Big Mac lines

by: Jay Stevens

Wed Sep 01, 2010 at 10:21:25 AM MST

McDonald's plans to hire about 1,000 people across 600 restaurants in the Pacific-Sierra region, which includes Northern Nevada and California.

The company doesn't have a final estimate yet of how many people took part in the event but several stores were reporting lines this afternoon, said Jake Mossawir, regional spokesman for McDonald's.

While the lines outside of California and Nevada McDonald's restaurants augurs better service at fast-food chains in the West, I'm thinking this isn't a good sign for either the economy or the American worker.

Double-ugh:

Unemployment continues to hover well above 12 percent in the Sacramento area, and furloughs have cut hours and pay for thousands of state workers. Now, older, experienced workers compete head to head with teens and young adults for part-time positions at fast-food restaurants.
For all their differences, Smith and Giles were drawn to the McDonald's event for the same reason - the possibility of a job with health benefits.

"Medical benefits - that's the big draw right now," Smith said. "I had an allergic reaction to medication. Now I'm in debt for that."

Another strike against the health-care system. When need for insurance pushes overqualified candidates to work for a fast-food chain, that's a problem. Aren't we, as an economy, sacrificing innovation and efficiency by clinging to a broken insurance industry?