Times are really tough for Emeril Lagasse. I mean, don't let that whole freaking-obscenely-loaded-celebrity-chef-with-a-cookbook-and-kitchen-products-empire facade fool you. Looks can be deceiving, and the truth is that the only buffer separating Emeril from complete and utter poverty is several tens of millions of dollars. Can you
imagine his distress right now? He's hanging on by a thread, and it's all that Obama's fault. In his own words:
I have nowhere to go, really--other than broke.
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So here's the story. Basically, poor Emeril is concerned that the restaurant industry is going to collapse under the weight of Obamacare and food service workers wanting, you know, a living wage (they're not demanding a fortune of $50 million or anything...), and that he's going to go down with it.
Chef Emeril Lagasse shot to fame as the host of a popular Food Network show that encouraged amateur chefs to try their own hands in the kitchen. But despite being one of the most recognizable celebrity chefs in the country, Lagasse's outlook on his future as a restaurateur--and the restaurant industry in general--is fairly grim. "I have nowhere to go, really--other than broke," said Lagasse at a recent event promoting his upcoming TNT reality series On the Menu.
More from Emeril:
It's becoming a very challenging industry to become a very successful average restaurateur. I can't charge $300 a person in my restaurant or I would not be in business. Am I using any different ingredients? Not really. Am I using any caliber of service staff? I don't think so. I think our service is as good or better than most places.
And then you add all the Obama nonsense to what it's become in the last several years. I don't have anything against Mr. Obama. I'm just saying the way that, you know... the government should stay out of things. [...] Pretty soon, they're going to wipe a lot of the middle restaurateurs and restaurant cooks. [...] If it continues, then watch: you're going to have high-end, and you're going to have fast food, and you're going to have chain restaurants.
And by "Obama nonsense," we can only assume he's talking about Obamacare and the President's support for the Minimum Wage Fairness Act, which would both raise the minimum wage to $10.10 and mandate that tipped workers make at least 70 percent of that amount.
But if you keep reading, it gets better:
The one thing that I can say is that I'm pretty connected to America--because I'm a good listener, and I think that's what makes a great restaurateur, is that you're a good listener.
Oh,
are you "pretty connected to America," Emeril? Pardon me for being skeptical that you're in touch with the heart of America when you're publicly lamenting that your $50 million fortune and $150-million-per-year empire might take a hit if you provide basic health care and fairer wages to your employees. Boo-freaking-hoo.
But no, Emeril, the sky is not falling because of Obamacare, and the sky will not fall if the minimum wage is raised. From an Addicting Info piece on this Emeril crap:
As we all know, the landmark healthcare law requires all businesses who employ over 50 workers to provide health insurance to their employees. We also know that many restaurant owners have complained about the law and claim that they’ll have to raise food prices to compensate. According to Marketwatch, however, diners are expected to pay around 2 percent more to eat out. That’s not much of a rise to realistically whine about.
And then there’s raising wages. We all have heard the stories of fast-food workers going on strike across the country. They want higher wages so they don’t have to rely on federal aid to get by. But once again, restaurant owners are complaining about it because they say it will hurt them financially and cause workers to lose their jobs. Once again, this scare-mongering over something that is beneficial to the economic future of workers doesn’t pass the smell test.
According to Bloomberg, past data covering seven minimum wages since 1990 show that the doom and gloom prophecies of restaurant owners are bullsh*t. Statistics show that restaurants increase employment when the minimum wage rises. In fact, the minimum wage wouldn’t cause soaring food prices either. Wages in Australia are twice as high than in America, yet a burger just costs about 50 cents more. Even though prices may go up a little, at least the workers can making a decent living and they wouldn’t have to take federal aid. They would be able to help themselves without using taxpayer dollars.
The only Emeril thing I've ever used is the online recipe for his "Bayou Blast" Creole Seasoning. I've never been much of an Emeril fan, I think his products are gimmicky, and if I want to eat in New Orleans I feel that I could find better food for less money. So I don't exactly need another reason to avoid Emeril, but here's one anyway.
Don't worry, Emeril. You're going to be fine. But it won't be because of my support.
TOP COMMENTS
September 26, 2014
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From Tara the Antisocial Social Worker:
There was a lot of pootie-related hilarity in Joan McCarter's front-page diary Kochs try to register a cat to vote in North Carolina, including this pictorial comment from Pluto and this observation from quaoar.
From Puddytat:
I loved these suggestions on how we should all shame the police, starting with this great rant by Damnit Janet and ending with this reply by Laughing Vergil.
From TrueBlueMajority:
I would like to nominate Cartoon Peril's apt description of the Values Voters Summit.
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September 25, 2014
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