago we spent our stimulus money on raised garden beds and have spent that time learning to grow food. We don’t have land, just a regular suburban lot.
I agree. There are so many things that are best home cooked. If you eat, and most people do, cooking is an essential skill like brushing your teeth. Whether or not they are taught, they can learn, from YouTube if necessary.
$6.60 for a thick shake. Down to once a month now.
AI will kill itself, and companies that are going to be relying on it, off. When people no longer have a job, they cant buy stuffs, so the economy collapses. Are u ready ? At least 1 months food and water, that will give u time to regain your composure, then evaluate the alternatives. Prepping is no longer a fringe or optional choice, it must now become your lifestyle. Learn all you can, knowledge will be the new currency. Get independent communications, arm yourself, get right with God.
These jokers cant outthink him, so he knows what's gonna happen, ask in faith.
Get out of the death traps called cities. I don't know how u can do it without money, but, u must step out in faith.
My husband and I have been prepping for years and we tried to warn our families and all they did was make fun of us. And a lot of the general public made fun of Preppers
If companies jump on that AI bandwagon , if they lack the wisdom to understand, no jobs for us means no money for them, then , indeed, the economy worldwide is about to bite the dust.
I can eat at several actual restaurants in my area for less than fast food prices. McDonalds and the others have done it to themselves. I can order an actual meal at these local restaurants instead of fast food burger and fries. I haven’t eaten much fast food in ages. Why would I? Fast food charges three times what they should.
Well what the hell did people think was going to happen when you raised minimum wage to thirty dollars an hour. The food places have to make money. I know this and don’t even own one.
Our long term preps are based on the humble spud, we have the gear to plant and harvest them, fuel enough for the emp proof tractor for at least 4 years etc.
The national debt shot up about another $100 billion this weekend and now sits at $38.3 trillion. We hit 38 trillion on October 22. It's $300 billion a month just to keep the lights on
Then the nation, actually , the world is probably about to bite it economically. That debt is the cause of most of our economic woes. You will be happy to know that all those trillions spent during covid bought the kids of drug addicted parents a trampoline though.
If you don't think the people who make your food should be paid enough to sleep indoors, you don't deserve food, shelter or anything else but being literally worked to death and damned to Hell. Below-subsistence pay is less than slaves get, one of the four “Sins That Cry to Heaven for Vengeance”, according to all major Christian sects.
The only real solution is eat less, eat like a peasant, or as Klauset Schwabit said “eat zee bugz and be happy!” Because the politicians don’t care, the elites don’t care, no one cares but we the “useless eaters” as they like to call us!
Lol! Sorry Michael but there are far more critical issues then the price of fries at McDonalds. I suggest that people stop eating out and start buying their own potatoes and making their own darn fries. Most can hold off on a new rig right now as well, I suggest they buy used. In fact because rigs have always been expensive no matter what state the economy is in, I have always bought a used rig with very low miles. Going into debt has never been nor should it ever be taken lightly. We are indeed still struggling with inflation and yep it's tough but we will get thru it, if and only if, the US fed debt starts getting paid off. If not, well , all bets are off and everyone had better start saving , scrimping and putting food stores, we will all need them.
I don't get you people. You're screaming that you can't afford things at the same time that you complain about decent wages being paid so that people can afford things. You are pissed at 14, 15, 17 bucks/hour wages but refuse to get mad at the senior managers and board members that pay themselves millions and only answer to share holders. They hike prices not because they have to but because they want to boost margins in oder to justify even higher salaries and bonuses for themselves. They certainly don't give a crap about you. So, get mad at the "right" people.
Also, prices are to a large extent driven by supply and demand. That's Capitalism for you. As long as all y'all DEMAND this crap at these prices and keep buying it, they will keep charging you. Cut the demand so they have to lower prices sooner or later.
Didn't see any screaming in my comment nor was I pissed at the increase in minimum wage, just don't feel that kind of money per hour is justified to make hamburgers and fries. I worked my whole life and never made $20 bucks an hour and my wife worked as well, and our family got by.
The jobs I had were mostly in production and customer service. Not flipping burgers. Kids in high school did that back in the day. I remember back in the 60s as a kid working I made 85 cents an hour.
$0.85 in 1968 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $7.91 today, an increase of $7.06 over 57 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 3.99% per year between 1968 and today, - https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1968?amount=0.85
So what I made then is basically the same as some current minimum wages today before increasing them to $15 - 20$ an hour. So please don't act like I don't know what fair and unfair wages are or decent wages so people can afford things.
I realize corporations are part of the fault, but our so-called representatives are just raising these rates, which is essentially a form of taxation, ( which every working person pays) in order to get votes. They too don't give a crap about you or me either, and this was my point So I am definitely mad at the right people...
The CPI is not a valid measure of inflation, it's gamed to lower SS COLAs. $1 in 1963 silver coins is worth $38 dollars XAG today. The minimum wage in 1968 was at least $1.25. $15/hr. would need a 50% raise to be allowed to sign a lease on the cheapest ghetto studio apartment in the Atlanta metro area and many other places, no exaggeration. ($1150/mo., min 3x rent income proof to sign lease). Slave labor would literally cost over 3x minimum wage if the slaves cost nothing to buy. Your worse-than-slaver mentality is why every other generation hates you boomers.
If you don't think the people who make your food should be paid enough to sleep indoors, you don't deserve food, shelter or anything else but being literally worked to death and damned to Hell. Below-subsistence pay is less than slaves get, one of the four “Sins That Cry to Heaven for Vengeance”, according to all major Christian sects.
There is a discrepancy between what the bottom 90% of Americans are experiencing and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s 2026 Economic Outlook:
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has expressed strong confidence that the U.S. economy will avoid a recession in 2026. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press on November 23, 2025, Bessent stated, “No,” when asked about recession risks, emphasizing his optimism for sustained, noninflationary growth. Moreover, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explicitly discussed eliminating taxes on tips and overtime as part of President Donald Trump’s economic agenda. He confirmed that these measures are included in the recently passed “One Big, Beautiful Bill” and are intended to boost real incomes for working Americans. Bessent has stated in multiple interviews and public appearances: “No tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, no tax on overtime” are key components of the Trump "Big Beautiful Bill" tax relief package.
In other words Secretary Bissent, the divorced-single mother with two kids, who is a hairdresser and a renter, is allowed to earn her tips "tax-free" under President Trump? How thoughtful to not include the SS/Medicare taxes and income taxes in the cash she earned cutting hair - that she will use to pay the babysitter, when the single mother gets home to feed her two children.
Why don’t they buy a bag of potatoes or frozen fries and make them at home. It’s much less expensive,
It's comments like this that totally miss the point of the article. Unbelievable.
I don’t know; if people would stop supporting these huge corporations and spend their money with small businesses where they’d pay half that much, maybe the economy could be fixed?
I don't think the economy can be fixed unless the fed gov starts paying off that 37 trill debt. That debt is the biggest contributor of all to inflation.
If people want to pay for convenience that’s up to them. There is a lot of healthy food available by the bushel at farmer’s markets. I didn’t miss the point, you did.
Comments don't miss points, people do. That said, the one you are commenting to isn't missing the point at all, they are in fact just pointing out some rational choices that can and should be made.
You're correct. Everyone is missing the point. It's not prices rising, it's the dollar losing its value. Hence it rakes more dollars to purchase less of what you want
We weren’t missing that at all. Prices are crazy, so I’d spending your money to eat at McDonalds.
The only 2 possible answers are, they're either too stupid or too lazy.
I grow my own potatoes, but we don’t make many fries. Oil is really expensive and very unhealthy. I would rather cook potatoes almost any other way at home. I’ll do stovetop shallow fried potatoes in a bit of tallow, but we don’t deep fry, that’s just a huge waste of oil. Oven ”fried” is ok for steak fries, I just drizzle some avocado or olive oil on potato wedges. I grow herbs (and lots of other things as well) to use in cooking and medicinally. Garlic rosemary potatoes are just the best.
Most people aren’t taught how to cook anymore. Sweet potatoes are literally on sale at HEB right now for 12 cents a pound! Stock up! They store well at room temperature, they don’t even need to be covered like white potatoes, they don’t turn green. Even a really poor person should be able to bake a potato…. Takes an hour though. People need to change the way they think about food.
Five years ago we spent our stimulus money on raised garden beds and have spent that time learning to grow food. We don’t have land, just a regular suburban lot.
I agree. There are so many things that are best home cooked. If you eat, and most people do, cooking is an essential skill like brushing your teeth. Whether or not they are taught, they can learn, from YouTube if necessary.
I don’t eat fries either.
$6.60 for a thick shake. Down to once a month now.
AI will kill itself, and companies that are going to be relying on it, off. When people no longer have a job, they cant buy stuffs, so the economy collapses. Are u ready ? At least 1 months food and water, that will give u time to regain your composure, then evaluate the alternatives. Prepping is no longer a fringe or optional choice, it must now become your lifestyle. Learn all you can, knowledge will be the new currency. Get independent communications, arm yourself, get right with God.
These jokers cant outthink him, so he knows what's gonna happen, ask in faith.
Get out of the death traps called cities. I don't know how u can do it without money, but, u must step out in faith.
My husband and I have been prepping for years and we tried to warn our families and all they did was make fun of us. And a lot of the general public made fun of Preppers
If companies jump on that AI bandwagon , if they lack the wisdom to understand, no jobs for us means no money for them, then , indeed, the economy worldwide is about to bite the dust.
And yet people still eat that poison..ugh
Anyone dumb enough to pay $7.49 for a disgusting Big Mac deserves what they get. It's not even real food!
I can eat at several actual restaurants in my area for less than fast food prices. McDonalds and the others have done it to themselves. I can order an actual meal at these local restaurants instead of fast food burger and fries. I haven’t eaten much fast food in ages. Why would I? Fast food charges three times what they should.
Well what the hell did people think was going to happen when you raised minimum wage to thirty dollars an hour. The food places have to make money. I know this and don’t even own one.
Our long term preps are based on the humble spud, we have the gear to plant and harvest them, fuel enough for the emp proof tractor for at least 4 years etc.
"Has your income doubled since 2019?"
Even if it has you've been pushed into a higher tax bracket so you've still lost ground.
The national debt shot up about another $100 billion this weekend and now sits at $38.3 trillion. We hit 38 trillion on October 22. It's $300 billion a month just to keep the lights on
Then the nation, actually , the world is probably about to bite it economically. That debt is the cause of most of our economic woes. You will be happy to know that all those trillions spent during covid bought the kids of drug addicted parents a trampoline though.
I truly want robots to take over McDonald’s kitchens. No more $18/hour wages to high school kids there.
If you don't think the people who make your food should be paid enough to sleep indoors, you don't deserve food, shelter or anything else but being literally worked to death and damned to Hell. Below-subsistence pay is less than slaves get, one of the four “Sins That Cry to Heaven for Vengeance”, according to all major Christian sects.
What I’m saying is everyone else deserves $1 fries, not $5 fries that forces the customers to become homeless. Robots are the answer.
The Silver Lining: less people will eat this garbage and will be healthier for it
A sack of potatoes cost about the same amount.. it’s simple you stop eating McDonald’s garbage
And get more servings straight from the source for the same price.
This is not hard math. It just takes some effort to cook. Meal prep it. If you can’t cook your own potatoes welll you got bigger problems.
The only real solution is eat less, eat like a peasant, or as Klauset Schwabit said “eat zee bugz and be happy!” Because the politicians don’t care, the elites don’t care, no one cares but we the “useless eaters” as they like to call us!
Lol! Sorry Michael but there are far more critical issues then the price of fries at McDonalds. I suggest that people stop eating out and start buying their own potatoes and making their own darn fries. Most can hold off on a new rig right now as well, I suggest they buy used. In fact because rigs have always been expensive no matter what state the economy is in, I have always bought a used rig with very low miles. Going into debt has never been nor should it ever be taken lightly. We are indeed still struggling with inflation and yep it's tough but we will get thru it, if and only if, the US fed debt starts getting paid off. If not, well , all bets are off and everyone had better start saving , scrimping and putting food stores, we will all need them.
Michael, you quote
"McDonald’s Price Increases from 2019 to 2024:
Medium French Fry $1.79 -> $4.19
McChicken $1.29 -> $3.89
Big Mac $3.99 -> $7.49
10 McNuggets $4.49 -> $7.58
Cheeseburger $1.00 -> $3.15
Some of this is over a 200% increase in price. This isn’t inflation — it’s legalized robbery.
$4.19 for a carton of medium fries is obscene!"
Granted, some of this is due to inflation
But what's also obscene is paying someone almost $15 to make these fries because of minimum wage increases.
Federal Minimum wage in 2019 was $7.25 with many states paying somewhat higher. In 2025 many states are already paying anywhere form $10 -$14 for minimum wages - https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/history
Here are the increases taking affect the first of the year:
Here's the breakdown of confirmed increases, nearly all effective January 1, 2026:
Hawaii: $14.00 → $16.00 ($2.00 increase)
Michigan: $12.48 → $13.73 ($1.25 increase)
Missouri: $13.75 → $15.00 ($1.25 increase)
New York: $15.50 → $16.50 ($1.00 increase)
Rhode Island: $15.00 → $16.00 ($1.00 increase)
New Jersey: $14.53 → $15.23 ($0.70 increase)
Connecticut: $16.35 → $16.94 ($0.59 increase)
Washington: $16.66 → $17.13 ($0.47 increase)
Arizona: $14.70 → $15.15 ($0.45 increase)
Maine: $14.65 → $15.10 ($0.45 increase)
Vermont: $14.01 → $14.42 ($0.41 increase)
California: $16.50 → $16.90 ($0.40 increase)
Virginia: $12.41 → $12.77 ($0.36 increase)
Colorado: $14.81 → $15.16 ($0.35 increase)
Montana: $10.55 → $10.85 ($0.30 increase)
Ohio: $10.70 → $11.00 ($0.30 increase)
Minnesota: $11.13 → $11.41 ($0.28 increase
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nearly-20-states-raising-minimum-153000342.html
I have no problem paying someone $15 or more for a minimum wage in a productive environment. To flip burgers and make fries., I call "BS"!
Put the blame where it belongs. Government meddling once again!
I don't get you people. You're screaming that you can't afford things at the same time that you complain about decent wages being paid so that people can afford things. You are pissed at 14, 15, 17 bucks/hour wages but refuse to get mad at the senior managers and board members that pay themselves millions and only answer to share holders. They hike prices not because they have to but because they want to boost margins in oder to justify even higher salaries and bonuses for themselves. They certainly don't give a crap about you. So, get mad at the "right" people.
Also, prices are to a large extent driven by supply and demand. That's Capitalism for you. As long as all y'all DEMAND this crap at these prices and keep buying it, they will keep charging you. Cut the demand so they have to lower prices sooner or later.
Didn't see any screaming in my comment nor was I pissed at the increase in minimum wage, just don't feel that kind of money per hour is justified to make hamburgers and fries. I worked my whole life and never made $20 bucks an hour and my wife worked as well, and our family got by.
The jobs I had were mostly in production and customer service. Not flipping burgers. Kids in high school did that back in the day. I remember back in the 60s as a kid working I made 85 cents an hour.
$0.85 in 1968 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $7.91 today, an increase of $7.06 over 57 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 3.99% per year between 1968 and today, - https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1968?amount=0.85
So what I made then is basically the same as some current minimum wages today before increasing them to $15 - 20$ an hour. So please don't act like I don't know what fair and unfair wages are or decent wages so people can afford things.
I realize corporations are part of the fault, but our so-called representatives are just raising these rates, which is essentially a form of taxation, ( which every working person pays) in order to get votes. They too don't give a crap about you or me either, and this was my point So I am definitely mad at the right people...
The CPI is not a valid measure of inflation, it's gamed to lower SS COLAs. $1 in 1963 silver coins is worth $38 dollars XAG today. The minimum wage in 1968 was at least $1.25. $15/hr. would need a 50% raise to be allowed to sign a lease on the cheapest ghetto studio apartment in the Atlanta metro area and many other places, no exaggeration. ($1150/mo., min 3x rent income proof to sign lease). Slave labor would literally cost over 3x minimum wage if the slaves cost nothing to buy. Your worse-than-slaver mentality is why every other generation hates you boomers.
If you don't think the people who make your food should be paid enough to sleep indoors, you don't deserve food, shelter or anything else but being literally worked to death and damned to Hell. Below-subsistence pay is less than slaves get, one of the four “Sins That Cry to Heaven for Vengeance”, according to all major Christian sects.
In CA I just looked it up, 20.00 and hour for employers with 60 or more employees!
There is a discrepancy between what the bottom 90% of Americans are experiencing and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s 2026 Economic Outlook:
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has expressed strong confidence that the U.S. economy will avoid a recession in 2026. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press on November 23, 2025, Bessent stated, “No,” when asked about recession risks, emphasizing his optimism for sustained, noninflationary growth. Moreover, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explicitly discussed eliminating taxes on tips and overtime as part of President Donald Trump’s economic agenda. He confirmed that these measures are included in the recently passed “One Big, Beautiful Bill” and are intended to boost real incomes for working Americans. Bessent has stated in multiple interviews and public appearances: “No tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, no tax on overtime” are key components of the Trump "Big Beautiful Bill" tax relief package.
In other words Secretary Bissent, the divorced-single mother with two kids, who is a hairdresser and a renter, is allowed to earn her tips "tax-free" under President Trump? How thoughtful to not include the SS/Medicare taxes and income taxes in the cash she earned cutting hair - that she will use to pay the babysitter, when the single mother gets home to feed her two children.