MIke, price gouging goes on across America frequently. It's a technique that some use to find out how wealthy you are. Wealthy people tend to overpay for services, because saving that $200 gouge isn't that important to them. I come from the school that gouging is disrespect, and you have to teach contractors to respect you, or they won't respect you and keep gouging, and many contractors you don't want to deal with.

But what if the gouging is in foodstuffs and the next grocery store is 40 minutes away? What if the rent is high but you can take the bus to work from there? I've taken the bus to work and it turned a 40 minute commute into an hour and a half arduous journey. I had to run down the block to catch the next bus to complete the journey and and have time to pee in the bushes while watching for the bus. I think poor people are screwed and need all the help they can get. And most are nice folks just poor.