this post was submitted on 28 Sep 2023
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Political Memes

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[–] ignotum@lemmy.world 87 points 2 years ago (6 children)

Capitalism itself rarely invents new things, but it does optimize existing things quite well

Though what it tries to optimize it for isn't always what is best for the consumer

[–] DaCookeyMonsta@lemmy.world 32 points 2 years ago (6 children)

Chicken sandwiches used to be so much better. Now it occasionally feels like I'm biting into a tire. I don't understand this business strategy.

[–] Routhinator@startrek.website 33 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Its simple, capitalism treats the consumer like cattle, and the optimization of profit drives them to replace real quality products with cheaper and cheaper substitutes over time until you're expected to bite into that tire and go "wow, this chicken is delicious"

[–] DaCookeyMonsta@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

But I just stopped buying them instead.

[–] TheLowestStone@lemmy.world 15 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Unfortunately, you're the minority.

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[–] Rentlar@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 years ago

I just broke into the fast food chain's headquarters to find the secret formula. Next year's recipe is going to be this between two buns:

rubber chicken

[–] ech@lemm.ee 6 points 2 years ago

I don’t understand this business strategy.

You still bought it and they saved money. Profit!

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[–] AllonzeeLV@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

Capitalism is also highly adept at taking the credit for the inventions and innovations of talented engineers and other scientists.

(Pictured: a now dead deadbeat dad/marketer/capitalist who never invented anything, but sure did enjoy wearing turtlenecks)

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[–] collegefurtrader@discuss.tchncs.de 82 points 2 years ago (2 children)
[–] MargotRobbie@lemmy.world 32 points 2 years ago (25 children)

Yeah. All of these chicken sandwiches tastes different, and I like having choices.

It's like getting mad at different fast food restaurant for all selling hamburgers.

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[–] htrayl@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yup, honestly food is a cornerstone of the human experience. Having different options and exploring different things is generally great.

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[–] dangblingus@lemmy.world 53 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Even though I disagree with the statement "capitalism breeds innovation", this is poor way to demonstrate that it's bullshit.

Of course a chicken sandwich isn't going to appear fundamentally different from Popeyes to KFC. They're also not the only items that these restaurants sell.

The idea is that these restaurants exist as some kind of better option over a local mom & pop sandwich joint with higher unit overhead. Whether or not the value proposition is sufficient for you is personal.

[–] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 29 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It's also an example of something capitalism does well. Those chicken sandwiches are not interchangeable, and you can buy the one that best suits your taste and budget, plus competition generally keeps the quality pretty good.

Capitalism ruins a hell of a lot of things that really matter, but not chicken sandwiches.

[–] CosmicTurtle@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago

Exactly. I'm as "last stage capitalism" as they come (okay maybe not extreme) but this image is a terrible take.

All those varieties saw a market that demanded a product. Companies innovated and are selling the products and making a profit.

I feel like the OP missed the point. A better example would be to show pure monopolies like ISPs. The fact we're paying hand over fist for subpar internet is an example of innovation not working.

[–] FrankTheHealer@lemmy.world 38 points 2 years ago (1 children)

See, unfettered capitalism is completely fucked, but this is a bad example. It would be like getting a bunch of different coffee brands and putting them together like this and saying the same thing.

Coffee is coffee.

Chicken Sandwiches are chicken sandwiches.

There are bigger issues with capitalism that are worth discussing instead

[–] tdawg@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago

While I agree with you, I think it's meant more symbolically but Lemmy being Lemmy everyone here is going to take it literally

[–] solstice@lemmy.world 34 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I don't get it, how much can you possibly do to differentiate a chicken sandwich? There's plenty of issues to discuss but you can do better than this, come on.

[–] aidan@lemmy.world 14 points 2 years ago

Fast food has a lot more competitive aspects than just the actual food, marketing, other unique products to draw customers in, location, branding, kitchen effiency, customer retention, franchising structure, ingredient sourcing. The public facing stuff is also the easiest to copy so that's why a lot of those things are similar.

[–] CluckN@lemmy.world 30 points 2 years ago (1 children)

What do you want when you order a chicken sandwich? Do you want them to give you a burger?

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[–] GeneralEmergency@lemmy.world 30 points 2 years ago (5 children)

The fuck is this shit meant to mean?

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[–] assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world 29 points 2 years ago (6 children)

They taste distinctly different. I like spicy chicken sandwiches so I've tried a couple of these. Burger King's tastes like they just slapped a bunch of ingredients together and wrapped it up. McDonald's actually tastes and feels like a chicken sandwich. Popeye's has a very buttery mouth feel, and the bun is a lot more flavorful and rich.

I get what the meme is trying to say, but this is a poor example of it.

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[–] Fleur__@lemmy.world 21 points 2 years ago

Capitalism is when burger

[–] Zoboomafoo@lemmy.world 16 points 2 years ago (5 children)

Considering they're all trying to copy Chick-fil-A’s sandwich, yes

[–] incendiaryperihelion@lemm.ee 22 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] ThirdWorldOrder@lemm.ee 13 points 2 years ago

Well, pardner, gather 'round and let me spin ya a yarn about Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich. Now, this here sandwich, it ain't no newfangled creation. No siree, it's been around for a long time.

Back in the days when the sun beat down on dusty trails and tumbleweeds rolled through the town, folks would mosey on over to Wendy's for a taste of that spicy chicken goodness. The sandwich had a kick to it, a real fiery flavor that could wake a sleepy cowboy right up.

They say the recipe was a closely guarded secret, passed down through generations of Wendy's cooks. The chicken was crispy, the spices were just right, and the bun, well, it held it all together like a trusty steed on a rough ride.

Folks from far and wide would ride in from all corners of the territory just to sink their teeth into one of them spicy chicken sandwiches. It became a legend in these parts, a symbol of good eatin' and a taste of the wild, wild west.

So, next time you saunter on down to Wendy's and order yourself a spicy chicken sandwich, remember, you're tappin' into a taste of history, partner. It's been around for a long time, and it's still kickin' to this very day.

[–] Sea_pop@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago

I've always had a soft spot for Wendy's chicken sandwich and I can confidently say they didn't even try to change anything when the Great Chicken Wars started.

Chic-Fil-A>Popeyes>McDonalds (spicy)>Wendys

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[–] BigDiction@lemmy.world 15 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Popeyes putting their fried chicken on Brioche with a decent sauce was an innovation, at least for fast food. It was sold out at most locations in CA when it launched. The BK and KFC both copied it.

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[–] Piers@lemmy.world 13 points 2 years ago

Capitalism takes innovation and beats the life out of it to flog the corpse for a quick buck. The thing that made KFC special wasn't the blend of herbs and spices (that they don't even fucking use anymore and you used to be able to buy ready mixed at the shops) it was the new innovative cooking technique that they immediately tossed in the trash because it was cheaper to just throw it all in a deep frier like everyone already did.

[–] Leviathan@lemmy.world 13 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I think you're all missing the point, half of these places were known for hamburgers, the other half for whole pieces of fried chicken. They all ended up with slight variations on the same product. The point isn't that they should've innovated the chicken sandwich it's that they all ended up with the same product, the opposite of innovation in a market full of restaurants.

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[–] sangriaferret@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 years ago

Maybe it's because this is posted in c/politicalmemes but I think y'all are thinking to deeply about something that should be a mild chuckle and then moving on.

[–] buzz86us@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago (18 children)

Yup it really sucks we don't get good EVs because so far all the legacy automotive companies want to keep on making ridiculous SUVs.

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[–] _stranger_@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago

Popeye's blackened spicy is by FAR the superior spicy chicken sandwich.

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 9 points 2 years ago (3 children)

And to all the libertarians present: This would be even worse if things were totally unregulated.

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[–] icepuncher69@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

It breeds it in the same way breed means to consumate offspring i.e. to have sex, wich is coloquially know as fuck

Ergo: Capitalism fucks innovation

[–] moist_towelettes@lemm.ee 7 points 2 years ago

Am I the only one who thinks the Popeyes sandwich is the greasiest fuckin thing ever? Everyone raved about it but I couldn't finish it, I really gave it an honest try. It was gross.

[–] nooneescapesthelaw@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 years ago (2 children)

All of these taste completely different

[–] n3m37h@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

You must eat a lot off ass to say that

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[–] nublets@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 years ago

That Popeyes sandwich is lit tho...

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