The "All Beef" Burger

   As a child in my father’s house, it was the exception to the rule to eat out. But, on occasion, Dad would load us all in the station wagon and head for the drive-thru. The experience of ordering was a simple process; four kids and two adults equaled Dad asking for six hamburger combos with cokes. (Most places only offered cheeseburger or hamburger anyway.) No special orders. His goal; make things simple. It wasn’t because everyone liked the same thing, it was just that we were happy to get the ‘treat’ of eating out, so we accepted the way things were. Dad already knew of the confusion that would ensue if he catered to six of us. It was just easier for us to adapt to the system by customizing our burgers when we arrived home. No gripes / No fusses.


   Today, with a family of five, I have tried to carry on my family’s orders in much the same way. However, I am finding this task is quickly becoming impossible. The problem is that we have a society with too many choices and most of them are taken for granted. For starters, there is the decision of “where we will go to eat.” McDonald’s, Burger King, K.F.C., Taco Bell, Popeye’s, Sonic, Jack-in-the-Box, etc… you get the picture as the list can quickly become a book of its own. After this monumental decision is made, we are faced with the epic menus that are now offered everywhere. It seems that every business feels they need to expand their menu to appease the masses. The burger diners now offer tacos and chicken. The chicken joints serve burgers, and the taco stands have chicken tacos! When I was a kid, we went to a burger place for a burger, and taco stands for tacos. Is this process TOO simple? The fast food system wasn’t broken so why did it need to be revamped?

In much the same way, our country has gone down this same road. Our Grandparents wanted to be Americans so they came to America. This seems like a pretty simple idea. They wanted this so much that they learned the language that America spoke. English. Still a simple concept. They got jobs and didn’t ask their American neighbors to support them. They wanted Social Security and the protection of the military so they paid taxes into the American tax system. So why did all of this change? America is changing its 'menu' to accommodate immigrants who do not want to learn our language. If Obama has his way, the ‘menu’ will now serve free healthcare to people who are not even citizens. He will give Social Security benefits to people who have not paid into the tax system. I cannot see where these are ‘menu additions’ that need to be made or what good can come of this.
   If foreigners want ‘chicken’ then they should go to a place that serves it. (I’m thinking France) If they want tacos then they should go get tacos. (Uh, maybe Mexico) But when they want to order America, then that is what they should get. An American is loaded with rights. Everyone is served the same way. Social Security, English speaking, gainfully employed, with a side of protection by the most powerful military on the planet. No Special Orders. If you don’t like it then go order somewhere else. If you agree with that, then “please pull forward to the next window.” Thank You.