in high school there was this new kid who had just moved from central europe. she told my friend, who told me and the rest of our friends, that back home there were laws about the price of bread and milk. they had to be cheap so that everyone could afford to eat nutritious food. Honestly I remember the expression on my friends face, very serious, when sharing this. it was a very important piece of information.

none of us had ever heard the concept of price controls before. but damn that's obviously a good idea. we talked about how it wasn't really fair to celiacs and vegans and hypothosized how that could be addressed. but in general the idea of a government making such an intervention was a real brainwave.

it's a pretty boring story but somehow was formative on me and I think of it all the time. especially when i do groceries.