I am currently poor (for an American). I do not really buy cheap food. Good quality food is my single biggest expense. It keeps me out of the ER (where I am supposed to practically live, given my medical condition). I do this even though I routinely run short on funds at the end of the month and this sometimes means fasting for a day or so or simply being short-rationed the last week. Going hungry part of the time harms my health less than eating crap all of the time.
People are people first and foremost and their current economic/social class is not the only determiner of their lifestyle choices.
Eating well is far cheaper than the medical bills I am supposed to have. My health problems are the root cause of my poverty. Resolving my health problems is my only hope of escaping poverty. Your snark is not appreciated.
Your healthcare system (which allows a tie betwen health and poverty) is the root problem of your poverty. Your statement about health problems leading to poverty means a guess of your home country would be "Third world country, or the US". How screwed up is that?
In my case, that is an inaccurate assumption. My father was career military and so was my ex husband, thus most of my medical care has been free or damn cheap. I was married to my ex long enough while he was in the military that I still qualify for free medical treatment on the federal dime. My poverty is rooted in a) being unable to work a normal job and b) using alternative treatments to effectively treat what conventional medicine does not currently know how to effectively treat.
I was trying to avoid addressing what is a complex situation that has a history of getting me in social hot water. I do understand why, based on my earlier comment, you would draw this conclusion but that isn't really the case for me personally.
Granted, I think America should go to government paid healthcare for all citizens. I think the current system sucks tremendously.
My health is improving. Thanks for your well wishes.
You don't have to shop at Whole Foods to eat well. Neighborhood gardens, local collectives and independently gardening are growing in popularity for that reason probably. Also, it's nice to know where your food comes from.
Organic produce is priced just like any other good. What is the highest price I can charge that most (or enough) people will pay?
