Monday, June 05, 2006
Big Mac
I notice that our friends McDonalds are at it again. This time their sponsorship of politicians to go to a major sporting event has attracted a lot more attention than they are used to.
As their major business is to sell fast food then the company will not worry too much about the publicity. It may also be the case that the MPs concerned can find the words to justify their behaviour until the cows come home. However, this sort of patronage really is indefensible in my view.
Those picking up the bill always have a price that they are seeking to extract, even if it is just goodwill or the inculcation of the latest marketing spin into the minds of the politicians. I can think of some circumstances when a briefing or lobbying activity can or should take place outside of the normal work environment but this is not one of them.
The MPs concerned do not even have the justification anymore that they are seeking to influence McDonalds' own agenda by persuading them to make their food more wholsesome and nutritious. The company appears to have abandoned this initiative in favour of maximising their sales.
As their major business is to sell fast food then the company will not worry too much about the publicity. It may also be the case that the MPs concerned can find the words to justify their behaviour until the cows come home. However, this sort of patronage really is indefensible in my view.
Those picking up the bill always have a price that they are seeking to extract, even if it is just goodwill or the inculcation of the latest marketing spin into the minds of the politicians. I can think of some circumstances when a briefing or lobbying activity can or should take place outside of the normal work environment but this is not one of them.
The MPs concerned do not even have the justification anymore that they are seeking to influence McDonalds' own agenda by persuading them to make their food more wholsesome and nutritious. The company appears to have abandoned this initiative in favour of maximising their sales.
