A couple pages on being and playing Ronald McDonald. I guess the first thing I noticed was the handlers, people who's job it is to make sure Ronald is always looking for any and every opportunity to polish the image of McDonalds. There are usually three "producers" from the Agency, in my case Leo Burnett in Chicago. The marketing technique McDonalds uses is to pick different groups, such as the current push toward the Latino Market. It is not wasted on McDonalds that the Latino's are now the largest minority group in the United States. It will come as no suprise to anyone that Ronald's target audience are the children. McDonalds makes no apologies for targeting the kids and when in costume Ronald is expected to "push the brand"...so to speak. My problem lies with targeting the very people who are the least likely to make wise and informed eating choices. Now some will argue that indeed the parents are the ones making the choices, and all I have to say to that is those folks are not spending much time around families with kids. Mom and Dad usually let the children pick where they eat, and believe you me those kids are NOT thinking about heart disease or diabetes, They're thinking bout happy meals and toys and fries and burgers.
The very folks that are so heavily targeted by McDonalds, are the very ones who are most likely not to have health insurance. Now, whats wrong with this picture gang? People are eating this McGarbage that's making them obese and sick, and when they need healthcare for heart disease, or obesity, or diabetes or any number of other heath problems related to this food. They cant pay. So the healthcare providers are having no choice but to pass on these costs to the people who do pay.
Society needs to wake up and hold these big companies such as McDonalds responsible. Obesity is the second leading cause of death in the US. Healthcare costs are skyrocketing, the costs of drugs are to the point where some of our older citizens are having to choose between medicine and food. In a very sad ironic twist of fate, the former CEO of McDonalds Corp dropped dead of a heart attack not long ago. Within three weeks, his successor was on the operating table with colon cancer. How in the world could McDonald's, at this point in time, NOT be faced with food related health issues? Most importantly, with making changes that can positively affect people's health; such as changing the oil in their fries like they promised.
I tell people that this Ronald McDonald was once very much a part of the problem, and now I'm gonna be part of the solution. Join me in spreading the good word of wise eating and healthy lifestyle choices. Love and Peace, Ronald