Many seem to misunderstand how large the USA is, how dispersed the population is, and how impractical it is to implement alternate infrastructure to solve the alleged problem. Walking/biking infrastructure is only feasible with high enough population densities; below some threshold, "car culture" absolutely dominates unless you're raising your own food. Grocery stores require a minimum number of recurring customers (and low enough crime rates); given a sufficiently dispersed population, the average viable distance between stores may very well exceed the distance criteria currently defining "food desert", even though people have moved to those areas knowing full well stores were far away.
Following your link, I was surprised there's a "food desert" near my home; yes it may be a bit far from the nearest grocery, but if you live in this area you _must_ have a car and thus have no trouble reaching a ridiculous number of grocery stores.
> but if you live in this area you _must_ have a car and thus have no trouble reaching a ridiculous number of grocery stores.
And because of this mentality, everyone that cannot or will not drive will end up being ripped off with $5 US milk gallons and the like.
What will you do if you find yourself with a minor disability and unable to meet your financial obligations? Take one big hit, sell your underwater property and move to an affordable walkable area (where, exactly)? Or accept the death of the thousand cuts and keep buying at the local kwiki mart, fully aware that their mark up prices are twice or thrice what they should be?
ctdonath|10 years ago
Following your link, I was surprised there's a "food desert" near my home; yes it may be a bit far from the nearest grocery, but if you live in this area you _must_ have a car and thus have no trouble reaching a ridiculous number of grocery stores.
crpatino|10 years ago
And because of this mentality, everyone that cannot or will not drive will end up being ripped off with $5 US milk gallons and the like.
What will you do if you find yourself with a minor disability and unable to meet your financial obligations? Take one big hit, sell your underwater property and move to an affordable walkable area (where, exactly)? Or accept the death of the thousand cuts and keep buying at the local kwiki mart, fully aware that their mark up prices are twice or thrice what they should be?