Thanks for your response, and the "reality check" behind why frozen toast is purchased and in many cases, a (sad) necessity. It also makes me want to be more careful and precise in my word choice, presentation. My post does focus more upon the decision to buy the frozen toast as opposed to the reasons why it's necessary. And I can understand how my focus' demeanor is a bit too ridicule heavy, which I'm not proud of, especially since it is not my intention. I did add that section about "the need to purchase frozen toast is symptomatic of the larger issues: Industrialism, lack of knowledge (which I put as "lack of education"), etc." - but clearly, that section did not carry its weight. And I certainly didn't consider "food deserts". I've never lived in an environment like that (I also grew up and still live in areas surrounded by grocery stores, bakeries, etc.) - and remembering that everyone doesn't have access to the food choices I've got: it's a very necessary eye-opener. Helps me be more grateful for my food options and more interested in the ways others can gain wider access.
Maybe not the end of the world, but certainly a society that lets profits decide what's good for the people above all else. Detroit is an unbelievable place in many ways, but one of the idiosyncratic things about it is that it has around 800,000 people and 0 chain grocery stores. There is a farmers market once per week, and a number of small corner stores, but no major grocery retailers for 800,000 people (by contrast the 8 grocery stores I mentioned in my post serve ~100,000 people in the suburbs). That will change soon, as a Whole Foods is set to open next summer. I will shop there, but I don't know how much it will change the lives of many of the residents, a fair number of whom probably can't afford to shop there.
b_b, this morning I mentioned your comment to my housemate, and he immediately said, "oh, like a food desert." He was already well versed on this issue and our conversation turned into a short history of how my little section of San Diego, called City Heights, became an urban farming hub (farmers markets with EBT, vacant lots into farming space, etc.). The root of this history: City Heights was once designated a food desert. I am learning. We also watched a TED talk on the subject/movement given by LaDonna Redmond, a Chicago-based food systems activist. She visits a lot of the issues you mentioned in your first comment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWukl6lqyJI