If only they would offer healthier food ...

I was born and raised in Des Plaines and had my first fast-food hamburger at the original McDonald's. Back then the food was mostly from local farmers and tasted pretty good and it was a place to go to meet friends.

Seeing the movie "The Founder" brings back many memories and back then, Ray Kroc was selling 1,000 shares for $1,000. One local merchant told him: "You will never make any money selling a 15-cent hamburger, but you make money selling a $15 pair of shoes." An economic lesson in quantity versus quality.

Today, McDonald's has standardized the taste experience by controlling the food sources for their fast-food clientele around the world. In order to accomplish this, they have added a lot of chemical food enhancers that are not necessarily good. Considering that eating regularly at fast-food restaurants contributes to the fact that 40 percent of the U.S. population is considered obese today does not make me fond of going to McDonald's. I will confess that this fall I did have the best tasting oatmeal at a McDonald's in Quebec, Canada.

So, I'm ambivalent about whether McDonald's Des Plaines Icon should stay or go. If they would only emulate Panera Bread for wholesome food I would vote for Des Plaines to keep the McDonald's icon. I like driving past it for old time sake.

Thomas Braun

Mount Prospect,