Alas for the fast-food crybabies

Applebee’s guy Zane Tankel. Apparently, that’s his real name. Getty Images

Personally, I never darken the door of an Applebee’s, or a Papa John’s or Denny’s — not since deducing some time ago that the food they show in the commercials is not the same food they serve in the restaurants. Look, if I want the nutritional benefits afforded by any given entree from any of these fine establishments, I’ll just eat mayonnaise directly out of the jar.

So when these fast-food executives start taking out their political frustrations on their customers and workers, I really don’t care. It’s a free country, right? Even with the terrible socialist Obama in the White House? It’s a free market too. Let these guys cut hours and raise prices and whine bitterly well in advance of any tangible impact of the Affordable Care Act. As they would undoubtedly counsel: Let the market decide.

I’m no businessman, but I have a hunch certain potential customers might balk at patronizing corporations who decide to screw their minimum-wage employees and middle-income customers to make a political point. It’s a gutsy, nutsy move. After all, places like Applebee’s aren’t selling air and water — they’re selling boil-in-a-bag obesity. And one thing America doesn’t lack is options for crappy dining. I’ll be interested to see how this plays out.