In a way, people without a lot of money need to "learn how to be poor"
When you're low on money, you eat sandwiches and ramen and beans and potatoes. You don't eat McDonald's or get Starbucks.
A McDonald's for some of these people IS life. It's the point of being alive, now that they have so little. It's the special treat that they've worked hard for, and it's pretty much the lowest tier special treat.
I remember every single one I had; I didn’t have many.
I'm not poor but I'm realizing just how insane it is to eat out regularly now.
There are poor who are so exhausted and so without capacity to move up that a little enjoyment from fast food is what keeps them going.
And there are also poor who are wasting resources they could be using to move up. Such as young kids with stable homes working retail/hotel/other lower paying jobs, but instead of a making a healthy moong bean salad at home for $3 of ingredients and 30min of their time, they order a $25 chipotle meal from door dash everyday at work.
When I was a grad student, my McD's trips were 'hey I found a toonie (Canada), I can treat myself to a McDouble'.
I'm also not saying poor people do t get any joy. They just don't get to have every joy they want. Even if you're not poor you don't get to do that.
At what point do you see the irresponsibility? Applebees? Ruth's Chris? The French Laundry?
Definitely not the $2 burger special at Mcdonald's, that's for sure.
[1] I wouldn't say it was 100% true - McDonalds is a pretty cheap way of getting calories.