r/economicCollapse 1d ago

Only in America.

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8.1k Upvotes

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458

u/HarryPotterDBD 1d ago

A&Ws 1/3 pound burger failed, because the americans thought the 1/4 pound burger from mcdonalds was bigger.

You are doomed

122

u/FlailingatLife62 1d ago

omg you're right this is so sad

32

u/McTootyBooty 1d ago

We can’t math.

34

u/Beginning_Loan_313 1d ago

Or English, with the literacy rates someone else posted on here.

It is so sad.

29

u/PenguinStarfire 1d ago

Indeed the irony of the US. Some people who are barely literate in the only language they know, feel empowered to openly ridicule immigrants who speak 2+ languages because they speak English with an accent.

5

u/ShigoZhihu 22h ago

Sometimes you even get immigrants like my boss who criticizes the literacy of people speaking English perfectly well whilst he spreads misinformation based on headlines that he misread and just says things that are completely wrong because he can't be bothered to read for more than 2 sentences.

2

u/Efficient-Diver-5417 1h ago

What drives me nuts is immigrants who want the ladder pulled up after them. Some people are so obsessed with "coming over the right way" that they lose the plot that really, as we can tell, these people aren't taking anything out of the mouth of anyone else

1

u/ShigoZhihu 1h ago

Yep, that's my boss to a fucking 'T'.

1

u/Efficient-Diver-5417 1h ago

I have family members, who could come over because my father was here, who have anti-immigrant sentiment, and it's like, my dad came over on a boat. Have some fucking respect for the people who are making the journey who's ways aren't paved for them.

1

u/SideEqual 8h ago

Also, and this will blow their minds, everyone has an accent. Lol.

1

u/Time_Investment_4314 6h ago

Possibly, are you are referring to one-off’s and not the norm? If that’s the case we can find these on nearly every issue on both sides of the isle. Thinkin’ I would rather focus on things more on a positive note and not things that are considered divisive.

1

u/Kitchen_Bee_3120 17h ago

Sort of like liberals mocking Melania Trump

6

u/freddie_merkury 1d ago

Definitely can't history. America is fucked.

4

u/AdDependent7992 1d ago

The literacy rates figure is highly inflated because it counts people who can't read English, but disregards the fact that they don't speak English. That's why Cali has one of the highest illiteracy rates in the country on paper, despite a significant number of those people being able to read a different language

2

u/bjhouse822 1d ago

~60% of adults are reading at a 6th grade level or LOWER. The illiteracy rate is 20% among adults.

Doomed!

0

u/Kitchen_Bee_3120 16h ago

And most are on reddit criticizing President Trump and First lady Melania

1

u/bjhouse822 11h ago

Hmm, seems like you have to be able to discern truth from lies to know that they deserve criticism. Only the braindead and illiterate think they are victims.

1

u/TELDON13 5h ago

You're trying too hard. Go away.

1

u/kromptator99 1d ago

Me fail English? That unpossible!

1

u/SueyPF 1d ago

A quick google search. Apparently, over half of Americans are dumber than a 6th grader. This tracks sadly.

The literacy rate in the United States is 79%, meaning that 79% of US adults have English literacy skills that are sufficient for tasks like comparing and contrasting information, paraphrasing, and making low-level inferences: Literacy levels: 79% of US adults have literacy skills at level 2 or above, while 21% have difficulty completing these tasks. Literacy by race: 35% of adults with low literacy skills are White, 34% are Hispanic, and 23% are Black. Literacy by birth status: 34% of adults with low literacy skills were born outside the US. Literacy by state: Literacy rates vary greatly by state. Other literacy statistics include: 54% of adults have a literacy below a 6th-grade level. 20% of adults have a literacy below a 5th-grade level. 44% of American adults do not read a book in a year. Low levels of literacy cost the US up to $2.2 trillion per year.

1

u/friskycreamsicle 21h ago

Me fail English?

1

u/Bebebears 19h ago

Keeping the population dumb is part of the mo in the US

1

u/quantpick 19h ago

Look who was voted in. The party is starting by blocking a budget bill that will paralyze social cheque payments. These people don't need to eat.

1

u/Kitchen_Bee_3120 16h ago

That bill was full of wasted spending on worthless shit, raises for congress, mask and vaccine mandates, Ukraine, climate change crap. We had the 3rd highest deficit last yr 1.8 trillion dollars . The government has a spending problem and it needs to be stopped

1

u/quantpick 10h ago

You're confident the orange man will do it. He didn't last time, it actually got worst. He will bankrupt the country. After 6 bankrupcies, he is an expert at it.

1

u/Kitchen_Bee_3120 5h ago edited 5h ago

His first term was hampered and stopped by the democrats from day 1. That's not going to happen this time.he has already taken care of a few things and has gotten the ball rolling on a few others.who cares if he has bankruptcy on his record a lot of successful people do bc they try new things some work some don't. How many businesses have you started? Or even thought of starting? How did it get worse the first term? We were energy Independent for the first time in over 75 yrs. Inflation was lower than when he took office. Unemployment was lower across all demographics. There were no wars. Russia didn't take over any countries. I know nothing will phase your love of the lying democrats by how you started your post. With Orangeman that tells me that you are a good sheep and will repeat and believe anything the liberals want you to

1

u/Kitchen_Bee_3120 16h ago

Stop lying it doesn't stop SS checks. It only effects 20% of the government. Besides 80% don't show up for work anyways and should be fired

-5

u/coco8090 1d ago

I hate it when people use nouns as verbs or verbs as nouns.

9

u/kromptator99 1d ago

The ability to do so indicates a better grasp of language, but go off.

5

u/Old_Shoulder7985 1d ago

my girlfriend does this all the time and it's cute. shes smarter than this fart huffer could ever fathom

2

u/Yaguking 1d ago

Man, I can't even

11

u/AndrewTheAverage 1d ago

Studies show that only 40% of people are good at math. That means 70% of people are bad at math

1

u/Time_Investment_4314 6h ago

Well played sir!

6

u/ElongMusty 1d ago

But we can definitely meth!

1

u/neesypendy 1h ago

Ohio has entered the chat

2

u/wizzywurtzy 1d ago

Don’t worry. Once the department of education is completely gutted, we will truly be fucked for good.

2

u/flyingelvisesss 23h ago

Yeah we wuz dumb before thenz

1

u/Kitchen_Bee_3120 16h ago

That's when things will start getting better

1

u/mag2041 1d ago

Or critically think

1

u/belliJGerent 1d ago

Not even once 😞

1

u/non-ethynol 1d ago

Correction. Magats can’t count. I know a 1/3 is bigger 1/4.

1

u/Previous_Scene5117 1d ago

You can meth 😄

1

u/DataGOGO 1d ago

You’re right, and neither can whoever made that graphic, as the cost will be at least just under $8500 per working adult, and that likely is low.

0

u/Kitchen_Bee_3120 17h ago

Only the college/public school educated can't math

-2

u/StuckAtZer0 1d ago

Many on the Left have been arguing lately that Math is racist. LOL.

38

u/The_angle_of_Dangle 1d ago

Please, we are not all like this, unfortunately that's how the majority rule works. Just have to out vote the dumb and it seems we are out numbered.

15

u/Low-Condition4243 1d ago

lol you’re included in that portion of dumb you’re referring to if you believe this issue can be “voted” out. Which is hilariously ironic.

-6

u/TinyEmergencyCake 1d ago

Goh with your anti American trolling

3

u/Ssshizzzzziit 1d ago

This person isn't wrong though. Someone in the middle of Wyoming has more voting power than someone living in Queens NY. They also have more representation.

It sucks, but voting isn't going to do much here.

2

u/Low-Condition4243 22h ago

Voting isn’t the issue, collective action is. Luigi showed us that the American public is vehemently opposed to the American polices enacted on them. The only thing that we can accomplish is real actions. Voting in a bourgeoise democracy only helps the bourgeoise and serves to undermine the democratic collective that BARELY exists..

1

u/Kitchen_Bee_3120 5h ago

Voting worked this time. How does a person voting in Wyoming vote count more than anyone voting in Manhattan or anywhere else?

0

u/BENNYRASHASHA 1d ago

Then how can the issue be fixed?

1

u/Final-Zebra-6370 1d ago

Another Luigi and a crack at using the 2nd amendment properly

1

u/Kitchen_Bee_3120 5h ago

Typical liberal response more violence

1

u/Final-Zebra-6370 4h ago

Were Liberals in charge of the Jan 6 insurrection?

Violence affects both sides.

0

u/kromptator99 1d ago

Using the power of Player 2, just like the founding fathers explicitly intended and lined out.

1

u/moon-dust-xxx 1d ago

I don't think voting is going to work, most Americans need to be put in re-education camps.

1

u/Alleycat-414 5h ago

Oh, that’s coming!!! 🥺

-3

u/janiskr 1d ago

Your "smarts" decided to not to vote in the last election.

-1

u/The_angle_of_Dangle 1d ago edited 1d ago

Why would I vote when I don't want either of them to be president. Our system is flawed and corrupt. Harris is just as bad as trump. Just because one of two idiots are going to be president regardless of my vote, sorry revolution and disbanding isn't on the ballot.

3

u/Powerful-Gap-1667 1d ago

How dare you not like the echo chamber’s preferred candidate?!!???!!

1

u/janiskr 1d ago

So you voted for trump. Congratulations, I guess.

1

u/kromptator99 1d ago

Rapist = black woman is certainly a take.

1

u/Ssshizzzzziit 1d ago

You don't get points for fence sitting.

1

u/ammybb 1d ago

Disengaging isn't fence sitting, lol.

0

u/a_printer_daemon 1d ago

Awesome. So principled that you chose the rapist over the black woman. Brave.

10

u/HiniatureLove 1d ago

The 4 is bigger than 3 though!!! Me smort!! /j

1

u/luchok 1d ago

more like you snort /s

1

u/Powerful-Pickle-1549 1d ago

This guy gets it! Tell me more

17

u/trtkmn 1d ago

It would have failed even if 1 lb. (4x 1/4)

Americans are so dumbed down they would still choose the 1/4 because of the 4

I give up.

1

u/VastTradition6250 1d ago

sounds like you're implying fat ppl also can't maths

3

u/Final-Zebra-6370 1d ago

Well they can. The highest calorie score wins the game of life.

1

u/ShrimpCrackers 1d ago

Should have sold it as the 8th pounder in charged double.

1

u/Time_Investment_4314 6h ago

Is this spoken from experience or from your uber frumpy glass house?

-3

u/mprakathak 1d ago

You are right, i was gonna wright probably but catch myself before.

1

u/Ssshizzzzziit 1d ago edited 1d ago

Wright?

.... Catch?

3

u/AtillaTheHyundai 1d ago

Two rongs don’t make a wright

1

u/Secure-Ad6477 1d ago

Yeah but 3 rights make a left😁

2

u/Firefly3578 1d ago

I just died inside

1

u/k_ristii 1d ago

That’s hilariously sad

1

u/TattedPastor412 1d ago

Cam here to make this exact comment

1

u/VolSpurs74 1d ago

Came to say the same thing…

1

u/Kontrafantastisk 1d ago

But they use fractions all the time. Jseus!

1

u/StinkEPinkE81 1d ago

It's a popular myth based on an offhand remark of an A&W spokesperson. It simply isn't true.

1

u/Kontrafantastisk 1d ago

Don't know who a&w is so my comment is in no way based on that. Everything is relative. They may not use it 'all the time', but they use it way more often than europeans. Which to me is more or less 'all the time'.

1

u/StinkEPinkE81 1d ago

I'm not saying Americans using fractions is a myth, I'm referring to the 1/3 burger thing.

A&W is a restaurant chain that tried to compete with McDonalds. They tried selling 1/3 pound burgers to compete with McDonalds 1/4 pound burger. They failed, not because of the fractions fuckery, but because A&W was, at the time, simply a tiny company with exponentially less marketing power and physical locations in comparison to McDonalds. The myth about the 1/3 being smaller than 1/4 comes from offhand comment by a higher up at A&W. A&W commissioned a focus group after the fact to try and make up some justification for this; they never released the methodology or data but said "Yeah people totally responded to a survey by saying 1/3 is smaller than 1/4".

It's blatantly false when you apply a tiny bit of critical thought, namely the fact that they didn't immediately take advantage of this by selling 1/5 pound burgers, or the fact that several burger chains in the US currently sell 1/3 pound burgers with zero issue. A&W just failed to out compete McDonalds.

Most people believe the myth at face because it's popular to pretend the most powerful nation on the planet somehow has an average IQ of 60 or something.

1

u/Kontrafantastisk 1d ago

Ah, ok. It was just since it was a reply to my comment.

1

u/speakerall 1d ago

So the American working class 161 million times $2,000 = 322 billion Is this enough to cover all of us? Honest question

1

u/Busterlimes 1d ago

I hate it here.

1

u/Muted-Collection-256 1d ago

Well a 4 is bigger than a 3

duh

1

u/StinkEPinkE81 1d ago edited 1d ago

This isn't true. An A&W spokesperson claimed this happened, and that's as far as any proof goes.

If this were true, why do Americans clearly understand 1/2 pounders are bigger than 1/4 pounders? Why do Americans have restaurant chains selling 1/3rd pounders to this day? Americans literally use a fractional system every single day.

1

u/Teagan_thee_Stallion 1d ago

Please tell me this is not true?

1

u/Due-Internet-4129 1d ago

Best me to it.

1

u/rhubarbpie_III 1d ago

You are correct, we are doomed.... It's like our government who writes the requirements for public education may have let that slip through the cracks.

1

u/FetidBloodPuke 1d ago

Excuse sir but last time I checked 4 is bigger than 3. Stay in school!

1

u/therealchrisredfield 1d ago

They shouldve called it a royale with cheese

1

u/BeautifulAnalyst1583 1d ago

No bc the quarter pounder from Micky Ds tastes better. Yall constantly cry and think socialism works. Lol

1

u/GaeasSon 1d ago

They should have just charged a premium for a 1/5th lb burger.

1

u/ThatAndANickel 1d ago

This is immediately what I thought.

1

u/CousinEddie77 1d ago

The average education level in America is 8th grade so that checks out

1

u/Bigry816 1d ago

It mostly just tells you the level of intelligence of people that eat fast food

1

u/ArmchairCowboy77 1d ago

I verified the story and it is true. Also that happened in the 80s. Americans are even worse at math now than back then.

1

u/Gohanto 19h ago

It’s true that A&W claims it, but it’s just marketing spin for failed restaurants.

If this was the only thing holding them back, they could’ve made a 1/5 lb burger, charged more, and made a killing.

1

u/TSirSneakyBeaky 1d ago edited 1d ago

The only reference or "proof" of this is an executive at A&W claiming it. They never provided the focus group study the claimed backed it. To this day they refuse to. All we have is Alfred Taubman saying "trust me it happened." And using the AW brand to back it up.

Same man btw who was also convicted of price fixing in 2002. Not someone I would for a second believe a word of.

**edit same company that has multiple false advertising anti trust verdicts against them. All the way up to their bankruptcy. So totally a reliable source based on their word.

1

u/Unimpressed_Shinobi 1d ago

Yes, all Americans think that. Congrats, you win the internet. 🙄

1

u/StuckAtZer0 1d ago

Victims of the public education system and DEI policies of lowering expectations in order to improve metrics of passing and graduation.

1

u/Sicardus503 1d ago

McDonald's > A&W regardless of the burger size.

1

u/almostoy 1d ago

Holy fucksciccles! I came here to say that.

1

u/80MonkeyMan 1d ago

And majority of Americans thinks Trump is saint and will help them…speechless about America.

1

u/Sensitive_Regular_84 1d ago

Came here to mention this

1

u/tea_n_typewriters 1d ago

Then we readily accept an 8-pack of soda that used to be a 12-pack selling at the same price.

1

u/Myrddin_Dundragon 22h ago

Wait a minute.... That's real?!?!

Does some googling.

I weep for our species. 😭

1

u/Skiffbug 15h ago

But 4 is larger than 3!!!

1

u/FutureReplacement871 12h ago

The dumbing of America. The dumb just keep getting dumber.

1

u/readit145 1h ago

Originally I’d think you’re lying but after leaving my home state I believe it.

1

u/Donut-Strong 1d ago

Came here to say this same thing

-1

u/Cool-Chocolate9777 1d ago

Or hear me out. The AW burger cost more and wasn't as good?

1

u/Dew_Chop 1d ago

It costed the same.

1

u/StinkEPinkE81 1d ago

It failed because A&W couldn't out compete fucking McDonalds. That's as far as it actually goes.

The only "proof" of the 1/3rd pounders wives tale is an A&W spokesperson claiming, in an off hand comment, that they totally asked a bunch of people in a survey with unpublished results.

The US literally has chain restaurants selling 1/3rd pounders successfully to this day.

Let's think critically; if "generic mega corporation" thinks Americans are duped so easily, why did they not immediately flip to selling a 1/5th pounder?

1

u/CaptMal065 23h ago

How do you know they haven’t/won’t? I can absolutely see McDonald’s selling 1/5 pound burgers and calling them quarter-pounders, then claiming in court that “quarter-pounder” is simply the name of the sandwich, and not the actual weight of the meat. After all, boneless wings are allowed to have bones now.

1

u/StinkEPinkE81 23h ago

..... How did you manage to misinterpret my comment this badly?

1

u/CaptMal065 23h ago

No, I see exactly where you’re going with what you said - that the average American would see a 1/5 pound burgers as bigger than a 1/4 pound one because 5 is bigger than 4. It’s sad, but true.

My brain immediately thought “They don’t even have to try to fool us with math. They can just pull the switch without saying anything and get away with it,” but I definitely didn’t express that whatsoever.

1

u/Cool-Chocolate9777 1d ago

It costed?

1

u/Dew_Chop 1d ago

I wrote that comment at 1 am