Jim = McJobs

From VT Democratic Party newsletter

Last week, the governor grabbed a pair of giant scissors and snipped the ribbon at the McDonald's in Barre. Though we realize it's just one unfortunate ribbon in a long line that have met the same fate, and that we all like to indulge in a little fast food every once in a while, this particular ribbon cutting exposed a few inconvenient truths about Jim Douglas and his record as governor.

1. When the governor told Vermonters "Jim = Jobs," is this what he had in mind? Yesterday, the governor said McDonald's "provides dozens of jobs." True. But when he promised jobs to Vermonters, we suspect most assumed he meant better, higher paying jobs. As it turns out, however, since June 2003, shortly after "Jim = Jobs" took the helm of state government, the state has lost 1,750 high paying manufacturing jobs, according to the Vermont Department of Labor. It's true that we've added jobs, but unfortunately they pay so poorly that Vermonters have to hold two or three of them to make a living.

2. While the governor promotes McJobs as the way to move Vermont forward, he is also promoting a food source that all Vermonters know is unhealthy. The McDonald's "Mighty Kids Meal" contains 800 calories and more than half the daily recommended amount of saturated fat for adults. According to a report by George Washington University, to burn those calories, an average 7-year-old girl would have to either walk for over 9 hours, play volleyball for over 8 hours, baseball for almost 7 hours, swim or play paddleball for about 5.5 hours or engage in aerobics for 5 hours. Is this what the governor had in mind when he promoted his "Fit and Healthy Kids" initiative?