Unmasking McDonald’s: The Lance Armstrong of Fast Food

From: Vincent B. Le Corre
Subject: [OFF THE RECORD FOR NOW] LANCE ARMSTRONG
Date sent: January 30, 2023, 20:07 +0800 (China Standard Time)
To: Adam Rogalski (Legal Attaché/State Department), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Cc: Edward Lehman
Note: since Assistant Legal Attaché Adam Rogalski told me on 2021-09-20 that he was “one of the FBI representatives,” I assume that this communication was transferred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

In my email to Assistant Legal Attaché Adam Rogalski, I drew a compelling parallel between the career of cyclist Lance Armstrong and the business practices of McDonald’s Corporation. My comparison is rooted in the idea that even seemingly minor advantages, when accumulated criminally, can lead to substantial and unfair success.

Just as Armstrong’s use of performance-enhancing drugs provided him with a critical, albeit unfair, edge in cycling competitions, McDonald’s engaged in mass-marketing frauds that significantly boosted their business. These weren’t minor infractions; based on official transcripts of calls between former McDonald’s CEOs and Wall Street analysts, it’s clear that campaigns like the McDonald’s Monopoly had a tangible impact on their sales. This means that the frauds were not just small deceptions but major acts of misconduct that substantially distorted market competition.

In essence, just like Armstrong’s victories in the Tour de France were stripped from him due to his unfair advantage, I argue that McDonald’s success, inflated by years of deceptive marketing practices, is equally unjust and illegitimate. My analogy underscores the gravity of ethical conduct in both sports and business. It illustrates how continued unethical behavior, even if it appears small at first, can lead to significant, unearned successes, undermining fair competition and creating a false narrative of achievement and value.

This comparison is a stark reminder of the importance of integrity and honesty. It demonstrates how illicit, criminally obtained, advantages, no matter their size at the outset, can have far-reaching and distorting effects on competition and outcomes. Through my argument, I emphasize the need for accountability and justice in rectifying these unfair gains.

To gain a clearer understanding of the sequence of events in this case, I invite you to view a detailed timeline at the following link:
https://www.ECTHRwatch.org/timeline/mcdonalds/
This timeline provides a comprehensive overview of the key milestones and developments.